AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO POSITIVE BOOK SIGNINGS Category:  Marketing Publisher: Eksal Quality Systems ISBN-10:  0973204230 Type: Non-Fiction Pages: 32 Copyright: Nov 05, 2008 ISBN-13: 9780973204230 Only a small percentage of customers in a bookstore will go to an author’s table. Many do not notice the author. Many more do not want to make eye contact and be confronted by an author. This can be very frustrating and disheartening for an author. This can turn a book signing into a negative experience. In this book Phil Minnaar shares advice on how to arrange and do book signings with a positive outlook and a positive attitude of action. His advice is based on his 100 book signing events with his book, The Positive Dictionary. Welcome to Phil Minnaar's electronic book <i>A Guide to Positive Book Signings - Lessons learned at 100 book signings.</i> Doing regular book signings in bookstores after the original book launch is a rewarding compensation for an author for the hard labour and dedicated focus required to write his or her book. The reality, however, is that only a small percentage of customers in a bookstore will go to an author’s table. Many do not notice the author. Many more do not want to make eye contact and be confronted by an author. This can be very frustrating and disheartening for an author. This can turn a book signing into a negative experience. It is up to the author to attract customers in the store to come to the author’s table and to convince them that it is worthwhile for them to buy the author’s book. In this book Phil Minnaar shares advice on how to arrange and do book signings with a positive outlook and a positive attitude of action. His advice is based on his 100 book signing events with his book, The Positive Dictionary. <b>Common questions of authors:</b> <li>What is the purpose of book signings?</li> <li>How do I get my books into bookstores?</li> <li>How do I arrange book signings in bookstores?</li> <li>What is the best place for my table?</li> <li>What do I need on my table?</li> <li>How do customers behave in a bookstore?</li> <li>How can I attract customers to my table?</li> <li>How do I engage a customer at my table?</li> <b>Common frustrations of authors:</b> <li>People do not see me at my table.</li> <li>People don’t want to make eye contact with me.</li> <li>People look at my book but they don’t buy.</li> <li>People talk to me but they are not interested in my book.</li> The result: frustration and negativity. Phil Minnaar answers these questions and addresses these frustrations in his electronic book, <i>A Guide to Positive Book Signings, Lessons learned from 100 Book Signings</i>. At his 100 book signings of his book, <i>The Positive Dictionary,</i> he learned that a positive outlook and attitude is the key to successful book signings. He believes, and has experienced it, that a positive outlook and attitude causes positive things to happen. This e-book contains valuable insights and ideas on how to increase the success of book signings with a positive approach.    <i>A Guide to Positive Book Signings</i> is a useful resource for the aspiring author planning to do book signings and also for all authors who are not satisfied with their results at book signings. Excerpt A book signing event is at the same time a marketing event and a delightful social event. The purpose of a book signing event is to sell the book on behalf of the bookstore, who stocks the book and on behalf of the author. The author has the pleasure of contact with readers. Only a small percentage of customers will go to an author’s table. Many do not notice the author. Many more do not want to make eye contact and be confronted by an author. It is up to the author to attract customers in the store to come to his or her table and to convince them that it is worthwhile for them to buy the author’s book. At my 100 book signings of my book, The Positive Dictionary, in many bookstores in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, I have learned about customer behaviour in a bookstore. In the beginning, I experienced the frustration when people simply ignored me. Over time I have developed and practiced positive ways to attract people to my table and to persuade them that my book will be of benefit to them. The lessons I have learned apply to any kind of book, whether it is fiction or non-fiction and whether it was published by a publisher or self-published. In this book I want to share with you, authors and aspiring authors, the lessons I have learned on how to make book signings a positive and profitable experience. The chapters in this book are are as follows: Foreword The idea of the Positive Dictionary A positive approach to life The purpose of book signings Submitting your book to bookstores Arranging book signings Traffic The position of your table Items on your table Customer behaviour Attracting customers to your table Engaging a customer Signing your book

Review of A Guide to Positive Book Signings by Patricia Fry, President of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network)
You may recall my review of SPAWN member, Dr. Phil Minnaar’s book, The Positive Dictionary, some months ago. Well, he has recently come out with a new ebook that every author will surely want—A Guide to Positive Book Signings. Evidently, Minnaar has engaged in over 100 book signings and this ebook offers benefit of his experiences.


You’ll learn, for example, the real purpose for doing book signings, how to arrange for a book signing, the best way to position yourself at one of these events, what to bring, how to attract customers to your table and he even reveals the psychology behind the book signing.


As Minnaar points out in his Foreword, “A signing event is also a marketing event and a delightful social event.” But he says, it is definitely up to the author to attract customers. Some people will come to the store expressly to see you. But there are many others who are there for other reasons. Minnaar reveals how to engage these potential customers and even convince them to buy your book.


He says, “It is up to you, as the author, to attract people to come to your table out of their own free will.” He says you can do this by acting positively to attract people rather than being passive. And he suggests capitalizing on your appearance and your behavior. This, combined with your posters and other pertinent and interesting items on your table, should act as a magnet to attract customers. He maintains that body language can influence the success of your signing. He suggests that authors sit up straight, smile and make eye contact with every person. Once they come closer, greet them warmly.

Using quotes from his first book, The Positive Dictionary, Minnaar emphasizes the positives of a book signing. For example, using the word, Observe, he writes, “Observation helps you to notice the wonders of the world.” He follows this by saying, “It is enlightening and enjoyable to observe the behavior of customers in a bookstore.” His descriptions of customer behavior are interesting and most authors can relate to having encountered all of these customer types.


He makes a good point when he says that the author’s attitude is important in whether or not you have a successful book signing. Here’s one of his tips: “Avoid the mindset that you are selling this book as a physical object. You are selling the message in the book.”


If you have a book to promote and would like to do so through book signings or if you’ve done signings and have been unsuccessful, I suggest reading Phil Minnaar’s ebook, A Guide to Positive Book Signings. It may give you the insight as well as the techniques you need.

– Patricia Fry is the president of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) www.spawn.org and the author of 28 books. Read her hallmark book The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, revised 2nd edition. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html and her NEW Author’s Workbook http://www.matilijapress.com/workbook.html. If you are struggling to promote a book, order Patricia’s newest ebook, The Author’s Repair Kit. http://www.matilijapress.com/author_repairkit.html. Visit her informative publishing blog often at http://www.matilijapress.com/publishingblog.



TESTIMONIAL FROM ROBERT SCRIBA
I really got a lot of great info and ideas from you book: "A Guide to Positive Book Signings." It will be a must read for everyone who has ever struggled with presenting himself and his work to public scrutiny.
I don't think it is only applicable to book signings. These are great guidelines for any trade show, craft fair or farmers markets, no matter that you are selling. Also, finding and conducting business on any street in town or finding locations, and presenting your store in a mall.
Great job!!

Robert Scriba
Author of Seasons of the Grizzly in Knight Inlet