4 Questions to Answer Before Contacting a Book Agent

Obtaining agency representation is your first step toward getting profitably published. Most publishers won't even look at unsolicited manuscripts.

But, before approaching an agent to represent you, you should finalize the presentation of your book.

Agents don't have time to waste dealing with publishing 'wannabees' who don't have, and may never have, a concrete project to represent. To busy agents, dreams don't make it.

If you approach an agent before you're prepared, you may never be able to contact them again. They'll consider you a 'dreamer' and disregard you emails and phone calls.

Elevator Speech

Before approaching an agent, prepare an 'elevator speech' describing your project in the less than thirty-seconds it takes for an average elevator ride. If you can't, your project probably isn't ready for prime time.

Your elevator speech must answer four major questions:

• What is your book about?

• Who is going to buy it?

• How does it differ from existing books on the subject?

• How are you going to promote it?

1. What is your book about?

Finalize your book's title and contents before contacting an agent.

The title is crucial to your book's success. It must attract the attention of acquisition editors, book reviewers, bookstore managers, web surfers and readers. The title is often your one ? and only ? chance to make a sale.

Finalize your book's table of contents and prepare a brief description of the contents of each chapter. You should also know how long your book is going to be and the number of illustrations, graphics or worksheet

Prepare two ? three, if you're a first-time author ? sample chapters and hire a professional editor to fine-tune them. It's better to show three perfect chapters than a finished manuscript filled with spelling errors.

You don't have to write your whole book before approaching agents. And your sample chapters don't have to begin with the first chapter, nor do they have to be in sequence. But, they must represent your writing at its best.

2. Who's going to buy your book?

Next, show that there is a reachable market for your book.

Strive for urgency. Describe the market intrigued by, or frustrated by, your book's topic. What symptoms does your book help solve? How many people share the problem? What are the consequences of the problem your book addresses?

Quantify your book's market in terms of buying power, willingness to buy books and ability to be reached through associations or publications.

3. How will your book be different?

Next, position your book relative to existing books on the topic. Existing books on the same topic are a plus, not a minus. They prove there is a market for books on the subject.

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of existing books?

• Why will readers choose your book over existing books?

This section offers you an opportunity to describe your background and how it contributes to your book.

4. How will you promote your book?

Promotion is your responsibility, not the publisher's. Your ability to promote your book is as important as your ability to write your book.

Start by identifying book reviewers and editorial contacts who can help promote your book. List publications that might run an extract from your book. Research producers who book guests for radio and TV interviews.

Discuss your speaking experience and willingness to travel to support your book. Describe how you will promote your book on your web site.

List authorities in your field who have offered to write a foreword or provide you with cover testimonials.

Agents are busy. To the extent you can sell your book idea as a realistic possibility in thirty seconds and can support your answers with research and strong sample chapters, you are well on your way to success.

After you've been successfully published, you may be able to sell a book on just the basis of an email. But for now, you must be fully prepared.

About The Author

Roger C. Parker is the $32,000,000 author with over 1.6 million copies in print. Do you make these marketing and design mistakes? Find out at www.gmarketing-design.com

---

How to Market Your Unsold Books on the Internet: Its Easy

Your book expresses your wondrous information, your creativity, and your... Read More

Why Would I Buy Your Book? Six Steps to Your Tell and Sell - Part 1

How would you like to have countless people clamoring for... Read More

Extend Your Books Life With a Sales Letter

Authors, publishers and business owners are great at getting their... Read More

Book Club Sales -- Increasing the Odds

What is a book club sale? It is actually a... Read More

Navigating the Amazon Sales Ranking

First, the disclaimers: Since the algorithm Amazon uses to generate... Read More

Whats Killing Your Publishing Career?

With the large increase of books being published by self-publishers,... Read More

7 Vital Book Promotion Tips

As a literary publicist I often am asked about publicity... Read More

Seven Really Truly Unique Ways to Sell More Books

These marketing tips aren't for the weak at heart. Use... Read More

Ten Ways to Make Your Book Outsell Another

Wouldn't you rather write a book that sells well than... Read More

Authors Should Be Optimistic

A client wrote me recently and asked what I thought... Read More

Make your Book Stand Out From the Crowd: Know your Audience

Most authors say, "Everyone will want my book, and when... Read More

The Bible Of Self Publishing

Any book that is in its 14th edition must be... Read More

28 Reasons Why Publishers Will Buy Your Book

Editors will buy a book for one or more of... Read More

Is Traditional Book Marketing Getting you Down?

"Are you disappointed and tired of time and money down... Read More

Do You Long To See Your Books Published And Selling From The Major Chains?

To have your work accepted for hard copy publication is... Read More

Sell More Books With Your Sparkling Introduction

Why write an introduction? Nobody reads it anyway. Up until... Read More

Interview with Book and Marketing Coach-Judy Cullins - Part 2

To know what to do at the right time in... Read More

Best Sellers Aren?t Written ? They?re Made - It?s All About Promotion

Writing a book is becoming more and more of a... Read More

Super Profitable Techniques for Selling Books By Mail

The total number of books sold by small, part-time mail... Read More

Know These Five Audiences to Write a Top Selling Book

To create a saleable book you need to know your... Read More

How to Make Money With Your Short Stories, Poems, Essays, and Novels

Recently, someone rated my "Online Book Marketing" article a 2... Read More

What?s Wrong with the Internet? It Must be Broken!

After months of scouring the internet, I could not put... Read More

Your Book Marketing Plan - Winning Strategies and Tips

Many authors hit a roadblock when it comes to putting... Read More

Book Signing: Fun and Profit for Writers and Readers

Have you ever walked into a bookstore when an author... Read More

Looking to Sell Your Book for a Good Price?

Many self-publishing authors plan on eventually selling their book to... Read More

Top 10 Tips for Book Titles that Sell Well

A clever title is great if it is clear, but... Read More

Plain Speaking ? 4 Secrets For Getting Your Book Purchased

What can be more infuriating to a potential purchaser of... Read More

Sell Your Book At Book Fairs, Festivals & Trade Shows

Play a bigger game with your book sales by expanding... Read More

Book Events - Make Yours Successful

A book event (a book signing) is a popular way... Read More

Successful Book Marketing The Natural Way - Part 1

Is your mind muddy on book marketing? Do you wake... Read More

Increase Book Sales: At Book Fairs, Festivals and Trade Shows

Play a bigger game with your book sales by expanding... Read More

FSBO Author believes in Bookswaps

Hi Noel,I absolutely love your website, As an MS sufferer... Read More

The Perfect Book and Where to Find It!

If I was asked to describe the perfect book, one... Read More