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The Five Key Marketing Elements Critical to Publisher Interest in a Nonfiction Book

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Published: 13Nov2007
Word count: 415
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The author's platform is her established audience following and the way to reach readers through a large database, syndicated radio show, national television show, magazine column, large and well-known company—in other words, name recognition on a large scale. The larger your platform, the easier it is to find a publisher and sell larger quantities of books. You now have an avenue for getting yourself recognized as an author. Further, you have a way of influencing people to buy your book because they already listen to you.

There are five key elements to your platform that publishers inquire about more than any others to decide whether an author and his or her book are right for them. If you have one or more of these, you are well on your way to a publishing contract.

1. Publishers are interested in a writer if she has her own database of at least 5,000 names, and/or has already sold a product or has a reputation as an expert.

2. More and more, an author must establish that she and her subject have a following with a good blog that is written and accessed and commented on daily.

3. Publishers want authors to be out speaking. Having evidence of significant past speaking engagements, plus a schedule of future speaking engagements is critical.

4. Publishers love authors with previous national media exposure. The best indicator of future behavior is past behavior, so if you have gotten national exposure as an expert without a book, it stands to reason from the publisher's viewpoint that you will be able to do the same and sell your book.

5. The publisher is excited when the author's platform includes relationships with companies or organizations who are or may be willing to buy large quantities of the book. If you can demonstrate that you have a likely purchaser of 5,000 or more copies of your book, you can be fairly certain of a publishing contract.

Publishers will also want to be positive that the author is articulate, is impressive in front of a camera, and preferably already has both national media experience and media training. They want someone with an edge, with a personality that will make her stand out above the crowd.

Publishers will also look for a way to connect the author's topic and expertise with what is happening in the world. If the subject is topical or can be connected with something newsworthy, it has a better shot.

Gail Richards is founder of http://www.AuthorSmart.com a dynamic website connecting aspiring authors with the classes, audio library, tools, information and resources needed to make smart, informed decisions at each step in the nonfiction book publishing journey. Jan King is the founder of http://www.eWomenPublishingNetwork.com a membership organization devoted to supporting and coaching women who become successfully published nonfiction authors.

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