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Marketing Versus PR: Which Do You Need to Sell Your Book?
Marketing, Public Relations, Branding, Advertising: What’s the difference? And which one do you need to sell more copies of your book? There are so many terms out there that have to do with selling books that it can be very confusing. I recently had a discussion with an author on increasing her book sales, and…
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An Author’s Guide to Twitter
Twitter is a great tool for authors. When this social media platform first arrived on the scene, I thought, “Fabulous! This is a great way for authors who don’t like to be social to communicate with their readers.” I decided that I should use Twitter regularly. I opened an account and started to Tweet. What…
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New Publishing Imprints, New Books, New Services
There’s so much upcoming news at Open Door Publications that highlights are in order. Three Imprints* will be offered by Open Door Publications to give authors in nonfiction, adult fiction and children’s books the best branding possible for their books. Open Door Publications is our original parent site. It features non-fiction in three categories: Empowering…
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Better than bucks, why reviews are money in the bank
By Nicole Loughan I’ve often hear authors say it’s demeaning to ask for reviews, it’s beneath them or just downright embarrassing. To the contrary, getting reviews are almost the single most important thing you can do for your books, they help give your work legitimacy, make you look popular, and more than anything they help…
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What a Little Publicity Can Do for You
Radio appearances, blog post mentions, and a review by a prestigious publication are just some of the opportunities that author Chelsea Dixon, Bridging the Gap, a Simple Guide to College, received when she won a month-long publicity Smith Publicity campaign at our 2015 Winter Writers’ Weekend. Smith Publicity is a 20-year-old international public relations agency…
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Book Con, We Did It!
BookCon, the largest book festival in the country, was held May 30 and 31 at the Javits Center in New York City and Open Door Publications was there! It was fun, it was exhausting, and it was a great experience. Authors Chelsea Dixon, “Bridging the Gap: A Simple Guide to College,” K.W. Penndorf, “Freya and…
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What To Do Before You Publish Your E-book
A few years ago the question authors were asking was, “Are e-books here to stay?” Now we know the answer is yes. Not only are they here to stay, for many authors, by-passing a paper book and publishing an e-book first. Why? Not only are authors, particularly emerging authors, finding it a less expensive way…
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A Great Success! 2015 Winter Writers’ Weekend
Our Third Annual Winter Writers Weekend was a great success and everyone who attended learned a lot about writing, publishing and marketing their books. What’s even more exciting are the continuing friendships and email support by everyone who attended – both participants and speakers. Here are a few of the key take-a-ways from our…
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The Art of the Pre-Order
Nora Roberts, James Patterson and John Grisham do it – why can’t you? Setting up your book for pre-order, either on Amazon or on your own website, isn’t that difficult. And I know a lot of authors who do it. But then what happens? They forget to tell their friends and fans that the book…
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Do I Need a New ISBN?
If I make a change to my book do I have to change the ISBN? This is a questions that, as a publisher, I hear every day – often asked by someone who wants to save a few dollars by not purchasing a new ISBN. First, a little background: ISBN stands for International Standard Book…
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Shameless Self-Promotion – With a Heart
I have a friend who talks about “shameless self-promotion.” She thinks it’s a great thing, and something that most of us just don’t do enough. Most authors I know are afraid to promote their books. Why? I think it is because our books are very personal to us. They are our babies. And promoting our…
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Perfection Paralysis
Do you find yourself writing, writing, writing; always adding another chapter, thinking of a new small piece of information that just must go into your book, changing a sentence only to change it back again … and again … and …? Well you get the picture. At some point it is time to say, “Enough,…
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Are You Sabotaging Your Book’s Marketability?
Here’s an example we hear so often: “I don’t need to hire an editor. My mother is a retired English teacher. She knows all about good grammar.” Open Door Publications doesn’t care if your mother is the world’s greatest expert on grammar, she should not edit your book. Why? Because she loves you, and she…
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Phenomenal Marketing Your Book Deserves
By Nicole Loughan Earlier this year I was standing in front of a six foot tall picture of Jodi Picoult hoisted three stories high in the sky over a conference center in Manhattan. Behind her were banners for Lena Dunham, Amy Poehler and even James Patterson. Below those banners were thousands and thousands of books…
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To Smile or Not To Smile
by Laura Pedrick Recently, just before shooting a portrait session, my client expressed great anxiety and dread about being photographed. As I raised my camera for that first shot I swear I heard a sigh that silently seemed to say, “Go ahead, just shoot me and get it over with.” Not all portrait shoots begin…
