Literary Agents Boost Sales
May 29, 2008
When a client needs to quickly increase the number of titles released one tool to use is literary agents. These agents often have completed manuscripts waiting for a publisher.
The first step is to find literary agents that specialize in the subject matter favored by your press.
Then you need to contact the literary agent and let them know of your interest. We advise that you continue to contact them each month with an email to remind them of your interest, and keep them advised of your firm’s latest publications. Some clients send literary agents a post card with a cover image of each new book they publish in the agent’s subject area.
If you visit their city, take them out to lunch.
If you accept a manuscript from a literary agent send them a small momento or gift upon publication - some clients send them a framed cover of the book that highlights the publication date and press. The key is to give them something that will cause them to think of your firm when they receive a good manuscript.
Why this attention? Agents receive many manuscripts each year, and the big New York publishing houses can only accept a few. There are hundreds of publishers. You want the agent to think of your firm when a good manuscript is available. If all you do is send the agent an email or call them once a year, they will likely overlook your firm when considering which house to pitch a manuscript to.
