Promoting a Book

Summary

In this video, Amal Natalo, founder of Karmic Kindness and author of 'We to Me: A Story of Love, Loss, and Liberation,' reflects on her book promotion journey. She discusses her experience with Eric Kuster's writing and publishing program, mentioning how she opted for a different publishing route with Book Vault Publishing. While acknowledging missed opportunities for promotion, she shares insights on her grassroots approach to book marketing, including social media campaigns and a book launch event. Amal encourages others to explore various promotional strategies, emphasizing personal choice in how to approach book releases.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker is Amal Natalo, the founder of Karmic Kindness, a spiritual teacher, mentor, and author of the book 'We to Me: A Story of Love, Loss, and Liberation.'
• 😀 The video series consists of three parts: writing, publishing, and promotion, with this video focusing on the promotional process.
• 😀 Amal admits to not promoting the book properly at first and feels there was an opportunity lost, but she believes it’s not too late for future promotion.
• 😀 Amal participated in a writing program led by Eric Kuster of Georgetown University but chose not to continue with the publishing program offered by the same team.
• 😀 Although Amal did not fully implement the promotional strategies suggested by the program, she acknowledges that these strategies could have been helpful in the beginning.
• 😀 She admits to some resistance around promoting herself and the book, especially due to its personal nature dealing with love, loss, and a divorce.
• 😀 There are various resources available for book promotion, including Eric Kuster's program (Manuscripts.com) and Julie Broad’s Book Launchers, which offer guidance and free content for authors.
• 😀 Amal created a social media presence for the book, primarily on Instagram and YouTube, and promoted it through posts, lives, and email newsletters.
• 😀 She hosted a book launch party, though the costs were out of her own pocket, and she did not opt for pre-launch sales or promotional pricing.
• 😀 Amal's book sales have been steady, particularly within her circle, but she has not had the kind of explosive success seen by others who fully utilized promotional strategies.
• 😀 The video concludes with a hope that viewers find valuable information and encourages sharing the content to help others who are writing and promoting their books.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the video series shared by Amal and Natalo?

The video series focuses on the journey of writing, publishing, and promoting a book. Amal and Natalo share personal experiences and lessons learned through each step of the process.

What does Amal mention about her promotion strategy for the book?

Amal admits that she didn't promote her book properly at the beginning of the process. She feels that she missed an opportunity for promotion but believes it's not lost forever. She also highlights that her promotion strategy was minimal.

Which program did Amal participate in for the writing process, and how did it help her?

Amal participated in a program led by Eric Kuster of Georgetown University, under the moniker 'manuscripts.com.' The program helped her get started on the book-writing journey and provided her with valuable resources for that stage.

Why did Amal decide not to proceed with the publishing program from manuscripts.com?

Amal chose not to proceed with the publishing program from manuscripts.com due to having a lot on her plate at the time and feeling resistance to putting herself out there. She felt the program could have been helpful, but she opted for a different path.

What publishing company did Amal choose, and why?

Amal chose Book Vault Publishing, based in the UK, instead of continuing with manuscripts.com for the publishing phase. She didn't go with manuscripts.com’s publishing option due to personal reasons and a desire for a different experience.

What were some of the promotional tactics Amal used for her book?

Amal created a social media page on Instagram, shared information about the book across her platforms, and did a book launch party in the DC Metro area. She also used email marketing and did a few live sessions to talk about the book.

Did Amal use pre-launch sales to promote her book?

No, Amal did not use pre-launch sales to promote her book. She felt it would complicate the process and kept things simple, without offering higher price points or bonuses typically associated with pre-launch sales.

How did Amal feel about the reception of her book among her circle?

Amal felt okay with the sales and reception of her book among her circle, even though it wasn't a major bestseller. She valued the fact that people within her network had been supportive and were sharing the book with others.

What resources did Amal recommend for others to learn about book promotion?

Amal recommended resources like Julie Broad's Book Launchers website and YouTube channel, which offer free information about writing, publishing, and promoting books. She also mentioned the Manuscripts.com program, which offers guidance for authors on promotion.

What advice did Amal give about the book promotion process?

Amal advised that book promotion is highly personal, and different approaches may work for different people. She emphasized that while she kept her promotion simple, others may choose to pursue more aggressive or larger-scale strategies for greater success.