Not a week goes by that I don’t get an email or a call from an author asking how to get an endorsement or a Foreword.

Here’s my response …

For Forewords:

1. Who would be a magnet for your target audience?

2. Who would they recognize and has credibility?

3. Do you know who the “whos” are?

4. Do you know anyone who does?

5. What do you have to show them for consideration—the whole book or a few chapters?

6. Does the recipient want the entire document or a few chapters? 

7. If they are open, ask what would be best—an emailed Word document or pdf or a snail-mailed copy? 8. Or, do they so know your work and what you are writing, they are “good to go”?

9. If you are priority mailing (yes, at least priority mail), is there a “goodie” you can include as a thank you?

10. If you are sending to an unknown, such as a celebrity, you’ve got to stand out. What is his or her connection to your theme/book—is it a cause?

11. When do you need it by?

AND … please spell Foreword correctly. It is not “forward.” I get it–you are moving forward as in a march in this process, but it’s the wrong forward. When manuscripts have come into my offices–this is a common mistake.

For getting endorsements, it’s the same thing …

Endorsements:

1. Who would be a magnet for your target audience?

2. Who would they recognize and has credibility?

3. Do you know who the “whos” are?

4. Do you know anyone who does?

5. What do you have to show them for consideration—the whole book or a few chapters?

6. Does the recipient want the entire document or a few chapters? 

7. If they are open, ask what would be best—an emailed Word document or pdf or a snail-mailed copy?

8. Or, do they so know your work and what you are writing, they are “good to go”?

9. If you are priority mailing (yes, at least priority mail), is there a “goodie” you can include as a thank you? 10. If you are sending to an unknown, such as a celebrity, you’ve got to stand out. What is his or her connection to your theme/book—is it a cause?

11. When do you need it by?

Plus …some may ask you what you want them to say. I know you are thinking, “Really … you want me to write your words. Really? Yes, yes some do. Noodle this a bit—you may want some shout outs with key phrases in them. Create someone and two liners—a page of them. Add—If time is short, here’s a variety of lines that you can use, altering them to your words.

Then, I would “rank” any endorsements that come in—who has the most clout? If you get a Foreword, is there a line that snaps, crackles and pops? Add that to your “short” endorsements—you may want to pop it on the front or back cover.

And where do you put all these gems? On the first few pages of your book—before the Title page. Think People Are Talking … Praise for (your title), etc. On your website. When your Amazon page is “live”, copy it in an email to the creator with the link to the Amazon page and ask them to do a copy/paste for a review. Shout them out on your social media—create a “rotation” of sharing and thanking the endorser. Include your book cover for the image and certainly the link to your buy page.

When Jeff Keen, President, and CEO of American Book Fest heard what I was doing with the creation of my latest book, How to Create a $1,000,000 Speech, he reached out to me. “If you would like an endorsement or foreword, I would be glad to do one.” I kept his note. When I had the full manuscript—knowing that it wasn’t perfect nor even laid out—I sent an email reminding him of what he wrote and asked if he was still game to do it. “Yes, send me the full manuscript,” was the response with a deadline for when I needed it. Not only did he deliver, it was clear he had read the entire book-to-be, with 10 pages noted where he recommended a tweak. WOWSA, I was so honored with what he wrote … and my goal is to go to print before February ends.

Within a day, this was emailed to me:

BRAVA! BRAVA! What an incredible book.
My copy is tagged, noted and circled throughout. Fantastic resources!

And then three days later, the full Foreword was received.

Then, I made a list, a very short list, of individuals who I would be honored to get endorsements from. I created a Bit.ly customized shortened link of the full Amazon link for using forward in promotion and marketing.

My Bit.ly is this: http://bit.ly/1000000speech 

My Amazon page link is this:https://www.amazon.com/How-Create-000-Speech/dp/1885331673/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518633349&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+create+a+%241%2C000%2C000

The Bit.ly is so much better. Now it ties to the title of my book, How to Create a $1,000,000 Speech.

A short email was sent out that included the back cover copy, the link to the Amazon page and the “ask” –the goal was to include any on the first two pages of the book. One took a “pass”—she wants the complete printed book and will post a review after publication date. The others asked for the manuscript. Happy dances in my offices!

And then, a lightbulb went off–I forgot to ask a “very important person”–a person that is a “guru” in the professional speaking, even serving as the first woman president of the national association. I reached out on a Sunday, reconnecting, and asked, including the front cover, contents page, and a sample layout. The next day, this was in my email box:

“For decades I have watched Judith Briles build and sustain a successful speaking career while authoring more books than most people read. Once Judith started helping others write books that were worth reading, she opened a new chapter of her life which her talents are ideally suited for: how to be a successful speaker. Judith is not selling a get rich quick promise. More a logical, practical, sustainable approach. By learning from those who have mastered the skills you are looking will save you time and resources. Learning from Judith Briles could well be your best purchase of the year.”

                              – Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE – Past President, National Speakers Association

WOWSA … I was honored … so honored, that I pulled the last line and placed it smack-dab on the top of the front cover! A huge Happy Dance from my offices.

Bottom line—it’s all about “the ask” and knows who will be a match for your audience. What do you need? Have you asked for it?

Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and works directly with authors who want to be seriously successful and has been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the ’80s. Judith is the author of 35 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms (Foreword IndieFab Book of the Year), Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences. Book #35, How to Avoid 101 Book Publishing Blunders, Bloopers & Boo-Boos has earned 7 national book awards in 2017. Get your copy now.

Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged Bootcamp, a three-day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2018, the dates are June 23-25.  Participate in her Judith Briles Speaking Unplugged Bootcamp held in March and November. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for “AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing” on the Toginet Network at bit.ly/PublishingShow.

Follow @AuthorUYOUBooks and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU, and join the Facebook group Book Publishing with The Book Shepherd. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact me.

 The Book Shepherd® is a registered trademark.

Judith Briles

Author U is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the author who wants to be seriously successful. Ongoing education programs delivered face-to-face and online, The Author Resource ezine, BookCamps and the annual AuthorU Extravaganza are tools designed for authors pre, during and post publishing of their books. Become a GOLD member at AuthorU.org.

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Judith Briles

Author U is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the author who wants to be seriously successful. Ongoing education programs delivered face-to-face and online, The Author Resource ezine, BookCamps and the annual AuthorU Extravaganza are tools designed for authors pre, during and post publishing of their books. Become a GOLD member at AuthorU.org.

Latest posts by Judith Briles (see all)