Promoting Your Book

Published authors bemoan the lack of promotion support from their publishers. This situation is even more dire for self-published authors who want to sell more than a few copies to friends. Since a lot of you who visit Joan Slings Words aren’t professional writers who have nonetheless published a book, I thought I’d give them a few pointers.

I gave these hints to an older friend who published his memoirs through Lulu. These ideas are good for those published by royalty-paying houses as well as those who self-publish. In a perfect world, you’d just retain a professional publicist to put together a national campaign using radio, cable, network TV, magazines and newspapers along with Internet to generate publicity for your work. In an imperfect world, you take these ideas, or at least the ones you can afford, and implement them yourself.

Standard Advice

It goes without saying that you should have a website and/or a blog that looks professionally done even it it isn’t. Your website and blog should have links to where visitors can buy the book. An image of the cover and a small photo of you the author should also be there along with any reviews of the book that you have obtained. If you don’t know how to get someone to review your book, read this blog because I will be blogging about that.

The URLs for your sites should be on your printed materials i.e. business cards, letterhead, postcards, flyers, or other material to be mailed to libraries and bookstores about your books. They should also be used in your signature file for email correspondence and for posting on lists or in forums.

Tips Maybe New To You

1. Purchase and up to date media guide either in hard copy or an online subscription. You’ll use this to target print media as well as radio and television shows that book authors. If the price is prohibitive, see if you can purchase a media guide in joint with other authors. Share the expense and share the resource.

2. Send press releases to your local newspapers and press kits to local radio and television.

3. Send review copies to credible reviewers. Use the reviews in your print materials and on your websites.

4. Analyze your book carefully and make lists of the niche ideas it generates, i.e., setting, information plot, etc. in order to book speaking engagements.

5. Think locally first. Gain success in the local arena then move outward.

What about your book can generate interest on a local level? Is it set in a certain area like Atlanta or Houston or Small Town USA? Brainstorm ideas that you can use to gain publicity based on the local author angle. Often, it’s easier in small localities to gain publicity than in large cities.

Does the information plot lend itself to organizations that would be interested in hearing you speak? For instance, does a hobby like coin collecting, knitting, or cooking with wine figure in the plot?

Do the characters have occupations or hobbies that would have organized groups interested in hearing you speak about that career or hobby?

6. Develop your platform. Do you as an author bring your career or hobby expertise to your book? That’s known as your platform.

Are you a member of any organization from sorority, alumni, business, etc.? Network your connections to gain speaking engagements about your book.

7. If you are uncertain about speaking in public or on broadcast, start rehearsing now. Get someone to videotape you and view the tape. Get some credible opinions on your wardrobe, appearance, speaking voice, attitude, and what you say. There are a lot of companies that offer this service. You might even check high school, junior college, or college drama departments to see if you can get some low price help from them.

8. Join professional organizations even if it’s as a non-voting, associate member. You’ll learn a lot from the pros.

9. Always carry a copy of your book, a flyer or postcard and your calling card with you wherever you go. Let people you talk to know that you have a book, but don’t be obnoxious or pushy about it. If they ask, show them the book. If they ask if they can buy a copy, give them your card with the website address where they can order. If they want the copy in your hand, laugh and tell them a rounded off dollar amount for the book. Something they’re likely to have in their wallet works best. Or just give them the book and sign it to them. I believe generosity and goodwill go a long way to building an audience and a fan base.

10. Pay it forward. Go to book signings of other authors and buy books. Tell the organizer of the signing that you have a book too. Be gracious and friendly and give them a card. Let them know that you’d participate in a signing. Do NOT be pushy, obnoxious, and overbearing. If they like you, they’ll call to set up a signing with you.

Takeaway Truth

Ideas used by the big guns can also be used by the little guns and be very effective.

Tags: book promotion, book publicity, business of writing, publishing, self publishing, Writing