For sixteen years, I
worked in the real estate business; eight of those years I ran my own company,
Portfolio Real Estate. I specialized in properties on Lake Murray which has
over six hundred miles of shoreline and is located northwest of Columbia, SC.
During my real estate days, I learned that promotional items are key to
maintaining a successful business. I developed a buyers’ guide to Lake Murray
called the Lake Murray Portfolio, where I previewed and photographed lake
houses that were for sale. I advertised in my local newspaper, and with the
help of an advertising company, created a brochure about my business that was
distinctive, memorable, and brought me sales. I took these lessons learned from
real estate into my business as an author.
When I do a book
signing, I am armed with several hundred bookmarks that were designed by the
talented man, Robin Krauss, who creates the book covers for my publishing
house, Boutique of Quality Books, Atlanta, Georgia. The book marks are eye
catching and provide information to help customers learn about, and purchase my
novels, The Cast Net and Catherine’s Cross. I have found that
people who take a bookmark from me sometimes later purchase my books, or
download them in an ebook format.
Another important rule
to having a successful book promotion is to schedule your signing alongside a
community event that will bring foot traffic in front of your table. This past
Memorial Day weekend, I signed copies of my novels at McIntosh Book Shoppe, on
Bay Street in downtown Beaufort, South Carolina. Since both of my novels are
set in the Low Country of South Carolina, a couple of weeks before the book
signing, I made a tour of the Low Country of South Carolina visiting newspapers
and book stores along the coast. I visited over fifteen venues, but heard back
from one very important news source, The Hilton Head Island Packet.
A reporter for this newspaper called and interviewed me about my novels and
wrote about them preceding the scheduled book signing. His article was
outstanding. Not only did I benefit from the foot traffic that was in Beaufort
for the Saturday before Memorial Day, but I had customers who had read the
article and came especially to purchase my novels. I had a wonderful signing
event and sold thirty copies of my novels. This broke my old record of
twenty-six books that I sold last summer during an annual celebration that
takes place in Beaufort.
I would like to say
more in regards to giving away bookmarks. It is a nonthreatening way of
introducing yourself to passersby. As people go by my signing table, I ask them
if they’d like a bookmark. Usually, the answer is yes. When a person comes
forward to receive the bookmark, I tell them that I’m signing my novels, and I
give a brief synopsis of the stories. I find that this works in a positive
fashion, and then I close on the sale. I don’t sell everyone a book, but I have
a good success rate. If you think about it, I signed books for three hours and
sold thirty books. That’s a book sale every six minutes!
All right authors—get
those bookmarks ready! Don’t be afraid to make eye contact with passersby at
your signings, hand them out, and smile!
Please check out these
links. The first one is the article written about me in The Hilton Head Island
Packet: http://www.islandpacket.com/2013/05/19/2509240/a-chat-with-millie-west-author.html
This link is to
Southern Writer’s Magazine. Catherine’s Cross was recently the must read
of the week: http://southernwritersmagazine.blogspot.com/
My
website: www.milliewestauthor.com
A graduate of the
University of South Carolina, Millie West has a background in aviation, as well
as in real estate, and has owned and been the broker of her own company. A
licensed pilot, Millie was one of the first pilots hired by United Parcel
Service when they started their flight crew department.
An artist in her
own right and a collection of regional art—especially from Charleston—Millie is
a supporter of charitable organizations, higher education, and the preservation
of South Carolina’s historical treasures. A South Carolina
taking
less-traveled paths into the countryside that was inhabited by Native Americans
hundreds of years
ago.
Her love of the
fascinating, complex, and compelling history of the South is expressed in her
writing.
Millie resides
with her family near Columbia ,
South Carolina
Millie will be awarding autographed copies of Catherine’s Cross to three randomly drawn commenters (US only) and a $20 credit to buy any book through BQB Publishing’s online store to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour so I encourage you to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
advice for authors
advice for writers
book promotion
book signings
bookmarks
Millie West
promotional materials for authors
writers and authors
5 Comments
Good morning and thank you for hosting my novel, Catherine's Cross. I'm on my way to Beaufort, SC for fihing and book signings so it will be later today before I can check this site. Hope my book mark suggestions help!
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting
ReplyDeleteI've been contemplating this very idea--bookmarks--since my novels are eBooks and not printed books. This has convinced me that to go ahead with my idea. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you Savannah for your comment and yes you should go forward with your plan! Millie West
ReplyDeleteGood advice
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
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