Blogging to help the author from the publisher's perspective.
Literary Trolls
Hey! It's your girl Critical Eye, coming to you today to vent. Today's vent: Literary Trolls What's a Literary Troll? A Literary Troll is a failed writer who stalks the social networking sites looking for successful authors they can pick at and on in an effort to make thesmelves feel better, instead of feeling like the failures they are. Before I go any further, let me define a failed write...
Do You Have An Author Business Plan?
Most writers have a dream of being a New York Times Bestselling Author. Most have this dream, but it's a dream that will never come true. Why? Lack of business skills. Publishing is a business. It has assets, liabilities and deals with gains and losses. It's not a passionless business, but it's still a business none the less. Ask a non-author business owner/entrepreneur or author whose turned into...
They Will Not Come Running!
The other day, I came across a request from a writer who had written a book and was upset because no publishers had come running and begging to publish her book. They had supposedly been talking about it all over the net and even sent some publishers a letter of inquiry. No one had bit. They even tried agents and went through the same process and even they didn't bite. They were truly upset and...
Welcome Our New Contributor
As you can see, holding down a blog is never an easy task. It's been so busy over here lately with the magazine which is out now that I've barely had time to write any blogs. So I've asked for some help. I've been blessed to have gotten not just a magazine contributor but now our blog contributor.  Her name is Critical Eye. She has quite a few years in the business of publishing and knows her stu...
To our existing clients
On behalf of the Z Group, I want to begin by thanking you for entrusting your business with us.  Whether you are a design client, branding client or an aspiring author, it is our pleasure to be doing business with you.  I wish I could be writing this letter in a time of joy, but sadly I am not.  I am writing to apologize for any discomfort and uneasiness your may feel or have felt as a result o...

ZLS Publishing Awarded Business of the Month

ZLS Publishing is proud to announce that they have been named-Business of the Month by the writers magazine-From A Writers Point of View. To read the article and find out more about this writers magazine click here:
http://http://fromawriterspovmagazine.com/issue/january-2010/article/business-owner-of-the-month

Yes!

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Book Marketing Package of the Month

Posted By: ZLS on September 4, 2009 in Customized Book Marketing Material, Publishing, Twitter, book Marketing, newsletters - Comments: 16 Comments »

It’s September, which also means it’s my birthday! To celebrate my birthday, I am giving away the following specials:

Basic Book Cover Review Package:

  • Your book cover reviewed by a focus group of book buyers within one week.
  • Professional suggestions as well as focus group suggestions on how to improve your book cover.
  • 2 recommendations on book cover artist.
  • Attention email sent out to newsletter subscribers, telling them to watch out for your book (Over 4,000 subscribers)
  •  

    September Price: $25   

Platinum Book Cover Review Package

  • Your book cover reviewed by a focus group of book buyers within one week.
  • Your book excerpt reviewed and a suggested example for you to use if necessary.
  • Professional suggestions as well as focus group suggestions on how to improve your book cover.
  • 3 recommendations on book cover artist.
  • Attention email sent out to newsletter subscribers, telling them to watch out for your book (Over 4,000 subscribers)

September Price-$40    

Basic Book Review Package

  • Basic cover review within one week.
  • Book review completed within one week after receipt
  • Newsletter alert, Twitter alert, Blog Alert
  • Tear Sheet provided in PDF form.
  • Review posted on any online platform author requests-Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, etc.

September Price-$59

Platinum Book Marketing Package

  • Basic cover review within one week.
  • Book review completed within one week after receipt-Author and their book will be the book to read of the week.
  • Book featured in the following: Twitter, Gather, Myspace, Facebook, Blog, Newsletter, Website, BlackPlanet, LinkedIn, Ning
  • Press Release written and distributed
  • Tear Sheet provided in PDF form.
  • Author interview.
  • Review posted on any online platform author requests: Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, etc.

September Price: $85

Writers who sign up for our newsletter and choose the Platinum Book Marketing Package get 10% off.  We will email you your coupon code. 

Current newsletter subscribers get 10% off, we will also email you your coupon code.  

Pay right on our website-Go to Pay here and click in the price you have been emailed, if you are a subscriber.  If you are not a subscriber, then just go to: Marketing Services for Book Reviews, Graphic Services for Basic and Platinum Book Cover Review Packages.

Email your book covers to:

Mail your books to: ZLS Publishing, Book Reviews-255 Orange Street, Suite 207, Albany, NY 12208

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Bad Book Marketing-The Stupidity of Not Having A Newsletter!

Posted By: ZLS on June 23, 2009 in Customized Book Marketing Material, book Marketing, newsletters - Comments: 10 Comments »

Okay, okay, I’m back with something else to say. If you are a writer or an author who does not have one of these, you are being especially foolish and you may not like what it is I have to say.
Not apologizing!

Contrary to popular belief, having a newsletter is a very important part of your Book Marketing plan.  As a matter of fact, it should be in the top five of your book marketing plan.  You can visit twenty different places, do all the book signings in the world, but if people don’t remember you or talk about you to their friends, you are marketing in vain. Every time you give out a book mark, a post card, or a business card, you should have a newsletter form too.  Every time you do a book signing, you should have a newsletter form.

As the old saying goes, “out of sight, out of mind.”  Too many writers underestimate the value and effect of a newsletter.  Sending your fans things about yourself, once a month or even once a week helps them remember you and reminds them to tell their friends.  Everyone who has a newsletter will tell you that they have seen an increase in sales or in readership.  As an author struggling to keep and build readership it is just not wise to not have a newsletter. Again, I will repeat the old saying, “out of sight, out of mind.”

Newsletters are the next biggest thing to word-of-mouth-marketing.   People talk, they check email, and they are nosy.  People like to know  the latest happenings of everything that is going on.  Don’t believe me? Look at Twitter and this proves my point. Keeping your fans up to date with what is going on with you makes them feel important, and  it makes them feel like they are part of your process.  People are busy and they have a lot going on in their lives.  If you don’t make them remember you, they won’t.  It’s like the old saying, “out of sight, out of mind.”  Just thinking that because you wrote one book people will remember you is foolish.  To think that just because you visited their city and did a book signing will make them remember you is also foolish.  Without making them remember you, you will be a one-hit-wonder.  Yes, those exist in the literary world.

     As an author, you are constantly marketing yourself.  One of the easiest ways to do that is through a newsletter.  The cheapest way is an electronic newsletter known as an e-newsletter, although print newsletters are available.  You can provide your fans with weekly updates or monthly updates, but you must provide them with some sort of update and it can’t be only when you have a new book coming out.  Every little thing you do, every little place you go, you must let your fans know.  Famous authors like James Patterson have a newsletter as they know that it helps keep their fans. 
     When deciding whether or not to have a newsletter, keep these three points in mind:
1) It’s cheap, you can pay someone like ZLS to do it for you.
2) It provides, protects and spreads your fan base.
3) Without it you are losing sales.
So let me say this one more time-GET YOURSELF A NEWSLETTER! WITHOUT ONE-IT’S DUMB BOOK MARKETING!
Also, read my Top 10 Reasons Why You Need A Newsletter!
Are we clear? I hope so! I’m done venting for the day!
Signing Out!
Lady Z


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Top 10 Reasons You Need A Newsletter

  1. It keeps your fans/readers informed of everything you are doing.
  2. It keeps you in the forefront of their minds.
  3. It drives traffic to your website.
  4. It builds customer loyalty.
  5. It is the easiest and fastest way to thank them for their business, a purchase, and/or make announcements.
  6. It helps to increase sales.
  7. It is an important part of book marketing.
  8. Without it, you are losing money, clients or fans.
  9. It’s cheap.
  10. It’s the quickest and the best form of book marketing.

To find out more about how we can help you ensure you have a newsletter visit our website and our portfolio. www.zlspublishing.com


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