One learning I’m applying from my consulting business (in food and beverage) to my book launch? Sampling your product is necessary when you are a new brand (i.e. author). It seems like a really dumb financial move to give away your magic book, drink, or food product.
Here’s the thing…
If you do this strategically - with your most predisposed audience - it becomes a gift. And gifts tend to invite an obligation to reciprocate somehow. If you sample with the predisposed, they are likely to enjoy your (product) and pay it forward somehow. In the book world, reciprocity could be an Amazon review, a Goodreads review, or, even better, telling five of your girlfriends to go get the book.
I was in San Diego this weekend to give my book away to Gen Z and Millennial librarians, library studies students, and others who are living the autonomy overwhelm of urban America every day. These folks read and recommend what they read! Gold!
Our country gives adults an enormous superpower not present in most other societies (and absent across the world before WWII): being left alone. We defend this cultural right to be left alone by honoring everyone’s thick veil of privacy.
Community is something we choose now, more than feeling trapped within.
Sounds great until you crash and burn. And then you realize you have maybe one partner who has to deal with you…or even none (if your behavior has alienated everyone). If you’ve been conditioned not to burden others with your problems or you think your problems are too private to get friends involved in solving, you now discover how terrifying being left alone really is.
I wrote Our Worst Strength to wake people up to the Achilles heel of American-style individualism as a way of life. We have to do better at supporting people through the many ups and downs of this way of life.
We have to learn to be less private to help ourselves and others.
We have to work harder to sustain friendships that offer crucial support and take the strain off of our life partners (one person should not have to deal with all your sh*t).
We have to make professional intervention and cognitive therapy services free and highly accessible to all. Not just to affluent people with great corporate health plans.
Have a great 4th of July!
I couldn't agree more! (And would be very happy to receive - and review - a free copy of your book. 😊 )
Definitely a good strategy! ^^ Have a good day, James!! My copy arrived not long ago as well ~ ! ^^