Welcome Back to WG2E-Land, Nancy Brandon!
Here’s Nancy’s scoop on how her local newspaper gave her a nice boost in sales.
Take it away, Nancy…
Facebook. Twitter. Linked In. Blogs. Today the Internet makes communication so widespread and easy that millions have abandoned traditional newspapers and magazines. I’m the child of a journalist and a freelance writer myself, so while I appreciate the immediacy of information disseminated online, my chest aches at the thought of the demise of paper publications. Recently, though, an experience with Dunaway’s Crossing demonstrated to me how the traditional newspaper still holds some power in communication–and fosters a beneficial connection to electronic communications.
Even though Dunaway’s Crossing sells more electronic than paper copies, it does still sell a number of paperbacks. Because of the story’s foundation in Georgia history, it has a strong local following. So when a Savannah business, Two Women and a Warehouse, recently invited me to conduct a book signing, I enthusiastically agreed. The event took place just two weeks prior to my Dunaway’s Crossing launch party, so I sent a press release to Savannah Morning News publicizing both events. I was delighted when a reporter picked up the story and interviewed me for a piece in the paper’s features section.
The article ran the day before the signing. The editor had included a head shot of me and a cover shot of the book. Almost everything I’d said in the interview was included in the story. What’s more, the article appeared on the front page of the features section–top of the fold, left column. What a sweet spot! I’d expected just a short blurb in the inside pages.
While the article’s presentation delighted me, I still wondered about its impact. How many people still read the paper?
I soon found out. When I arrived to set up at Two Women and a Warehouse, a customer was already there waiting for me. She’d read the article and learned we came from the same rural Georgia town. She just had to buy my book. Over the course of the afternoon, as customers entered the store, I greeted them with “Did you come for the book signing?”
Every other one replied, “Yes. I read about it in the newspaper.”
I sold every book I brought with me that day. But the benefits have lasted beyond that one afternoon.
When that article ran, sales spiked, for both my Kindle and paperback versions of Dunaway’s Crossing. I can’t draw a definite cause-effect relationship, but neither can I help noticing the timing of that spike to the article’s publication. Not only did Savannah Morning News run the article in its print edition, but it also ran the piece through its companion website, Savannahnow.com. Readers (whether they saw the print or electronic version of the article) who couldn’t attend the book signing possibly logged on to Amazon and ordered the book or e-book instead.
True, electronic media serves a vast audience. I’m sure over time that audience will grow. But make no mistake about it; many people still love a good paperback, so if you have one as a companion piece to your e-book, keep in mind that newspapers are still an effective avenue of spreading word about your latest publication. The power of the paper led to the spike in my sales. It might lead to yours too.
It’s Your Turn, WG2E-Land: How many of you also have paperback versions of your Ebooks? Has the benefit of having the paper copies available outweighed the costs (time and money) of producing them? Have you harnessed the power of your local newspaper to create buzz about your books?
The Best of The Power of Paper Wishes — Nancy Brandon
Nancy Brandon is the author of journalistic articles, academic articles, short fiction and writing textbooks. She teaches college English in Savannah, Georgia, where she lives with her husband and two children. Dunaway’s Crossing is her first novel. It is available on Amazon.com or through her website, http://www.NancyBrandon.com.
big congrats nancy! and nice to know the print world still is alive and well, thanks!
I’m what some people call a “hybrid” writer – in that I still write for traditional publishers as well as publishing digitally. Since 2006 I have been regularly bringing out books from a local regional publisher – primarily ghost story collections as well as a children’s picture book and a young adult novel. All of these are available in maritime bookstores and receive a fair bit of media exposure here in Halifax.
Because they are traditionally published I am not privy to the immediate sales figures – but I do hear from an awful lot of people who say things like – “I read about you in the newspaper”.
Besides the newspaper a writer ought to explore as much local media as possible. I have been featured in our local ATLANTIC BOOKS TODAY magazine – which reaches a lot of people and is distributed through local bookstores. Last summer I had wonderful coverage as well as a photoshoot from HALIFAX magazine – which is available through local magazine shops and is included as a free insert for subscribers to our local newspaper and from regionally-distributed subscription copies of the GLOBE AND MAIL.
Reaching out through the local print media can be very beneficial to a traditionally published author. Local print media can provide exposure for yourself, promotional opportunity for your media appearances, and they can serve to simply point people towards the bookstores where your books are available.
In addition, my traditional publisher has begun to slowly venture into the e-book business. Three of my regional collections are available in Kobo and Nook format.
Although I have over a dozen e-books available I have only recently begun to poke my unwashed snout into the world of the independent digital author. I have one YA novel and I am working on another. I haven’t yet attempted to tap into local media to promote my digital releases – but I am definitely looking at that in the very near future as I continue to raise a profile here in the indie e-book world.
I keep an eye on the local newspaper. I have noticed that there are a lot more articles and interviews concerning us e-book writers – so there is a door for promotional opportunity that is DEFINITELY available for an enterprising indie author.
Steve, I’m so glad to learn that print publications are helping out your work. The decline of newspapers and magazines distresses me, so even though I embrace electronic publishing, I’m always heartened at the power the traditional press has. Good luck as you continue writing and publishing!
Congrats! I also have paperback copies but don’t sell very many. It doesn’t cost me hardly anything to put them in paperback so it’s a no brainer, really. I want to make my books available in as many formats as poss.
I agree. Because producing in paperback is so easy these days, why not accommodate that paperback readership?
I’m definitely having softcover copies to accompany my ebooks. I prefer reading paperback, and I’ve heard from many people around me who are waiting for the paper version to come out because they don’t read ebooks.
The first proof for my first novel is on it’s way (should be here next week), and as soon as I’m finished my second novel, I’ll release the ebook and softcover in the same month. Although ebooks may have more sales/downloads, the majority of the population still purchase paperbacks. I’d be foolish to ignore that market.
I’ve seen our local newspaper print stories of book launches for our local writers, and there always seems to be a large crowd, so I agree: newspapers still work.
Thanks for contributing, Diane! Looking forward to seeing your book in print.
With my first release, which was done through a small, indie publisher, we did both. We saw a huge jump in paperback sales when we did the free days on Kindle. Some people do still prefer paper books, so I’ve sold them with so-so success to book clubs and book stores, and at library presentations. And my mom likes carrying her copy around, too, of course!
I had a similar experience, Tamara. I’ve done two free book promotions, and each time, my paperback sales jumped too. Having a supportive mom also helps!
Nice post! I have 2 novels and a short in ebook, and will have the novels in paperback at the end of this month. The ebooks are doing well, but I’m curious to see how the paperbacks do – considering I dragged my feet somewhat on getting them done. …so we’ll see.
BTW, congratulations on what sounds like a successful signing!
Thank you so much, Sharon. I’ve learned that where paperback sales go, book signings are much more successful than trying to place books in stores (although I’ve been encouraged by the positive response store owners have given me). With book signings, there’s no initial investment for the local store owner, so as we split proceeds during book signings, everybody wins! Good luck with yours!
Nancy, That’s wonderful to hear! My book is in pre-release and I’ve been conducting an informal poll…asking if there is a preference for printed copy versus ebook. So far the print copy is ahead by about 10 to 1! Thanks for your post…it’s been reassuring!
That’s a wider margin than I would have expected. You were smart to do that poll. So glad to hear the paperback market is still strong!
Nancy- great post. Right now I am planning my first ever book signing this fall and I hope that it is a successful as yours:) Congratulations!
I wish you all the luck in the world with yours! I’ll be watching your website to find out when and where it takes place!
I might tell my local paper when the anthology I hope to be in, is coming out. They might be interested. Shall have to think about it.
It can’t hurt and might help. I vote for giving it a try.
That was great publicity, especially if you’re Indie published. Most papers in my area shy away from doing any articles on the Indie published; however, that could be changing.
I’m not published yet but I want to have a signing and will definitely follow through with this information.
My local paper was not interested in doing an article about the release of the book alone, but when they learned an event was involved, then they perked up. I have another book signing taking place in a nearby town in a couple of weeks. That local paper is also doing a feature, and it’s because of the book signing taking place, not because of the book itself. It seems papers want to write about events.
Great timing on the article and book signing … I have both paperback and ebook versions of my books. The second one, set in lovely and historic Eufaula, Alabama, has sold quite a few paperbacks. I owe this to support from the community and two articles in the newspaper (NOTE: Eufaula is MUCH smaller than Savannah). I sold out of books at my first book signing and have been asked to come back for another signing. I am also donating a portion of the proceeds to the city’s historic renovation projects.
Lauren, you’ve hit on another way to get publicity–book talks and lectures. Newspapers will write about those events because they’re often connected to a community organization. And what a smart idea to choose Eufaula as a setting. Residents of those small towns love to read about their home.
Congrats, and thanks for sharing your story. My debut releases from a small house in November, and it’s in ebook only right now. I’ve been wondering if I should contact the papers and when to do so… and since it’s in ebook form, what do I say, lol?
Thanks!
I say go for it. Do you have any book talks coming up or lectures? You could send papers a press release announcing those.
No, everything I have planned is online. I am doing a charity blog tour that will target the homeless. I wasn’t sure if I should even try to do any book talks since I would just have ecopies.
What a timely article. I’ve just published my first book (digitally and in paperback) and am participating in the Beach Book Blast, but I’m also the editor of a community magazine with a circulation of 60,000. My publisher is allowing me to put a notice of the book’s launch in the magazine this month. It is set in Pittsburgh, where the magazine is based, and I was wondering if it would bring any results. I’m hoping I have your success.
Thanks for the encouragement.
I hope you have success too. And that Beach Book Blast sounds like a lot of fun!