Virgil Winston:Marketing Guru
I just heard from my editor that my book is going paperback and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Of course, like a lot of good news, there is a bit of a “but” that came with it. Apparently part of the reason my book took so long to sell enough copies to make it to a second printing is because my book jacket photo isn’t “cool” enough. Unbeknownst to me, the Publishing Company organized a few focus groups and discovered that my picture projected an image that didn’t cause books to fly off the shelves. Some of the comments said that I appeared “stuffy,” snobbish,” “crabby” and “nebbish.” Potential book buyers were turned off by my pipe smoking, disliked the vest I was wearing and said I looked like a grouch. Harrumph! Personally, I don’t see it, but I can’t argue with market research—as much as I’d like to. Mrs. Winston found the whole thing hysterically funny and wasn’t able to look at me without bursting into gales of laughter for a full three days.
My editor made an appointment with an edgy young photographer who promised to make me look as cool and hip as possible—under the circumstances. She has a lot of “interesting” ideas that include shooting in an alley, having me sit in an armchair with a graffiti backdrop and shooting me atop a Harley. I’m not sure how any of these will work but I’m willing to give it a try. Stodgy? Me? I’ll show them.
It just goes to show you that even the most experienced of us have room to expand our horizons. That’s why today’s offering is about expansion. The Northwest Expandable Saddle Bag contains a deluxe organizer for phones, business accessories, and files and a detachable, adjustable shoulder strap. Naturally, it has a place for your company’s logo so whoever receives it will think of you every time they use it.
As my great grandma was fond of saying, “If you ain’t learning, you’re dying.” Eloquent, she was not…but she made her point. Well, I’m off to pose for my new headshot. Wish me luck!