You’re not a professional marketer, like David Newman and Jeffrey Hayzlett. You’re a first-time author. Does being on the bestseller charts seem out of reach for you? It didn’t for Kristi Lynn Davis.
Kristi Lynn Davis Not Intimidated
Davis is an entertainer, author, and transformation coach whose first book, Long Legs and Tall Tales: A Showgirl’s Wacky, Sexy Journey to the Playboy Mansion and the Radio City Rockettes, made it, on the Amazon Bestseller list on launch day, to:
- #3 as a Kindle ebook in the category of Arts & Photography: Theater: Broadway & Musicals
- #8 in Books: Biographies & Memoirs: Arts & Literature: Theatre
- #11 in Books: Arts & Photography: Performing Arts: Theatre: Broadway & Musicals
The Art of Choosing Your Categories
“Which leads me to another important point,” she notes. “Choosing which categories to put your book under also influences whether or not you will reach bestseller status. That is an art in and of itself.”
She’s been on and off the Amazon bestseller list (top 100) since she launched in 2015.
“I launched a bestseller campaign using Teresa De Grosbois’s course as a guideline. Basically, you get as many people as you can to buy your book on the same day. But there were many, many steps to the process.”
To Davis, the effort was “a TON of work” that took “lots of planning ahead” but she committed herself to learning and doing whatever she had to do:
“Take a course or read a book on how to do it because it is a complicated, tedious process. Start building fans TODAY by blogging and/or speaking. Start building your email list TODAY, because that will help you get the word out when you need your fans to buy your book on a specific day.”
A Worthwhile Effort
Was the result worth the effort? For Kristi Lynn Davis it was.
“Anyone can self-publish a book these days, but getting your book on an Amazon bestseller list carries some weight and demonstrates that you’ve already reached a certain level of success. (even if it is only for one day in some obscure category); and that may inspire confidence in others to purchase your book or hire you to speak. But it won’t necessarily make you rich. You’ve got to keep marketing your book as much as possible even after you hit the bestseller list.”
Finally, writing her book transformed her life:
“My life had many ups and downs and twists and turns during the fourteen years it took me to write my book. Several times I gave up writing altogether. So the fact that I finally committed to the book and deemed it worthy of completing was truly transformative. My story was worth telling, and I believed in it. Then when people started purchasing it, reading it, and loving it, it was thrilling! I’m honored when my book can entertain and inspire others.”
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This piece was adapted from Ken Wachsberger’s You’ve Got the Time: How to Write and Publish That Book in You. Ken’s other books may be found here and here. For book coaching and editing help, or to invite Ken to speak at your meeting, email Ken at [email protected].
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