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In This Issue:
May Rankings for ECPA Publishers
Coming soon: Monday Morning Marketing Tip
Expert Book Marketing Instruction
Quick Links:
 
 
 
 
 
 
About Rob Eagar:
Rob Eagar
Rob Eagar is the founder of WildFire Marketing who helps authors and publishers spread their message through innovative marketing strategies. He has trained over 200 authors, from beginners to bestsellers. The results his clients enjoy include: 
 
● Higher book sales.
● Increased media exposure.
● More speaking events at higher fees.
● Enhanced website activity and online influence.
 
Click here for details about Rob's experience and author client list.
Testimonials:
 
"Working with Rob Eagar has been well-worth the investment! His marketing instruction helped my new book sell over 20,000 copies in less than a year! Rob's involvement has been a key factor in my success.
"
 
8 CD Set 
Leslie Vernick
Author of 8 books, including "The Emotionally Destructive Relationship"
 
May Amazon 
Comparison of ECPA Publishers
Amazon
Click here for a spreadsheet of the May rankings.

WildFire Marketing tracks the top 15 ECPA publishers according to the average ranking of their 20 best-selling books on Amazon.
 
Comparing this monthly data over time helps authors and publishers identify who is best utilizing this important online sales channel.
 
Note: Amazon rankings do not reflect accurate sales figures. However, they can help determine how specific publishers or titles perform over time versue their peers.
 
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Do you need an effective email newsletter service to help market your books?
 
I've relied on Constant Contact for the past four years. Click here for a free 60-day trial, and find out how they can help grow your author platform.
WildFire Marketing E-Newsletter
May, 2010

Rob Eagar's Monday Morning
Book Marketing Tip

Coming Monday, May 24th!! 

Starting this Monday, May 24th, I'm launching a new, weekly, mini-newsletter called the "Monday Morning Book Marketing Tip." The goal is to give you 100 words of insightful and motivating marketing advice to kick your week off with a bang! It will be short, simple, and too the point. You'll be in a better frame of mind to market your books...period.
 
As a current subscriber to my monthly email newsletter, you are already setup to receive this weekly dose of informative inspiration. However, if you don't like it for any reason, you can easily unsubscribe with no problem.
 
I look forward to starting each week together with some helpful marketing tips. 
Your feedback is welcomed. So, keep an eye on your email Inbox. Mondays for authors will never be the same!
 
Is Social Networking the Savior for Books?
 
Twitter defined: "Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few."
 
With the advent of social networks, such as FaceBook, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn, an intense amount of hype has labeled these channels as the future of book marketing. However, as the allure continues to grow, the real marketing power of these resources doesn't actually knock your socks off.
 
For the most part, social networks leave publishers and authors scratching their heads when looking for real results. This problem arises for two reasons. First, online social communication generally works at the lowest common denominator. Messages are often too inane or too brief to convey a real solution or conduct a complete transaction of information. When communication is abbreviated, a lot of value gets lost in translation. In other words, the full benefits of an author's book won't be understood when people converse online at an elementary school level. (My buk iz gud. Pleez bi 1. K? Thanx!)
 
Secondly, social networks have the power to amplify anyone's message. But, that's just the problem. They amplify everyone's message, which means that the resulting competition and noise level becomes so intense that no one stands out. Social networks tend to bombard users with so many voices and choices that it's hard to keep their attention. Sure, social networks may help raise awareness, but if that awareness doesn't translate into actual book sales then it shouldn't be a priority of your marketing plan.
 
For example, at Book Expo 2009, John Sargent, the CEO of Macmillan Publishing stated, "Viral marketing doesn't sell a ton of books." He mentioned a video based on a Macmillan book that spent time in the # 1 spot on YouTube in the U.K. Yet, it wound up only selling a whopping 200 extra copies.
 
Some people claim social networks are responsible for the runaway success of bestselling books, such as Stuff White People Like, The Pioneer Woman cookbook, or the cat-related humor, I Can Has Cheezburger. When you examine these books, however, their success had less to do with the social networks and more to do with the originality of the concept. The content of these books were so unique that you can't transfer their results to the average book idea. These titles are more like lottery winners than the average joe's of the publishing industry.
 
Please don't misunderstand my point. I'm not suggesting that social networks are bad. They represent a unique and inexpensive way to quickly communicate with a lot of people. However, these online tools just aren't the cure-all that many techno-evangelists want you to believe. And, the ones preaching the loudest are usually the ones trying to make money off of these new platforms. Their goal is similar to a pyramid scam or a Ponzi-scheme. The gurus need you to participate in social networks because they're financially invested in the growth of these channels. The larger the numbers, the more they can sell late-adopters their products and training services on how to use these new tools. I find their approach odd, because there's really no secret to using online platforms.
 
Social networking is best used to market books by pumping legitimate value through those channels, such as giving users free resources, coupons, contests, samples, humorous videos, etc. Advertising will work against you, whereas giving away content creates trust and attraction.
Avoid getting starry-eyed over sexy, new technology. Keep things in perspective, and maintain a focus on the tried-and-true methods that still sell books in a modern world, such as author speaking events, direct mail / newsletters, radio and TV publicity, author websites, high-profile book reviews, preferred shelf space in bookstores, book clubs, etc.
 
I've got nothing against social networks. If they actually helped sell more books, I'd be singing their praises. My hope is that online tools like FaceBook, Twitter, and YouTube will continue to evolve in new ways that provide greater levels of value to users and marketers. Until then, use these resources as a balanced part of your marketing plan...just like a doctor suggests eating desserts in the context of a healthy diet. As social networks continue to overwhelm people with voices and choices, don't ignore the proven book marketing methods that still possess the ability to capture a reader's attention - and sales.
Do you have author friends or know someone in the publishing industry? Think how appreciative they will be if you forward this newsletter to them. Take a moment to let them know now.
 
Get Expert Book Marketing Instruction
 Without Leaving Home

Most writer's conferences cost over $1,000 to attend when you factor in all of the registration and travel expenses. Now you can get the same high-quality instruction from an expert without leaving home for a fraction of the cost.
 
Learn how to sell your fiction and non-fiction books like wildfire with Rob Eagar's 5-CD audio set: Speak and Sell Books in Any Market. You will learn how to: 
 
Disc 1: Market for More Bookings
Disc 2:
Make Your Website Work for You
Disc 3:
Write Newsletters that Get Results
Disc 4:
Get More Media Coverage for Your Message
Disc 5:
Turn Media Interviews into Book Sales

Speak and Sell BooksThis 5-disc audio teaching set also contains 10 bonus resources, such as listener handouts, author website checklist, and samples of professional newsletters, press releases, and speaking contracts.
 
Purchase today for only $125. Find out why Bethany House Publishers recently made this audio instructional material recommended listening to all of their new authors!
 
 
Hey...don't forget the FREE stuff! If you haven't visited Rob's Free Resources page, you're missing out on over 20 articles packed full of helpful content. It's free...what are you waiting for?
 
For more information on any of these services, call 1-800-267-2045.