Gerri Knilans’ Post

It’s easy for authors to have blind spots about what to do next, especially when their valuable expertise is based in other industries or experiences. https://lnkd.in/g3ttvQuK

This article highlights the importance of recognising the difference between a publisher and a publicist. For years the big six publishing houses have created unrealistic ideas of what a publisher will/can do for their authors. Of course if you are a multi-million selling author, they’re going to push out the PR wagon, but even if you’re a successful author (as you can see with Katherine here) that doesn’t guarantee assistance with marketing. We created a team that specialises in PR for authors (seperate to their publishing contract) and we remind those we represent, that writing the book is only half of the work and that they will need to embark on their own marketing campaigns. Readers want to hear from authors not from the publishers, they want to know why the book’s been written, they want to meet the author and they want to feel they have a connection with them when they read the book. More information like this needs to come out so that independent books start to get recognised. https://lnkd.in/etw6ACaC

I am profoundly thankful my shoulder is 99% back to normal. This means I can get back to job-hunting and promoting my ghostwriting business in earnest. It's been a long road and I have nothing but compassion for those who suffer from chronic pain. Think about how much your business spends on advertising. It's a lot. I know how much ads in traditional media outlets cost. I can craft an educational email course for you that drips out to subscribers over 3, 5, or 7 days on the subject of YOUR choice. It can raise engagement with your website up to 50%. (Most sites have 1-5% engagement.) It helps you collect more email addresses so you can send potential clients your newsletter and updates, keeping them engaged with your site. Interested? Want to see a sample? Check it out: https://lnkd.in/ewTZqXTi If you like what you see, PM me here at LinkedIn and we'll talk!

I’ve tried saying this exact thing to the publishers and authors I’ve worked with in the past and have had varying responses. It was impossible to convince the publishers I worked with in the corporate environment, but easier with the indies, however, persistence did seem to pay off in the end for the indies I worked with. I stopped doing out and out PR just before Musk killed Twitter for good, and IG changed their algorythm to be more like TikTok. Before that indies were able to reach their target audiences directly without having to rely on traditional media. We could bypass the gatekeepers and created the zeitgeist which the ‘media’ finally picked up on 5 yrs later. After that I decided to try handing books directly to readers through a bookshop and realised that readers are HUNGRY for new, exciting books no-one has ever heard of. Hand selling is so much easier/faster than telling people about books on social media, and it’s super effective. I’ve looked at the media landscape now and actually don’t know how effective PR can really be anymore. It’s so noisy out there, where everyone is selling something. It’s exhausting. I take my hat off to the content creators, and I can understand why they tend to burn out so fast. Honestly, all I can say is GOOD LUCK to everyone trying to promote books out there. Don’t doubt for a second that you’ll find your readers but, from experience, I’d put all my effort into cultivating relationships with booksellers. They’re the ones who will make sure your books are seen and read, regardless of media (incl. social) coverage or not.

For me, market research isn't especially alluring! I'm not a natural researcher, I'm more of a 'dive in and get it done' kinda' girl, but over the years I have most definitely begun to truly value the power of market research when it comes to book writing. There is the temptation to just take the plunge and start writing and, whilst this enthusiasm is commendable, you could save yourself a lot of  wasted time in the long run. By making some real effort initially to ensure that you create not just any book, but the RIGHT book for your industry, you'll be more likely to have the success you desire. Writing a business book is not just about sharing your expertise; it's about ensuring your insights resonate with your target audience. Market research plays a pivotal role in this process, providing valuable insights and direction. Here’s How Market Research Can Shape Your Business Book: 1. Identifying Your Audience’s Needs and Interests Market research helps you understand the specific problems, interests, and needs of your target audience. By surveying professionals in your industry, you can discover common challenges they face, allowing you to address these issues directly in your book. 2. Validating Your Book Idea Before investing time and effort into writing, market research can help determine if there is a demand for your topic. Conducting focus groups or online surveys can gauge interest and receive feedback on your book concept, ensuring it appeals to potential readers. 3. Understanding Market Trends Staying updated on current market trends ensures your content is relevant and timely. For example, if research shows a growing interest in remote work strategies, incorporating this topic can make your book more appealing to a broader audience. 4. Analyse Competitors' Books Understanding what other successful books in your niche cover can help you identify gaps and differentiate your content. 5. Tailoring Your Marketing Strategy Market research informs your marketing efforts, helping you target your promotional activities effectively. For example, if research indicates that your target audience is highly active on LinkedIn, you can focus your marketing efforts on building a presence and engaging with readers on that platform. Have you conducted any market research for your book? Share your experiences and tips in the comments! #marketresearch #businessbookmarketing #mabelandstanleypublishing Join our newsletter for more top tips

Many factors influence the pricing of a book, including its format, selling platform, intended audience, publishing method, and number of authors. https://lnkd.in/gvPZKefM

Many factors influence the pricing of a book, including its format, selling platform, intended audience, publishing method, and number of authors. https://lnkd.in/g3ttvQuK

Everybody is focusing 100% of their efforts on writing copy that converts. But here’s the thing - not all copy should convert. First, you need to build authority. 1️⃣ Building authority isn’t just a nice-to-have. It makes all your future content work. Because when people trust your voice, they listen. They follow. And eventually, they buy. 2️⃣ Think about it - why do people keep coming back to certain voices online? It’s not just because they sell well. It’s because they know those voices deliver value, insight, and reliability. 3️⃣ If you want long-term results, you need to show your audience that you’re a reliable source first. Not just someone selling to them, but someone they can learn from and rely on. 4️⃣ The goal isn’t just to convert. It’s to build a reputation so strong that people come to you without needing a hard sell. 👉 Trust leads to conversions. And trust is earned through authority.

What are the trends for corporate publishers in 2025? We have just released a new blog article 👇

https://lnkd.in/eGxqphkF So a few moons ago at a Caversham Writers "Write Share Night meeting" - the one where we do a good old fashioned story telling session, I read a press release. I was asked how to write one, and it was difficult to explain on the spot. So fellow Caversham Writers' members - this Substack blog is for you. Press releases are very useful to master. They can be writen relatively quickly and sent to media outlets for free, in return for just a bit of your time. Or you can use a website like Press Loft to send them to a lot of outlets at once (and use my special link to get a 60-day free trial): https://lnkd.in/eUr5XNfV But the most important thing is that you get the format right - you want to make it as easy as possible for journalists at the other end who will have a lot of options coming at them all of the time.