–> Almost Time for BEA–Will You Be There?
BEA is the largest book-industry gathering in the United States (though Europe has a far larger one, in Frankfort). Hundreds of exhibitors, thousands of authors, numerous educational events, chances to rub elbows with authors you admire (and perhaps make a contact that could lead to an endorsement).

–> Books and Bonuses
Two exciting books, both with bonus promotions including a bonus from me–the second one is only today.

–> How to Get Grassroots Marketing for Half-Price
Over 300 pages of solid information on lowering your marketing cost, boosting your return

–> Two Excellent Events in Europe

1] Responsible Business Summit - the biggest CSR conference in Europe. The conference is likely to sell out, so I recommend booking your ticket this week.

The Summit is taking place on the 13th and 14th May in London, and we are on course to bring together 450 CSR experts from throughout Europe. Speakers on corporate social responsibility, sustainability and business ethics, including:
* Jan Muehlfeit, European Chairman, Microsoft
* Ian Hudson, European President, DuPont
* Ingar Skaug, CEO, Wilh. Wilhelmsen
* Daniel Franklin, Executive Editor, The Economist
* John Imle, Former President, Unocal

2] A Rare and Special Treat: Your Chance to Learn in a Small Group with the Inventor of Guerrilla Marketing, Jay Conrad Levinson–On the French Riviera

–> A No-Cost Way to Connect with Reporters Seeking Stories
My friend Peter Shankman, a very well-connected PR guy in NYC, has started a no-charge service called Help A Reporter Out. He sends queries from reporters a few times a day, and if there’s a good fit, you answer the journalist. And he gets some leads that never make it to Profnet/PR Leads. This should be a no-brainer–but don’t abuse it. Only answer if you’re approrpiate for the query, or else you’ll spoil it for yourself and everyone else . If you get one good lead in a year, it’s worth it. He has passed on leads from the NY Times and Washington Post, as well as lesser venues. Sign up at www.helpareporter.com

–> Just One Friend Who Wants to Give You Stuff
Warren Whitlock’s How to Be a Bestselling Author Course (how to strategically leverage interest in your book)

–> Which of Shel’s Books is Right for You?

–> Mark Joyner: Conversations with Bestsellers
This one you have to pay for. Internet marketing genius/bestselling author/philosopher of abundance and social change Mark Joyner has released a set of audio conversations with other bestselling authors on how to become one. Includes transcripts and various cool bonuses.

–> Also from Mark: the re-release of his infamous “Mind Control Marketing,” the book that built his reputation years ago as one of the most focused and creative marketers in the world. I confess, I haven’t read this one-but I’ve heard about it for years.

–> Facebook Teleseminar with Mari Smith
If you’re not on Facebook yet, you may be missing valuable business opportunities. If you are on Facebook, are you getting the most out of it for your business? Recently, The Blog Squad grilled Mari Smith about why you need to be on Facebook and how to use the social networking site to be smart about building your business. Now you can get access to the audio program from the live teleseminar for an investment of only $20.

–> You’re invited to join Foundercontact
Christophe Poizat, founder and chairman of the International Network of Social Entrepreneurs (INSE) has invited you to receive a free membership with Foundercontact. Foundercontact International Ltd is a web 2.0 online marketplace designed to bring entrepreneurs into contact with 3500 investors for seed, early stage, or growth capital. With members from 5 continents and 93 different countries, it opens up international business opportunities for entrepreneurs. Sign up at http://www.foundercontact.com/user/register

–> Hear and Meet Shel

–> Latest Additions to the Websites

–> Administrative Information
Subscribe, unsubscribe, back issues, etc.

–> Don’t forget to play our games, at the top of any page on FrugalFun.com– no fees to play, prizes to win, and you help me continue to bring all this good information to you.

Published monthly since September, 2003 by Shel Horowitz
16 Barstow Lane, Hadley, MA 01035 USA
413/586-2388

Why Attend Book Expo America?

BEA is the largest book-industry gathering in the United States (though Europe has a far larger one, in Frankfort). Hundreds of exhibitors, thousands of authors, numerous educational events, chances to rub elbows with authors you admire (and perhaps make a contact that could lead to an endorsement).

By attending BEA and the events around it (this will be my 13th straight), and sometimes having a book at one of the co-op exhibits, I’ve been able to leapfrog my publishing career. Among other things:

• Initiated a book deal by having a conversation with a publisher in his booth! Yes, Grassroots Marketing: Getting Noticed in a Noisy World was actually sold because I walked the floor of BEA (you can click here to get Grassroots Marketing at half-off right now with the purchase of any of my other marketing books, by the way)
• Sold rights to one of my books for India and Mexico
• Made direct contact with agents and editors who expressed interest in books by my wife, my clients, and/or myself
• Met people who later became clients or vendors (or both)
• Been offered speaking gigs
• Developed in-person friendships with industry gurus such as Dan Poynter, Fern Reiss, and John Kremer (who have all since endorsed at least one of my books)
• Gotten autographed copies of cool new books (Studs Terkel’s publicist actually traded me Studs’ latest for one of mine, when we were autographing in neighboring booths several years ago)–however, this alone would not be a reason to attend; it’s just a fringe benefit that you should not let dominate your precious time on the show floor
• Learned an awful lot about the publishing business

I’ve attended most years as a journalist, and all my reports are online here. The first six articles on that page are all from BEA 2007; older material is farther down the page.

Incidentally, I’ve never taken a booth. I walk the floor, and attend both educational events and parties.

Pre-BEA Seminars

If you’re planning to attend Book Expo American(an extremely good idea), you should definitely attend at least one of the seminars. I published my first book over 20 years ago, and I still get good stuff. This year, I’ll be at PMAU on Wednesday May 28 (in the Advanced Track) and Rick Frishman’s seminar with Mark Victor Hansen, Brendon Burchard, Barbara DeAngeles, David Hancock, Alex Carroll, and an editor panel on Thursday, May 29.

I believe that a good live seminar is especially helpful to people starting out, but still useful (in different ways) to those with experience. I live my whole life in learning mode: books, teleseminars, and a least a few live events every year. If you attend the Frishman seminar, definitely come up and introduce yourself. We might or might not cross paths at PMAU, which has a dozen or so tracks at once.

Shel Horowitz’s Book Marketing Tip of the Month

With a book about traveling around Mexico in an old VW van, Rich Ligato’s choices of venues may be different from yours. But whatever kind of book you sell, there will be perfect places to sell it–places that have nothing to do with bookstores or websites. Use your creativity, and some of Rich’s techniques.

For lots more creative book marketing ideas, I recommend my own Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers–click here to learn about it.

–Shel Horowitz

Guest Tip By Rich Ligato

We have had the greatest success at unusual events. Our book is a
travel narrative about our three year journey in a VW campervan and
we’ve sold at…

Grape Stomp / Wine Tasting: One weekend, we set up at a the
Julian Grape Stomp and sold 20 books. Drunk people make great customers.

Art Nights: Here in San Diego we have two different “Art Walks” where
local galleries serve finger food and wine to attract buyers. We
simply set up a table next to our van and sold 25 books. The art was
so expensive yet everyone wanted to go home with something.

Farmers Markets: Our local farmers markets charge $20-25. We always
sell between 15-20 books. We secured local radio, tv, newspaper and
magazine interviews at our farmers market. The farmers markets
offer the perfect opportunity to practice sound bites. When the
interviewers asked questions we were practiced and ready with a short,
interesting, funny answer.

Car Shows: Our local car show allows anyone to set up and show off
their car for free. Nobody seemed to mind that we were selling books too.

Travel Club Meeting: We set up at the Discover Baja Travel Club and
sold a bunch of books.

The best thing about these venues is that we get to keep the entire
purchase price. At bookstores signings you generally have to give
them 40-50%. The most important thing is that you put yourself out
there. At first it is uncomfortable. Before you know it…it will be
fun.

Oh, and we always ask the buyer if they would like us to sign their
copy. It’s amazing how the simple act of signing a book causes others
to think “I’ve got to get one too.” We will go for an hour without
selling a book then suddenly someone will purchase one, we’ll make a
big deal of signing it, and the frenzy is on. We’ll sell a pile in 10
minutes.

Rich Ligato
www.vwvagabonds.com

This month’s tip: Make meeting planners *insist* on buying your book for every attender–and bonus tip: Enter Mark Joyner’s be-the-next-bestseller contest (deadline coming up)
http://frugalmarketing.com/newsletters/2008/02/21/make-it-impossible-not-to-get-your-book-into-the-hands-of-every-attender/

–> Hear and Meet Shel
http://frugalmarketing.com/newsletters/2008/01/06/hearmeet-shel-january-to-may-2008/

–> Latest Additions to the Websites
http://frugalmarketing.com/newsletters/2008/02/07/new-on-the-sites-february-2008/

–> Administrative Information
Subscribe, unsubscribe, back issues, etc.
http://frugalmarketing.com/newsletters/administrative-information

Published monthly since May, 1997 by Shel Horowitz
16 Barstow Lane, Hadley, MA 01035 USA
413/586-2388

Mark Joyner’s Best-Seller Contest

Coming to you early this month so you have time to enter Mark Joyner of Simpleology’s be-the-next-bestselling author contest. (He’s been a #1 best selling author at least three times, including not only Amazon but the New York Times and Wall Street Journal lists.) All you have to do is submit a quick little video, by February 26. He’s got quite a package for the person who wins. First, go and read Mark’s new (no-cost) e-book, “The Rise of the Author”–any trend-watcher will benefit from reading this, as it puts a context around many of the changes in publishing over the last couple of decades. Then submit your video (click on :”contest”). If you’re serious about reaching the next level, attend Joyner’s Bestseller Prep School telephone call on February 26.

On to this month’s tip: a no-lose way to get your book to everyone attending your speech

We all know that speaking is a great way to sell books–but that means you’ve got two sales to make: on to the meeting planner, and then again to the members of your audience.

I’ve experimented with some different options on the second sale. I’ve had a meeting planner buy enough copies to give a book to everyone, and another who bought a few cases to use as early-registration bonuses.

But speaker James Malinchak has an even better idea, if you can get into the planning early enough (before the attendance fee is set). This is so cool–he tells meeting planners, “how’d you like to provide every attender with a copy of my book, without paying anything extra?” Of course, the meeting planner is going to say yes–it’s a no-brainer, after all. Then Malinchak tells the planner to simply add the buy-in-bulk discounted cost of the book (including shipping) to the seminar fee! The event planner can even offer autographed copies.

Brilliant. It’s no big deal to go from, say, $79 to $85, considerable extra money in the author’s pocket, considerable added value for the meeting planner and attenders.

This Month’s Tip: Multiple Publicity Timelines

Knowing when to contact the media might be the difference between coverage and failure.
–> January Special: Order two or more marketing books during January and take an additional five dollars off–mention Book Marketing Newsletter Offer in the comment field

–> Which of Shel’s Books is Right for You?

–> Hear and Meet Shel: In person in Hartford, CT, online, on-air, and over the phone

–> Latest Additions to the Websites

–> Be in an Upcoming Chicken Soup Book, Deadline March 15
I received a call for submissions covering:
Democrat: http://www.democratsoul.com
Republican: http://www.republicansoul.com
Ultimate Dog/Cat/Horse can all be accessed by selecting the links to the
title of interest on http://www.theultimatepetlover.com
Questions/info/direct contact:  Theresa Peluso, teri [at] hcibookspub.com

–> Administrative Information: Subscribe, unsubscribe, back issues, etc.

Published monthly since September, 2003 by Shel Horowitz
16 Barstow Lane, Hadley, MA 01035 USA
413/586-2388

16 Barstow Lane
Hadley
MA 01035
United States
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As I write this at the end of January, you might be thinking about Valentine’s Day. And daily newspaper journalists, TV and radio broadcasters, and Internet media are also thinking about Valentine’s stories.

But…at a large monthly magazine, the assignment editor is already thinking about events way in the future: summer vacation stories, back to school, or even Halloween! If you pitch a story a month or two ahead to one of these publications, they’ll just laugh as they hit the delete button. They work six to eight months ahead.

And that means when you pitch these publications, you’ve got to be working seven to nine months out–and then come back to similar pitches for weekly newspapers and magazines perhaps one month to six weeks ahead, and then the short-deadline media outlets maybe two or three weeks ahead, sometimes even less.

It’s a schizophrenic existence, but it means more media coverage for you.

Bonus tips: 1. Your book (nonfiction as well as fiction) may be of seasonal interest even if it doesn’t mention the specific holiday. Any love story has a Valentine tie-in, any that takes place in the summer could be tied to summer stories–as could a book about treating sports injuries.

2. Having trouble finding those tie-ins? Use the same resources that media do: Chase’s Calendar of Events and Celebrate Today