I have recently begun doing some search engine optimization for Gregg Cochlan’s website, which promotes his wonderful book “Love Leadership: What the World Needs Now.”

As it stands today, February 2nd, 2008, the Love Leadership website is at #10 on Google for the term “Love Leadership.” I anticipate that as I work on the site it will rise to one of the top 3 positions on google. Right now only one page is showing up. However, several pages of the websites should be listed on the top page when I am done - making it even easier for people to find the book.

Update: As of today, Feb 5th, Love Leadership has risen to #4. It was #5 yesterday and it should continue to rise in the coming days.

Given the importance of the web for new and aspiring authors, I thought now might be a good time to review some useful strategies for increasing book sales online.

Using the Internet to Increase Your Book’s Sales

If you want to increase your book’s online sales, people need to be able to find and buy your book. You can sell it on Amazon or another online bookstore of course. But you could also promote the book on your own and give sales a boost. This is especially important if you are a consultant, coach or speaker. A book can give you new clients. So think about creating a website that promotes both you and your book (more on this below).

Promotion is one of several reasons why authors have hired me to do search engine optimization. Having a website doesn’t do much good without having plenty of visitors. Authors want a high ranking on google, yahoo and other search engines to bring visitors to their websites. Why? Some of the visitors will buy their book or other products and services.

To repeat: People need to be able to find you and your book. And they need to do so in the quickest and most efficient way possible. Think of it this way: If a people are searching for the title of your book online, they may be motivated buyers. They are taking action and want more information. You want them to find you and connect with you as soon as possible: Make it easy.

A brief overview of promoting your book online.

Let’s take a few moments to consider some basic steps for promoting your book online. Even, if you have not published yet, you can (and probably should) do the steps below. You will be able to show a potential publisher that you understand the internet and internet marketing - perhaps making it more likely that you will get a contract.

Let’s begin.

1) You will need a website address and a hosting company.

Go to godaddy.com or another low-cost website registrar and register the name of your book. Your website address might look like this: www.mybookname.com. There are thousands of web-hosting companies. For now, choose a simple, low-cost provider ($5 - $10.00 per month maximum). Do not buy expensive add-ons. You probably do not need them. And if you find out later that you do, you can add them.

2) You will need a basic website.

Create (at minimum) a 1-page website explaining and promoting your book and its content. If you don’t know how to create a website, then get a blog, they are much easier to learn. Or you can outsource the website creation process (elance.com, scriptlance.com and others)

If your book is available for purchase you will want to have direct links to websites where it can be bought. Don’t be shy - your book is great and people need a chance to buy it - give them that chance. Create clear and obvious links that users can click to buy your book.

3) Install an open source blogging platform such a Wordpress on your website.

Your blog address might look like this: www.mybooksname.com/blog. You could also create a free blog at wordpress.com or blogger.com.

Why use a blog? When I make blog posts, they are usually listed on the google search engine results in less than 20-minutes. It’s a bit like having my own news wire. You can use your blog to create instant buzz about your book and its topics.

4) Get some incoming links to your new website.

Ask friends and colleaugues if they would be willing to link to your website. If all else fails, go to elance.com or scriptlance.com and pay someone to manually submit your site to other websites (often called “link directories”). You need to have incoming links - think of them as “votes” for your websites.

Doing all of the above will give you a great start. It will also give you a base from which you can begin expanding your professional presence.

If you would like a wonderful example of an author who “gets” how to use the internet to promote his books, take a look at Malcom Gladwell’s site: http://www.gladwell.com/

That’s all for now.