Scary words. Maybe even
offensive to the new author who believes their work is finished once the book
is written. Marketing and promoting your book are necessary steps if you want
all of the artistic effort you put into writing to pay off. Think outside the
box and grab every opportunity to market and promote that you can. (Marketing is
getting your book to the reader, looking for target audiences and venues; Promoting
is building the hype around you as an author and around the subject of your
book.)
You can always hire a
professional marketing agent to promote your work, and maybe your publisher
even has a department they rely on, but since YOU have the highest stake in
your book’s success you should be out there pushing it. It doesn’t need to take
a lot of money or time. There are many things you can do to multiply the effect
of every little step you take.
Have you scheduled an
in-person book signing or appearance? Maximize your efforts. Send a press
release to the venue in advance for distribution to local media outlets. Make a
phone call (or depending on location) a visit to the event organizer and ask
for a list of local media where YOU can send press releases announcing your
appearance. If you are interviewed by a reporter, ask him or her for the
name(s) of favorite book stores or other venues where authors/artists can
appear. Depending on the area, don’t discount grocery stores, libraries, coffee
shops, bars, realtors and more as possible venues. And don’t forget to contact
clubs or groups associated with sites to find out if they are interested in
scheduling author appearances (Friends of the Library, Synagogue Sisterhoods,
Ladies Auxiliary at the local Fire Dept.)
Check out local
newspapers or magazines for any articles that touch on the topic of your book –
don’t forget to look for media outlets covered by the regions in your book.
Write up a brief synopsis of your story and be sure to tie it into the article,
then send the article with a cover letter to the appropriate reporter or
editor. Be sure to ask if the recipient would like to review a copy of your
book as well. Surf the internet for blog sites relevant to your book topic and
find out if they would be interested on a guest post from you either about your
book or about the topic the book and the site share.
Does your book deal
with a specific location? Contact booksellers, tourist centers, and any
historic sites with a news release about your book which very closely ties the
location (and historical significance if any) to their specific interests. If possible,
find out if they would be willing to schedule an author (you) appearance or if
the gift shop would be interested in featuring your book (ask about
consignment, etc). You should always make sure to contact local media with news
of your book’s availability or your upcoming appearance. A news release is a newsworthy
article filled with information and facts relevant to your book.
Do you send out your
books via the mail or for ebooks, the email system? Include a review request
sheet. The reader can either return the review to you with permission to use it
on your website or blog or to use quotes on book jackets, etc, , or you can
provide a list of sites where their review would be welcomed. If you have
multiple books available, always include a postcard or brochure with each book
you sell to advertise your other works. If you use social media to promote your
work (and you should be) don’t limit your posts to ONLY sales pitches for your
book, make sure to share relevant info (ie: a news article about a place
featured in your book) AND be friendly to other authors and positive at all
times.
Writing Exercise: Choose a local
historical site (use the internet or local library for research) and write a
short “diary entry” about an event that did (or could have) taken place during
the relevant time period from the perspective of someone who was there.
Writing Prompt: Take an event/conflict
from any book or television show and write a flow chart that includes the
character’s decisions – be sure to include alternate decisions and
possibilities that might have occurred if a different path had been chosen.
