By: Jeff Herman
Attacking Problem No. 2: The Publisher Doesn’t Appear to Be Doing Anything to Market the Book
If it looks as if your publisher is doing nothing to promote your book, then it’s probably true. Your mistake is being surprised and unprepared.
The vast majority of published titles receive little or no marketing attention from the publisher beyond catalog listings. The titles that get big advances are likely to get some support, since the publisher would like to justify the advance by creating a good seller.
Compared to those in other Fortune 500 industries, publishers’ in-house marketing departments tend to be woefully understaffed, undertrained, and underpaid. Companies like Procter & Gamble will tap the finest business schools, pay competitive salaries, and strive to nurture marketing superstars. Book publishers don’t do this.
As a result, adult trade book publishing has never been especially profitable, and countless sales probably go unmade. The sales volumes and profits for large, diversified publishers are mostly due to the lucrative—and captive—textbook trade. Adult trade sales aren’t the reason that companies like Random House can generate more than $1 billion in annual revenues.
Here’s What You Can Do
Hire your own public relations firm to promote you and your book. Your publisher is likely to be grateful and cooperative. But you must communicate carefully with your publishing house.
Once your manuscript is completed, you should request a group meeting with your editor and people from the marketing, sales, and publicity departments. You should focus on what their marketing agenda will be. If you’ve decided to retain your own PR firm, this is the time to impress the people at your publishing house with your commitment and pressure them to help pay for it. At the very least, the publisher should provide plenty of free books.
Beware of this common problem: Even if you do a national TV show, your book may not be abundantly available in bookstores that day—at least, not everywhere. An obvious answer is setting up 800 numbers to fill orders, and it baffles me that publishers don’t make wider use of them. There are many people watching Oprah who won’t ever make it to the bookstore, but who would be willing to order then and there with a credit card. Infomercials have proved this.
Not all talk or interview shows will cooperate, but whenever possible you should try to have your publisher’s 800 number (or yours) displayed as a purchasing method, in addition to the neighborhood bookstore. If you use your own number, make sure you can handle a potential flood.
If retaining a PR firm isn’t realistic for you, then do your own media promotions. There are many good books in print about how to do your own PR. (A selection of relevant titles may be found in this volume’s “Suggested Resources” section.)
Attacking Problem No. 3: You Detest the Title and Jacket
Almost always, your publisher will have final contractual discretion over title, jacket design, and jacket copy. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be actively involved. In my opinion, you had better be. Once your final manuscript is submitted, make it clear to your editor that you expect to see all prospective covers and titles. But simply trying to veto what the publisher comes up with won’t be enough. You should try to counter the negatives with positive alternatives. You might even want to go as far as having your own prospective covers professionally created. If the publisher were to actually choose your version, the house might reimburse you.
At any rate, don’t wait until it’s after the fact to decide you don’t like your cover, title, and so forth. It’s like voting: Participate or shut up.
Attacking Problem No. 2: The Publisher Doesn’t Appear to Be Doing Anything to Market the Book
If it looks as if your publisher is doing nothing to promote your book, then it’s probably true. Your mistake is being surprised and unprepared.
The vast majority of published titles receive little or no marketing attention from the publisher beyond catalog listings. The titles that get big advances are likely to get some support, since the publisher would like to justify the advance by creating a good seller.
Compared to those in other Fortune 500 industries, publishers’ in-house marketing departments tend to be woefully understaffed, undertrained, and underpaid. Companies like Procter & Gamble will tap the finest business schools, pay competitive salaries, and strive to nurture marketing superstars. Book publishers don’t do this.
As a result, adult trade book publishing has never been especially profitable, and countless sales probably go unmade. The sales volumes and profits for large, diversified publishers are mostly due to the lucrative—and captive—textbook trade. Adult trade sales aren’t the reason that companies like Random House can generate more than $1 billion in annual revenues.
Here’s What You Can Do
Hire your own public relations firm to promote you and your book. Your publisher is likely to be grateful and cooperative. But you must communicate carefully with your publishing house.
Once your manuscript is completed, you should request a group meeting with your editor and people from the marketing, sales, and publicity departments. You should focus on what their marketing agenda will be. If you’ve decided to retain your own PR firm, this is the time to impress the people at your publishing house with your commitment and pressure them to help pay for it. At the very least, the publisher should provide plenty of free books.
Beware of this common problem: Even if you do a national TV show, your book may not be abundantly available in bookstores that day—at least, not everywhere. An obvious answer is setting up 800 numbers to fill orders, and it baffles me that publishers don’t make wider use of them. There are many people watching Oprah who won’t ever make it to the bookstore, but who would be willing to order then and there with a credit card. Infomercials have proved this.
Not all talk or interview shows will cooperate, but whenever possible you should try to have your publisher’s 800 number (or yours) displayed as a purchasing method, in addition to the neighborhood bookstore. If you use your own number, make sure you can handle a potential flood.
If retaining a PR firm isn’t realistic for you, then do your own media promotions. There are many good books in print about how to do your own PR. (A selection of relevant titles may be found in this volume’s “Suggested Resources” section.)
Attacking Problem No. 3: You Detest the Title and Jacket
Almost always, your publisher will have final contractual discretion over title, jacket design, and jacket copy. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be actively involved. In my opinion, you had better be. Once your final manuscript is submitted, make it clear to your editor that you expect to see all prospective covers and titles. But simply trying to veto what the publisher comes up with won’t be enough. You should try to counter the negatives with positive alternatives. You might even want to go as far as having your own prospective covers professionally created. If the publisher were to actually choose your version, the house might reimburse you.
At any rate, don’t wait until it’s after the fact to decide you don’t like your cover, title, and so forth. It’s like voting: Participate or shut up.
Click the link to Purchase a copy of Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents
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