300 copies sold in 8 weeks! How did Nell Smith do it?

Nell Smith’s book was published just before Christmas. She’s no ‘silver surfer’, doesn’t blog, tweet or do Facebook, so how did she sell so many copies of her book, Retire to the Life You Love?

When Nell got in touch for the third time in as many weeks to order more books, I was impressed. I’m still impressed. So I asked her to share her secret with you. Only, she doesn’t have just one secret, she has seven!   Over to Nell…

Jo tells me these are impressive numbers. Having nothing to compare them to, I’m inclined to believe her. The 300 copies are in personal sales only. Online sales figures are still pending. Jo asked me to share my insights with you so that you can perhaps gain from my experience. At this point I have not done any blogging. I have a website but no Facebook page for the book. Nor have I even contacted all the people who are examples in my book to let them know the book is available. Same goes with email lists that I have been collecting of those who wanted me to let them know when the book is published. That’s all still to do.     So, what have I done so far? Here are my seven keys to date.

1. My topic is timely. Retire to the Life You Love – Practical Tools for Designing Your Meaningful Future is of interest to anyone thinking about what’s next and what’s possible when they move on to the next chapter of their life. That covers a lot of territory and especially the huge baby boom population at this life stage and who are my intended target readers.
2. The book launch was a hit. I held it at a local independent book store that has a training room ideal for the launch. A friend offered to organize it and other friends offered to bring food or help out in any way. I sent e-invitations to select people who I thought may be interested and offered them wine, hot apple cider, hot and cold nibbles during the launch (mostly donated by friends). At first I had more responses from people who could not come than from those who could and I started to get a little panicky. In the end 60 people showed up and all bought one or multiple copies of the book. Two financial planners bought 10 each for their clients as my book deals with the non-financial aspects of retirement and adds value to the services they offer.
3. My passion for the body of work that the book represents is what makes people I meet want to buy it initially. When they read it they often want more copies because it is packed with positive and hopeful stories, examples, and tools, interwoven with my own personal story, and written in a conversational tone. Readers find this informative and engaging. One non-reading engineer said it was user friendly and he IS reading THIS book.
4. A large number of personal and professional connections that I’ve built over many years are another key. Members of organizations I belong to have bought a copy because they are curious to know what I wrote or they know someone who is retiring. Other contacts have promoted the book within their organizations, such as the public library that has bought copies for its collection.
5. Speaking engagements. At the two speaking engagements I’ve had in the first 60 days (one conference and one smaller group) I was able to sell multiple copies. More are planned in the next months, all opportunities to sell copies.
6. Buzz buddies. Several old and new friends are promoting the book by talking it up at events. One gave herself the title of Nell’s buzz buddy, Ask me and had a name tag made with that title for her to wear at these events. Since we often share speaking engagements, she is great at steering people to my session or my book.
7. Book marks. I include one with each book and I’m generous at handing them out or making them available for buzz buddies to hand out. The book marks, that have the book cover on one side and reviewers’ quotes, my websites, and contact information on the other, have been a huge hit. They’re economical, relevant to books, and better than business cards as readers actually use them. I’ve already given out 500 book marks and am into my next order that I expanded to 1,000.

I’m very encouraged with this strong interest and start for my book. I still have lots to do to promote and market the book more widely, but all in its own time. Nell Smith Author.