MSI Press Blog

It is Tuesday. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side.  Today's post looks at the difference between book marketing and book promotion, two terms that are frequently confused. Leading to the confusion is that some of the same activities are needed for both. In fact, good marketing is dependent upon good promotion. Perhaps the essential difference is that marketing focuses on sales, and promotion focuses on awareness --  noting that without awareness, sales generally do not happen. Book Marketing Book marketing includes promotion, sales, and increasing awareness of the availability of the book. It generally starts with a marketing plan that identifies the target audiences and selects marketing ...

  One of the most common misunderstandings in the author–publisher relationship is the belief that all activities related to a book’s success fall under one big umbrella called “marketing.” In reality, three distinct processes shape a book’s life in the world: selling , promotion , and marketing . They overlap, but they are not interchangeable. When authors understand the difference, they can see more clearly what the publisher does, what retailers do, and what the author must do. Let’s untangle the three. 1. Book Selling: The Retail Side of the Equation Book selling is the business of making a book available for purchase. It is transactional, logistical, and retailer‑driven. Selling is what happens after awareness already exists. Book selling includes: Listing the book with retailers (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, indie stores, Bookshop.org). Ensuring metadata is correct and distributed. Managing inventory and supply chain. Setting wholesale discounts and returnability. ...

  It is Tuesday. Time to tall turkey. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side. Today's topic addresses two terms that are generally used together but mean very different things: marketing and promotion.  Marketing has as a goal getting someone to buy your book. It can include, but is not limited to: advertising, whether in print (e.g., direct mail, posted posters, ads in magazines and newspapers) or via social media passive marketing: presence in bookstores, online catalogues, distributor's catalogue, publisher's website and webstore presence on other websites where it is for sale listing in catalogues email blasts tweaking SEO and following results holding sales  sales booths book signi...

It is Tuesday. Time to tall turkey. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side. Today's topic addresses how authors can sell their books. After all, it makes no sense to put all the effort into writing a book, self-publishing it or getting it published, and then having it sit on a shelf for ever, with no opportunity for it to share its message. Unfortunately, many, if not most new authors, in our experience, never think beyond the day their book appears in print (or, in some cases, beyond their first month of book launch activities). They assume that, of course, they did the work of writing the book, and the publisher will do the work of marketing the book. It does not work that way, and marketing ...

In publishing, timing and context matter. One of the most overlooked distinctions is between a precerpt and an excerpt. Both involve sharing a portion of a book, but they serve different purposes and carry different risks and rewards. 📝 What’s a Precerpt? A precerpt is a draft excerpt shared before publication—often before the manuscript is finalized. It’s a sneak peek into the work-in-progress, used to spark interest among agents, editors, or early readers. Think of it as a “rough cut” trailer. Advantages: • Book Acquisition: Shows potential and voice early, even if the manuscript isn’t polished. Can help secure representation or a publishing deal. • Book Promotion: Builds anticipation among insiders (beta readers, influencers, reviewers) who like being “in on the secret.” • Book Marketing: Creates buzz in niche communities, but usually limited in scope since the book isn’t yet available for purchase. Disadvantages: • Risk of misrepresenting the final book if the draft change...