The published world is ever-changing. The fact of the matter is self-published authors are always marketing on a shoestring, so this “economy” should have little to no impact on their daily activities. From the explosion of social media on the internet to new entrepreneurial centers emerging to assist in business training, now there are many resources to help you maintain and thrive in changing economies.

If your book’s sales are not thriving, you are probably not doing everything you can to help them. First off, if you have no way to set yourself apart from competitive titles, such as a professional looking title or brand, you will have no way to compete. Secondly, if you do not invest ample time for additional training and some finances into your marketing plan, book sales will die. Third, and most important, if you do not have faith in your dream, you will never see it come true.

Here is a three-fold plan to give your book’s sales that jump-start it needs to thrive:

1. Brand yourself. Not just you, personally, but your book. Get a unique look(not a generic template from VistaPrint) that speaks to who you are, what you offer, and how you are different from others around you. Use that look everywhere – a website, business cards, brochures, etc. Even if you have to print brochures and cards at home, and start out with a “free” template website, if you have no identifiable brand all your other marketing strategies will be worthless, so begin by investing your finances in your brand. Then as money comes in through book sales, designate a minimum of 5% of the income for advertising (cards, brochures, a professional website, etc).

2. Find a local small business training center that offers free workshops and classes. These can be offered through your local community colleges, or if you are in Greensboro, NC, check out the Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship. You may also contact your local Small Business Administration office for information on these types of centers. Even if some classes have a small fee, consider going to them. Find classes and workshops that will help you improve your speaking and selling skills, teach you how to use the internet to sell more books, general marketing classes, and more.

3. Have some faith in your dream. I am always taken aback by people who will complain about their dream not coming to pass. People who refuse to invest their time and finances into seeing that dream happen, and then those same people I see eating at expensive restaurants or shopping at high-end markets. It is a proven fact that no matter how much money you have, if you really want something you will find a way to get it. How badly do you want your dream? Is it worth giving up Starbucks for a month? Or selling something of value that you own? Even when all looks bleak, have faith that your dream will happen. The day you stop seeing it come true is the day it dies.

These three steps are the start to a great foundation. Once you obtain them, you will be given more ideas to make the message through your book bigger, better, and more influential than you could ever have imagined!