Well you wrote a book and you even got it published (either
self-pubbed or small press), in any case there doesn’t seem to be funds to
promote the book and it’s just not selling. You know that you need a publicist
but how are you going to be able to afford it. Money begets money, right?
What can you do? Unless you are selling your book(s) you don’t
have the money to promote, but unless you promote you can’t sell your book. Don’t
give up, there are things that you can do yourself.
Start with Social Media — yes, that means FaceBook, Twitter,
Google-plus, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more. Make sure that you
interact with other members, especially authors and dedicated readers. Find
their posts and pages and like, share, and leave friendly comments. NEVER
respond to their post with a direct sales pitch for your own book! This is how
you can build a community.
Make your own posts with no more than a strong HINT selling
your book; post snippets, reviews or connect a relevant news story to the
storyline from your own book. It’s okay to post a sales link (on FaceBook this
can supply a graphic by linking to an online sales site like Amazon for
instance). Talking about FaceBook, create an AUTHOR PAGE. You will need a
regular timeline which you may or may not want to use for pure social
interactions with family and close friends, use settings to keep it PRIVATE
letting only those that you select as friends to see your posts; the advantage
is you can keep your private life separate from the author persona that you
want your readers to see.
Set up a blog and post regularly. There are some alternative
plans for a blog, such as: Post excerpts and back stories from your books,
interview your characters, interview yourself, or discuss a recent relevant news
issue and tie it in to your story; ~or~ Leave your blog open to guest posts
from other authors (interviews, backstories, etc.) and intersperse posts about
your own book(s).
Build an author website. Your first page can be either a
rolling blog with highlights about your book and you (list awards, appearances,
new releases, etc.); another page should include your bio and important author
info about you, possibly written as a letter from you to the reader; of course
you should have a page listing your book(s), build a subpage for EACH book and
include the book cover, blurb, buy links, and reviews; and do not forget to
include a comprehensive MEDIA page.
Your Media page should include all of the information a
reporter could/would use about you and your books — include professional and
downloadable author photo and book covers. Include a professional author’s bio.
List all significant awards/mentions for your book(s). Be sure to include
contact information for reporters to reach you and/or your publisher for more
information. Place a notice on the page that all information is used as is with
your permission and a request to let you (or your “publicist”) know if and
where this information is being used. Make it easy on any reporter or blogger
who wants to feature you.
Improve your public reputation with Virtual Blog Tours. One
author I know sent out a packet of info and graphics with excerpts, posts about different elements of her story,
and her bio to all of the bloggers she knew who host guests and asked if anyone
would be able to include any of her material within a specified amount of time.
Other authors send out queries to bloggers and ask if they could host and what
they needed from the author. And other authors scan different blogs looking for
hosts who ask for guests. Whatever route you take, “appearing” virtually will
help readers learn about you and generate interest in your book.
Contact venues and offer programs such as book discussions,
historical lectures relevant to your book topic, or workshops about writing;
once you have gained a following simple book-signings would be enough of a
draw. And send out press releases to local media about a “local author”,
acclaims, and appearances. You can act as your own publicist and start
attracting a following.
Writing Exercise: Practice
writing author bios of different lengths starting with one paragraph and also two-to-three
paragraphs. Include important aspects of YOU as an author, include personal
items only if they added to WHY you are a writer. What do you want your public
to know about you?
Writing Prompt:
Write ten questions all authors should be asked in your opinion. Next “interview”
yourself and answer those same questions.
Challenge Assignment:
Design your media page by writing the text, include your bio, book praise,
and contact info.
