Ask for what you want!

 

by Marilyn and Tom Ross

 

You're much more likely to get people to accommodate you if they know what you want. Folks generally enjoy being helpful. Pursuing that belief when we launched our last book, we also created the following checklist to enclose with every individual copy of Jump Start Your Book Sales shipped from our office. It is offered here with the hope you'll find it a useful model. It's generating nice results for us. Why not create something similar to ask for what you want?

 

"How can I help?"

 

That's a question we hear often these days when people see  Jump Start Your Book Sales. Actually, there are many ways you can be of assistance. Here are a few ideas:

 

Tell your colleagues, your friends, (your enemies?) about this new resource. Talk it up over coffee, during phone conversations, at association gatherings, on listservs you belong to, etc.

 

Take your copy when you go to meetings of writers or publishers. Show it to people and give them our toll-free order number (800-331-8355).

 

Write a Letter to the Editor or minireview for newsletters of appropriate professional organizations to which you belong.

 

Go to Amazon.com and write a 5-star review . . . if you think that's deserved, of course.

 

Give the book as a gift to an aspiring author or a newcomer to publishing.

 

Ask for Jump Start Your Book Sales whenever you go into a bookstore. If they don't have it, suggest they order it. If they do, put it face-out on the shelf. (smile, smile) Thanks!

 

Request it at your local library. Again, suggest they order if it isn't in stock.

 

Talk with us about becoming a reseller if you give seminars, speeches, or classes in related subject areas and can sell back-of-the-room or via mail. This can be a new revenue stream for you.

 

Recommend it during your speeches; ask for free flyers if your group is holding a conference.

 

Include Jump Start Your Books Sales in bibliographies, recommended reading lists, and in the text of your own books when they relate to the subject of publishing.

 

Add a link to your Web site (we're at http://www.CommunicationCreativity.com/js).

 

Include flyers in your mailings to customers (if you're a printer, for instance) or to your vendors (if you're a distributor or wholesaler). This is a win/win/win alliance. The more books sold, the more we all benefit. And we'll even provide the flyers!

 

Consider hiring the Rosses to speak at your next annual conference, conduct a workshop, or build a special fund-raiser around a half-day seminar with them.

 

Thank you so very, very much!

Marilyn and Tom Ross

 

 

© Copyright 2005 Marilyn Ross

 

Marilyn and Tom Ross are the coauthors of 13 books including the best-selling Complete Guide to Self-Publishing and the award-winning Jump Start Your Book Sales. Through phone consultations and ongoing coaching/mentoring, Marilyn empowers authors and self-publishers to realize their dreams. She can be reached at 719-395-8659 or Marilyn@MarilynRoss.com. Visit http://www.SelfPublishingResources.com for free meaty information on writing, self-publishing, and book marketing strategies.

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