Authors hire publicists to promote their books, and often pay them well. So why should an author help a publicist do his job? The simple answer is: Because book marketing and book publicity is a very personal business; one in which emotions matter and meaningful communication can make the difference between a successful book promotion campaign and a mediocre or poor one.
Whatever that instant of recognition is composed of, it’s there because that author’s brand put it there. Each association is complex and meaningful — unlike the association you’d experience for a brand of laundry detergent.
I used to think an eBook was just a PDF file that was pretty much a duplicate of your print book. And up until a few years ago, that was true. Then, along came the Kindle, and a whole new market opened up. But THEN, “smart” mobile technology, such as iPhones, iPads and so many other formats entered onto the scene. It’s a confusing quagmire of technology, and it’s VERY easy to get overwhelmed with the options.
When you apply for a job, employers want to see your references to ensure that someone will vouch for you as a worker. Book endorsements work the same way: They assure readers that someone is vouching for the quality of the book, even if only in the form of a snappy one-liner on its cover.
BookWhirl.com rolls out its first marketing and publicity deals.