Gail Richards - Articles

 (153)

Gail Richards is an architect of lasting impressions. Over the past 20 years she has partnered with a variety of businesses and more recently, authors, to create marketing messages and visual concepts that demand and capture attention. Using practical, no-nonsense marketing techniques, she helps clients conquer their dread of self-promotion, transforming it into enthusiasm, know-how and confidence. Creating AuthorSmart.com, she has pulled together the cream of the cream of the crop of publishing professionals to partner with her as the site evolves. As a book professional, Gail works with aspiring authors to familiarize them with the overall publishing process. She also partners with authors of books that are taking shape to create dynamic cover designs, back cover copy, and collateral material. She is a seasoned author having written countless articles, brochures, direct mail campaigns, headlines, annual reports, print ads, TV/radio ad scripts, billboards, slogans and more. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College (Art History,'84), mother of two teen-age sons, Red Sox fan and aspiring seamstress.

Sort By: Date | Popularity

Popularity
52

Self-published Authors: a New Market Niche for the Virtual Assistant
More and more people are publishing their own books as independent publishers rather than waiting and hoping to find a traditional publisher who will appreciate their work. The virtual assistant is becoming a key component in the success of these efforts. Read
By: Gail Richards | 08/01/2008 | Writing
Popularity
51

Marketing Virtual Assistant Services to Authors
Although objectively I know there are far more authors in need of virtual 'author's assistant' services than there are trained virtual assistants to meet their needs, the first question I hear from someone considering adding to their virtual skills to work with authors is: "How do I know I can find clients if I invest in getting additional training to work with authors?" Read
By: Gail Richards | 20/12/2007 | Writing
Popularity
51

The 4 Biggest Reasons Every Author Should Count on an Author's Assistant
Every big-time author has an author's assistant - someone the author can call on to do the amazing number of tasks that surround the successful completion, publishing and marketing of a book. But first-time authors are lucky - they can have author's assistants, too - virtually. Read
By: Gail Richards | 18/12/2007 | Writing
Popularity
50

The 7 Biggest Opportunities for the Virtual Assistant as an Author's Assistant
The occupation of the author's assistant has been around for at least two hundred years, but it has taken on new meaning and relevance over the past few years with the increasing number of authors who are self publishing as a virtual process. Read
By: Gail Richards | 13/12/2007 | Writing
Popularity
50

Getting the Media Attention your Book Deserves
You should always be listening for news that might make your book an important resource to anyone suddenly concerned with an issue. Always have your media kit ready so that if the opportunity presents itself, you will be ready. Read
By: Gail Richards | 15/11/2007 | Writing
Popularity
50

So You've Decided to Write a Book - the Good News and the Bad News About Sharing the News
The decision to write a book is: " Exciting and exhilarating " Overwhelming " Stress-inducing " One of those life experiences that kind of find you going from euphoria to total depression in three seconds flat Read
By: Gail Richards | 14/11/2007 | Writing
Popularity
50

The Five Key Marketing Elements Critical to Publisher Interest in a Nonfiction Book
The author's platform is her established audience following and the way to reach readers through a large database, syndicated radio show, national television show, magazine column, large and well-known companyin other words, name recognition on a large scale. Read
By: Gail Richards | 12/11/2007 | Writing
Popularity
50

Pricing your Nonfiction Book
If your book is published by a mainstream publisher, the publisher will have the responsibility to set a price for the book. But if you self-publish, that task is yours. To price a book correctly to maximize sales, you need to know how other similar types of books are priced, as well as the costs of the book, in order to maximize your profits. Read
By: Gail Richards | 09/11/2007 | Writing
Popularity
51

Book Expo America for the Author or Aspiring Author
Book Expo America is the book industrys largest annual U. S. event where publishers exhibit their next season books to retail book buyers. The event rotates around Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C, and Los Angeles, and occasionally to other major cities. It is held in late May or early June, and attendance is usually more than 30,000 with over 2,000 exhibitors. Read
By: Gail Richards | 08/11/2007 | Writing
Popularity
56

Bestsellers and Book Sales Expectations
Most new authors have no idea how book sales happen or what numbers to expect. A typical successful book from a major publisher sells between 20,000 and 40,000 copies. Healthy book sales from a smaller publisher may number at least 5,000 copies, whereas a self-published book may be considered promising if it sells as few as 1,000 copies to a wide audience. Read
By: Gail Richards | 06/11/2007 | Writing