Best Seller Authors

Book Marketing, Publishing, Author Resources

The Illusion of Patronage

The following is an excerpt from Seth Godin’s The Domino Project If you are not subscribed, I suggest you do so right away. This is the future of publishing.

Here, Seth answers the question of what a publisher will do to help you

Many successful, serious authors are in love with the notion that they get to be serious and successful merely by writing.

There was a brief interlude, perhaps 50 years in all post-Gutenberg, in which it was possible for a talented writer to be chosen, anointed, edited, promoted and paid for her work. Where the ‘work’ refers to the writing.

This idea that JD Salinger could hide out in his cabin, write, and periodically cash royalty checks is now dying.

Authors of the future are small enterprises, just one person or perhaps two or three. But they include fan engagement specialists, licensors, new media development managers, public speakers, endorsement and biz dev VPs, and more.

No one has your back.

Sad but true. The author of today (and tomorrow) is either going to build and maintain and work with his tribe or someone is going to take it away.

Seth Godin is the founder of The Domino Project and has written twelve books that have been translated into more than thirty languages. Every one has been a bestseller. He writes about the post-industrial revolution, the way ideas spread, marketing, quitting, leadership and most of all, changing everything.

Seth Godin Learns that Publishing is Dead

tribes

Authors need to have a tribe to read what they write.

Publishers don’t build tribes, they print and distribute books.  This business model has served them well in the past when there were limits on ways authors could reach readers.  All authors and publishers would do well to study Tribes

Seth announced his intentions on his blog

Authors need publishers because they need a customer. Readers have been separated from authors by many levels–stores, distributors, media outlets, printers, publishers–there were lots of layers for many generations, and the editor with a checkbook made the process palatable to the writer. For ten years, I had a publisher as a client (with some fun self-published adventures along the way). Twelve bestsellers later, I’ve thought hard about what it means to have a traditional publisher.

Traditional book publishers use techniques perfected a hundred years ago to help authors reach unknown readers, using a stable technology (books) and an antique and expensive distribution system.

The thing is–now I know who my readers are. Adding layers or faux scarcity doesn’t help me or you. As the medium changes, publishers are on the defensive…. I honestly can’t think of a single traditional book publisher who has led the development of a successful marketplace/marketing innovation in the last decade. The question asked by the corporate suits always seems to be, “how is this change in the marketplace going to hurt our core business?” To be succinct: I’m not sure that I serve my audience (you) by worrying about how a new approach is going to help or hurt Barnes & Noble.

We know that publisher can still serve an author. If you have build a two way dialog with your tribe (say, you are on TV but have never blogged) then a large check from someone betting on your title to click with their distribution is a no-brainer.

Seth has been teaching us to build a tribe for years. Now he’s broke ties with the old model that used to serve him. No doubt he’ll do well.

What’s your strategy to build a two way dialog with your readers?

Seth Godin’s Secret to Selling Books

The video below has a quick interview with best selling author Seth Godin.

As usual, Seth has many great ideas about what it takes to be a success today.

The last question was important for any author. Seth was asked about the secret to marketing books. After reminding us that the best ideas come from “getting busy and doing it” and working past all the crappy ideas till only the good one is left. Seth gave specific advice about marketing your book.

The time to start is 18 months before your book comes out. If you wait till one week before, I have no advice for you

Blog To Book Writing a Best Seller is an Idea From 1980’s

I read best selling author David Meerman Scott’s excellent blog because he not only agrees with what I teach authors about creating a best seller campaign.. but he does it better than just about any author.

Today he posted and excellent post and inspired me to watch an hour long presentation video and read more on the interviews he did with other best selling authors like Seth Godin.

The Little Big Things: 163 Ways to Pursue EXCELLENCEMy favorite concept is one we’re using more and more in out best seller book marketing campaigns.. that is giving away great content to attract readers. David went to one of my all time favorite authors, Tom Peters and got two excellent examples of blogging to book writing.

You can easily see how Peter’s latest book, BIG comes from 163 blog posts that were posted as free content on the web.. but you might not have known that the huge hit of 1982 was developed in much the same way.

Tom Peters is a prolific author and very successful. David Meerman Scott is on his way to being just as successful. Watch this video and see how you can model what they have done in your own book marketing and promotion

My Argument With Best Selling Author Seth Godin

Seth Godin started it.

He has this crazy idea to build traffic for his web site by encouraging people to argue

I heard about a hot new technology that I thought would be great for promoting authors. But when I got there, I saw the part about arguements, and build this lens

Hey Seth! Arguments are a Waste of Time

I have a lot of respect for Seth, and love the Squidoo site. When you go to the link above and vote to agree with me about arguments, stick around for a few minutes and see how easy it is to set up your own “lens” (page) on that site. You can get free traffic for your projects, more respect as the expert on your topic, sell books and even earn a little bit of money for your efforts.

Remember to post a comment when you see something that’s interesting. Every comment is your mark that you were there. By joining in the discussion, you are seen by hundreds or thousands of readers, some will want to know you better and come to your site.