Case Study: Promote a Book & Build a Community

Stu McLaren is doing a very smart promotion for his Wishlist Member software–and I want you to pay attention to it.

First, go here so you can see what I’m talking about. (It will open in a new window so you will have to switch back and forth to read this and view that. Or, you can just read this first, then go back and study it. Or vice versa. Just make sure you study it!)

I want you to notice what the author of Crush It! has done to promote his book.

First, he’s teamed up with someone with a following that matches the author’s exact market. When you get Wishlist Member in October (and only in October), you get a free copy of the book.

Second, Stu will do an “exclusive” interview on October 29 with the author.

Notice two things they have built in here.

First, a deadline (October 31). After that, you can’t get a free copy of the book.

Second, exclusivity. Only those who get WishList Member in October will get the book and access to the interview.

The author, Gary Vaynerchuk, has now gained great exposure for his book through this partnership. There is an implied endorsement from Stu McLaren, who has a healthy following. This is Gary’s first print book, and it’s published by HarperSudio, which publishes along the same lines as I wrote about in my last blog post. Yet he made it to the New York Times bestseller list.

In fact, Gary’s web site is something to study too. Notice all the media coverage mentioned on his blog. Notice the way he uses video. And notice what he says on the October 28 video about content and the “Thank You Economy.”

Also take a look at the HarperStudio site.

This is the future of publishing, I believe. Study this well. As you do, I suggest you make a list of the things you observe that Gary,  Stu, and HarperStudio  are doing. (Find out what a Vook is–and tell me what you think of it. And by the way–I’m suggesting you study what Gary is doing because he’s onto the new direction of publishing.  I’m not endorsing his rather crude laanguage etc.)

Make sure you also study the Wishlist Member site as well. It is one of the best ways to build an online community–be “well heard”–AND monetize your knowledge (the “well paid” part of what I want for you).

After you jot down your observations, you should have a list of “things you can do to promote your book and/or build your audience.”

Now, rank order them in terms of how appealing they are to you.

Perhaps you like the idea of partnering with someone with more of a platform than you. Maybe you even know someone. Start there and approach the person.

Maybe you like the idea of monetizing what you know through a blog.  Get WishList Member and start building your community with a FREE membership first. Build your list (here’s a great and inexpensive course on how to), and then you’ll be able to approach a publisher with more of a platform.

Maybe the idea of video intrigues you. Which parts of your message are demonstrable, best communicated through video?

Notice too how Gary uses video to create credibility (all those thumbnails of media appearances on the left–I’m not sure about the bathroom incident).

Much to study here!