Many of you have been reading my blog for months and some of you have been readers for several years. So, you know about the success I’ve had consulting in the publishing industry for over a decade: coached 450 authors, helped books hit the New York Times list multiple ways, etc. In addition, you’ve heard me harp on many issues, such as Facebook engaging in dubious practices, authors looking ridiculous who claim to be #1 on Amazon in obscure categories, or the superior results of email versus social media.
Guess what? I’m not the only one. I’m not a lone voice in the publishing wilderness shouting out the truth to authors. There is another voice giving authors the same wisdom. I feel like I’ve discovered a long lost marketing brother from another mother.
His name is Tim Grahl, and I was recently introduced to his work through a mutual marketing contact. I knew that Tim wrote a book several years ago called Your First 1000 Copies. To be honest, the title fooled me, because I thought he was just giving instruction to aspiring authors. I wondered, “Who wants to sell just 1,000 copies?”
However, Tim’s insights go way beyond selling 1,000 copies. He’s helped numerous books hit the New York Times bestseller list and worked with many well-known authors, such as Dan Pink, Dan and Chip Heath, Charles Duhigg, Pamela Slim, and Hugh Howey. Plus, he’s been working with authors for over eight years.
I’m excited to tell you about Tim, because it’s helpful to hear marketing guidance from more than one expert. When two professionals independently reach the same conclusions and preach the same advice, you know it’s wisdom worth heeding. For example, Tim is a big believer in several points you’ve seen me discuss over the years:
1. Email is vastly superior to social media at selling books. Tim actually ran direct tests between email versus Twitter for his clients and found email outsold 6 – 12 times better! He says Facebook is just as inferior.
2. Free content is king. If you want to grow your email list, don’t just say, “Join my newsletter,” on your website. Instead, give away enticing free content to encourage people to subscribe. This one tip has helped Tim’s clients grow their email lists more than any other tactic.
3. Create a marketing plan before you start promoting your book. You’ve seen my popular Book Marketing Plan Template. Tim agrees that the quality of your plan determines the quality of your book launch. A bad plan equals a bad launch. He even breaks a book launch plan into four different styles.
There are several other areas where Tim and I tell authors similar advice. I encourage you to check out his books and podcast episodes. Like me, he is extremely generous with giving away a ton of helpful content. Use the links below to access his resources:
Tim Grahl’s website
Your First 1000 Copies
The Book Launch Blueprint
Tim’s Book Launch Podcast
I’m glad to know that I’ve got a successful book marketing brother. I hope you benefit from his encouragement. Sometimes, we need to hear the same thing from different sources to finally believe it’s true. Listen to me. Listen to Tim. I promise you’ll start selling more books.
