We hear this question from time to time throughout the Tate Marketing department, and it is a valid one. After all, no one will give an author more exposure than Oprah can, right?
Well...maybe. But success can be found apart from Oprah. And the reality of it is, Oprah only pushes maybe 1 or 2 authors on her show every year (one of the most recent being actor Sidney Poitier, Oprah's childhood idol). With over 400,000 new books to be released this year, the chances of being featured by Oprah or her book club are quite slim. Add to that rare chance the fact that Oprah does not accept any unsolicited material, and the chances become even slimmer.
So unless you are a legendary actor or are known for something else prior to writing your book, it's time to do something besides just hope that Oprah will jump on board to help you get your book noticed. That's why Tate Marketing puts together a strategy - a specific plan - that will help Tate authors sell their books.
You see, we have a saying around the halls of the Tate Publishing offices - 'Hope is Not a Strategy.'
Sitting back and hoping that someone else will sell your book for you is no strategy at all. That's why our Tate Marketing Reps work hand-in-hand with our authors to devise the best plan to help each author sell their book. We cannot take a "cookie-cutter" approach to selling books, but need to instead think carefully with our authors about who they know, what their circle of influence is, who they can invite to attend their events, and what the true target audience really is for their book.
When the hope of Oprah is no longer a possibility, we have to buckle down and team together to be about the business of selling books. Tate Marketing is about creating the opportunities for our authors to successfully sell their books, whether that happens in a bookstore, coffee shop, gym, middle school, or church. Our Marketing Representatives not only work the retail bookstore angles, but they also work these kinds of venues that enable our authors to truly get their books in front of those that need the book the most. In April 2009 alone, we have over 430 events on our calendar, giving our authors the best chance to reach their audience and sell their books.
If you are reading this and are a Tate author, please be sure to stay in touch with your Marketing Representative and discuss the possibilities. We can brainstorm with you and provide new ideas and opportunities for success - and simply believe that Oprah doesn't know what she's missing.
4 comments:
I like Oprah and she does more than her share of "good works", however, it is sad that in this day and age we have to depend on a celebrity to be heard, especially when our message is sincere, honest, and can change lives. Just because a book is endorsed by a celebrity, doesn't mean it is the best! A book should be judged by it's content and not necessarily the celebrity that likes it. Tastes in books are subjective, so if a celebrity likes your book that's great and if it gets your book good exposure that's even better, but it should not be the only criteria we use to either judge our work as an author or how we decide to buy the next book we want to read. Thanks for your post Mark and I'm glad that Tate Publishing relies on their own marketing strategies in promoting their authors and great books! As an author myself, I'm not waiting for Oprah before I become successful!
Hi, I am Richard Hardin, author of "Choosing Faith with Love." I just heard of the Marketing Blog today so I thought I would check it out. Also, I have a weekly radio program in the local area called of all things, "Choosing Faith with Love." It is every Saturday morning, 9:30-10:30 CST (Oklahoma City time) on KTLR 890 am radio, and worldwide on http://www.ktlr.com then click on "Listen Now." I would like to invite all of you to listen in and send me an email, I would like to get to know other Tate authors. There is a link from my web site to KTLR and Tate Publishing so that listeners can go directly to Tate Publishing for books. Well, have a good day, God Bless You!
As a new author I think it would be a great advantage to see my video link on the page with my book. Pictues are worth a thousand of my words.
Yes, Anita...I see that your trailer has been approved, so that link will appear along withour book in our online bookstore. you couldn't be more right - the pictures are worth a thousand words!
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