Where my focus is right now:
- Getting endorsements: These are the quotes that go on the back of the book. Such an interesting process to get endorsements on a book that’s yet to be finalized.
- Determining how deep to go with the distribution: As it turns out, books don’t just magically appear everywhere. The publisher (Ideapress) is a master at the mass distribution, but some other distribution points require you to pay them, like airport bookstores. The books that are on the front table at a Hudson’s book at the airport? Those cost the author a ton to have placed there. I’ve decided not to do that...but the book eventually will get into the airports, but likely a soft cover later on. Also, there’s a different process for getting into independent bookstores...they don’t follow the mass distribution model. Also thinking through getting books into the public library system, ebooks, audiobooks, international distribution, etc. It’s crazy.
- Publicity: Over the past two weeks, I was the closing keynote at the Sales Assembly Summit, did a lunch and learn at PowerReviews, and had a podcast interview published with Sales Hacker. Over the next two weeks, I’m being interviewed for 2 other podcasts (Flip My Funnel & The Alignment Podcast), have one that I already did come out (Sales Babble), and will be doing a campaign to event planners to start booking events for when the book comes out.
- Anticipating the editor turnaround: When that happens (expected on Monday), I’ll likely have to go back in to lockdown mode to turn around another draft. Waiting to see the damage.
As of the current plan, the book is still on track for a publication date of October 9th, 2018. A placeholder should be going up on Amazon soon, and pre-sale should start in September.