I wrote this article as a mind training exercise. I read one day that James and Claudia Altucher have “The Power of No” book coming out soon, so I came up with ways to get book pre-orders. Anywho, figured I should make it public so everyone else could benefit, as well. If you have any comments feel free to add them or tweet at me for tips and I'll add the to the post plus give you credit. :-) Most of these ideas are probably bad, but maybe some can inspire you.
1) Do a private spreecast/google hangout with everyone who pre-orders. Answering questions about the book and/or hanging out for an hour.
1st step: Tweet out a date to do a spreecast/google hangout and see if readers like it.
2)Early buyers get a paypal rebate or discount
1st step: Get reader to email their paypal email address information after they show proof of preorder in an email.
3) You get free merchandise for pre-ordering: a wristband, a pen, stickers, a pin, a bookmark, a t-shirt or mug (depending on the book price). What would you like?
1st step: After pre-orders are complete create your items on vistaprint.
Vistaprint can help you create your own custom logo pens t-shirts and other promotional items.
4) Answer 1 question from all people that pre-ordered. You have to provide a photo or copy of your receipt as proof of your pre-order. Or maybe it could be integrated into the pre-order website?
1st step: Create a new email address. Also, you could mark the sent email addresses as spam (just a way to not get random emails back from random people that might want to spam), but perhaps keep in touch with people who preorder?
5) Create a kickstarter to get access to another audience for the book plus accept bigger donations.
1st step: Start making a page on https://www.kickstarter.com/ Simply have someone record ypu on a cellphone camera explaining the books. Prizes can be anything on Vistaprint :-)
6) Signatures for the hardcover orders.
1st step: On the pre-order page, if you buy the hardcover you’ll get it signed after providing the name. This can be fun to do if you’re writing a book as a couple since it’s easy signing books and it’s a good excuse to spend time with your significant other..
7) You get a discount on other books for a limited time
1st step: At the thank you page of the pre-order website, readers get an email address to to ask for limited time coupon codes. There can be a new email address that auto replies the coupon code to everyone who messages it.
8) Get entered into a drawing. Maybe 1 out of 50 get to video chat with you personally for 20 minutes? Perhaps a winner gets to be on your podcast show?
1st step: After telling people about the drawing and when the pre-order period ends, number of winners will be divided by the total number of pre-orders. If 100,000 people ordered the book and you want 1/1000 to win then: 100,000/1,000 = 100 winners you (or someone else) needs to choose.
9) Use Gary Vaynerchuk’s famous bartering system. If people buy x number of books do something for them. Perhaps if I buy 50 books I get to speak with you on vidchat for 25 minutes? etc.
1st Step: Check out Gary’s system found here: http://garyvaynerchuk.com/jjjrh/
10) There can be a “shout out” page in the book to everyone that pre-orders.
1st step: During the pre-order process create an area for buyers to submit their names to shout out in the book.
11) There will be an exclusive ultimate cheat blog post only shared with anyone who pre-orders so they will know which tactics worked and which didn't
1st step: After everyone pre-orders they get a specific email address to contact with that blogpost as a reply.
12) Get a photo with you at the book signing.
1st step: If you ever considered doing a book signing all buyers have to do is print out the thank you for pre-ordering page and show it to you for a photo. Perhaps if you they preordered it, you could also let them jump to the front of the line.
13) A limited pre-order edition (perhaps these hardcovers are signed and have 1st edition written on them).
1st step: A graphic design artist could make first edition cover art.
14) People who pre-order get to receive 5 exclusive blog posts vs. those that didn’t. This is different from the ultimate cheat sheet bonus because these 5 exclusive blog posts can be on anything you want perhaps related to the book.
1st step: Outline which blog posts you would like to share with people who preordered.
15) A VIP invite to a private facebook group for people who only preordered the book. Great for us to network and talk about the material plus we can get notified later about any work.
1st step: Create an email address that people can contact with a preorder as proof of purchase.
Just in case people are wondering: Your facebook address is found by clicking on your name when you log in right next to the home button. It will show as: https://www.facebook.com/your.nameexample
16)
Get a thank you shout out on twitter, facebook or anything else. "Blank just preordered my book thank you :-)" This would encourage others to pre-order as well. You could even read something on the description of their profile and include it in your thank you tweet to make them feel special.
1st step: Have them send you their twitter address through email.
17) Whoever preorders can vote on the next book you write. Perhaps you give them a choice of 10 topics.
1st step: Simply collect emails after they pre-order and use survey monkey to poll them. You could also do this in a private facebook group.
18) Perhaps if they get a book they get it at full price, but they get an extra copy for the they can gift it to a friend who doesn't know anything about you.
1st step: Decide if your books profit margin is high enough to actually give away 2 for the price of one, for some people this might not work.
19) If peopel pre-order they can get the audio book for free.
1st step: Use mailchimp to blast out everyone with the audiobook when it’s completed.
20) A handwritten thank you note.
1st step: Outsource it? :P Perhaps make this an activity with your significant other aka and have another excuse to spend time together.
21) Get a bonus chapter(s) free when you pre-order
1st step: Outline a the bonus chapter(s).
22) If we pre-order we can play a speed chess game with you, or other board games. Perhaps everyday you play online scrabble with 8 people who preordered. OR
Make this a prize in the drawing.
1st step: Invite all those who pre-ordered to add you on your speed chess account and give them your name with times you’ll be available to play each person for a minute or two (depending on how bad you’ll beat them).
23) Every 10 to X number of pre-orders get grouped into a miniature facebook group together. This way buyers can form deeper connections and perhaps get to know each other better.
1st step: Outsource someone to create tons of facebook groups and batch people together after the preorder period is over.
24) Give people who preorder the rough draft/unedited version of your book. The unedited version is usually full of mistakes, but is a lot longer so a lot more interesting to read what the authors original thoughts/concepts were.
1st step: Find your rough draft and then auto-email everyone at the end of the pre-order period or on a certain date.
25) Anyone who pre-orders will get to do a lunch google hangout session or spreecast session with you along with 100 other people in a group.
1st step: Create a spreecast account: http://www.spreecast.com/ Then on one of the serveral big days create private spreecasts: http://about.spreecast.com/gettingstarted/how-to-make-your-spreecast-private/
Email people in advance on when they will need to have a spreecast account and when they’ll be part of their 100 people group.
No comments:
Post a Comment