tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post6649725974665429689..comments2024-03-29T05:45:39.184-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Countdown to a Book 10: The Marketing QuestionnaireDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-90686081369167807742013-07-08T07:30:31.585-06:002013-07-08T07:30:31.585-06:00If ever I doubted that marketing my books is serio...If ever I doubted that marketing my books is serious business, this puts that doubt to rest. Considering the massive number of works available to a finite reading audience, it is serious business indeed.<br /><br />This one's a keeper, Kathryn.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-55993887326209650132013-07-07T17:26:21.570-06:002013-07-07T17:26:21.570-06:00Thanks for stopping by, Uriah and Swati!
Glad yo...Thanks for stopping by, Uriah and Swati! <br /><br />Glad you found this post useful, Maryann. A market analysis is crucial for nonfiction because you have to know why the reader should pick yours off the shelf as opposed to any other book on the topic—but at least the focus should be apparent. It can be trickier for fiction, but just as necessary!Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-12771779531304204312013-07-07T15:45:47.100-06:002013-07-07T15:45:47.100-06:00Late to the discussion since I was offline most of...Late to the discussion since I was offline most of the time from Wednesday through Saturday, but wanted to come by and see what you had to say about marketing, Kathryn. I just did a questionnaire from the publisher that is bringing out my history book and it was quite enlightening. It was for a specific kind of non fiction, so what you shared here gives me things to think about for my fiction titles. Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-28937200448385201922013-07-06T13:06:38.155-06:002013-07-06T13:06:38.155-06:00Thank you so much for this post, Kathryn. It hadn&...Thank you so much for this post, Kathryn. It hadn't even occurred to me to think about these points, but now that you've written about them, they make a lot of sense. This is great info.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17288095109846550022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-8471940698606812482013-07-06T12:15:18.101-06:002013-07-06T12:15:18.101-06:00Thanks for sharing this! Very informative. Thanks for sharing this! Very informative. Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00703119919148948933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-10812720983630654402013-07-05T14:52:04.174-06:002013-07-05T14:52:04.174-06:00I've contacted a very good publicist friend I ...I've contacted a very good publicist friend I know and I think we might pursue this questionnaire angle a bit more in the future. I'm sure some readers are wondering exactly what questions are being asked. I'd like to share some of them. Kathryn, you could post the ones you are answering on Saturdays if you feel like it and/or if your publisher is okay with it. I know how time-consuming this job is, and it would be really interesting to explore a bit more.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-58188306872224549152013-07-05T14:10:48.495-06:002013-07-05T14:10:48.495-06:00Heidi I think you raise a good point—it's hard...Heidi I think you raise a good point—it's hard to "start." But after I filled out the questionnaire—quite thoroughly, I thought—I've returned to it a half dozen times so far to add this or that. <br /><br />I think you have to open your mind to the possibilities and allow one thing to lead to the next, just as if you were drafting your novel—only you are drafting your marketing plan. Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-28049913207393711862013-07-05T13:02:49.000-06:002013-07-05T13:02:49.000-06:00This is valuable information and it is so difficul...This is valuable information and it is so difficult to answer all those questions when you are first starting out. I kept asking myself, how do I know who my readers are going to be before I even sell my first book? The marketing hat is a heavy one!Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-72158376899766398962013-07-05T13:01:07.486-06:002013-07-05T13:01:07.486-06:00Dani, I agree that anyone who has a product to sel...Dani, I agree that anyone who has a product to sell would benefit from this type of exercise. "We overlook much in the mirror"—insightful comment, <br /><br />Christopher—quit looking in the mirror!<br /><br />Terry, I'm surprised. I've seen several Facebook posts by writing friends saying "this marketing questionnaire is so lo-o-ong." Guess not all marketing departments are created equal. It seems marketing approach/support might be a good thing to ask about when trying to decide whether to accept a traditional book deal.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-44432534093831428002013-07-05T12:53:23.187-06:002013-07-05T12:53:23.187-06:00Doesn't have to be a traditional publisher. Mo...Doesn't have to be a traditional publisher. More small companies are doing this too. And if you hire your OWN publicist, you'll do the same thing for them! It's probably not a bad exercise for any author self-promoting to really think about these questions regarding their life and anything that might help promote the book. We overlook much in the mirror. Another person can often spot history, goals, skills that have terrific marketing potential! Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-52351743019817496092013-07-05T12:48:37.380-06:002013-07-05T12:48:37.380-06:00My goodness. None of my publishers did anything li...My goodness. None of my publishers did anything like this. Of course, their books didn't sell well, either, which is why I've left them. Basically, their marketing sheets said, "get out there and promote your book."Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-2297723222935350262013-07-05T11:38:04.033-06:002013-07-05T11:38:04.033-06:00Yikes ... no wonder my market efforts are so pathe...Yikes ... no wonder my market efforts are so pathetic.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-52338269895978979152013-07-05T10:59:12.115-06:002013-07-05T10:59:12.115-06:00Thanks Helen. And Elspeth, somehow I think even yo...Thanks Helen. And Elspeth, somehow I think even your practical hat will be a fascinator. ;)<br />Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-58026606420995694772013-07-05T10:31:48.741-06:002013-07-05T10:31:48.741-06:00I'm echoing Helen's comments; thanks Kathr...I'm echoing Helen's comments; thanks Kathryn for giving me a great deal to consider when it's time for me to take off my creative hat and don my practical one.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-22362597420775541582013-07-05T10:27:23.962-06:002013-07-05T10:27:23.962-06:00Great post, Kathryn. You've given us some advi...Great post, Kathryn. You've given us some advice and knowledge that is very important.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-87528775925281166162013-07-05T07:36:47.365-06:002013-07-05T07:36:47.365-06:00Diana it really can be hard, especially if your bo...Diana it really can be hard, especially if your book isn't a "ripped from the headlines" kind of thing. And thinking up comparable authors or similar books can be a real challenge for those of us who write stories because they're the ones we'd like to read yet we haven't found any like it yet. But one thing's for sure: every author who's struggled through the exercise has empathy and appreciation for the publisher who must find an audience for your book.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-11334069886831923332013-07-05T07:02:39.255-06:002013-07-05T07:02:39.255-06:00I almost submitted to an agent who asked for this ...I almost submitted to an agent who asked for this once. I couldn't answer it. But if you are serious about marketing your books, you should be able to come up with something. Otherwise, it will probably fall into the "We don't know how to sell this" category. I'm going to print this off.Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-41971174109679236202013-07-05T06:39:38.950-06:002013-07-05T06:39:38.950-06:00Thanks Morgan, and best of luck with your upcoming...Thanks Morgan, and best of luck with your upcoming book! Since you have already built a following, it would be interesting to have a post from you some time about how you've tailored your marketing efforts over time, and what methods you use to try to expand your reader base at this point.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-89032051747855093032013-07-05T05:42:10.695-06:002013-07-05T05:42:10.695-06:00I admire your analytic approach. Also, thanks for ...I admire your analytic approach. Also, thanks for the list with the links, so I can catch up on some of the details, and perhaps apply them to my own upcoming release.<br /><br />Morgan Mandel<br />http://www.morganmandel.comMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.com