These days it
seems like everyone's book marketing budget is a little tighter. If you're
feeling the pinch, or if you're just looking for some great free stuff to do on
your own, here are some tips that can help keep you on track. Along with the
tips, I've also linked to other articles I've written on the various topics, in
case you want to dig deeper:
- Buy your
domain name as soon as you have a title for your book. You can get domain
names for as little as12.95. Tip: When buying a domain always try to get a
.com and stay away from hyphens, i.e. penny-sansevieri.com - surfers
rarely remember to insert hyphens. You should also consider using your
keywords in your domain because it'll help you rank better. Social media
is great, but don't use your Facebook or Twitter pages as your
"website" - you should own your domain and have a site. Period. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri/how-to-build-the-perfect-_b_1932184.html
- Head on
over to Wordpress.com and start your very own blog (you can add it to your
website later): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri/ten-reasons-why-you-shoul_b_839231.html
- Set up an
event at your neighborhood bookstore. Do an event and not a signing, book
signings are boring!
- It's all
about content these days so why not create a calendar for content? Often
if you aren't sure what to write, or when, a content calendar will keep
you on track. You can plan the calendar around your free time (though you
should blog weekly) and around holidays or events that may tie into your
book.
- Then,
while you're at it: brainstorm content ideas and start a content folder
you can always refer back to when you aren't feeling "inspired"
to write anything.
- Check out
other, similar authors online and see if you can do some networking.
- Do some
radio research and pitch yourself to at least five new stations this week.
Here's a great place to find radio stations! http://www.radio-locator.com/
- Ready to
get some business cards? Head on over to Vistaprint.com. The cards are
free if you let them put their logo on the back, if you don't they're
still really inexpensive.
- Put
together your marketing plan. Seriously, do this. If you don't know where
you're going, any destination will do. If you don't feel like doing an
entire "plan" then pick ten things you want to do this month to
promote your book.
- Plan a
contest or giveaway. Contests are a great way to promote your book. Make
sure to mention the contest on Facebook!
- Time to
get yourself onto Wattpad. Never heard of Wattpad? It's a place where you
can run your content, chapters, short stories, whatever you want, and it's
a fantastic way to build fans and get feedback on your work!
- Send
thank-you notes to people who have been helpful to you.
- Send your
book out to at least ten book reviewers this week.
- Do a quick
Internet search for local writers' conferences or book festivals you can
attend: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri/eight-tips-to-make-your-n_b_850665.html
- Create an
email signature for every email you send; email signatures are a great way
to promote your book and message.
- Ready to
pitch bloggers? Excellent, then start by doing a search for the right ones
on Google. You can also head over here and plug in your search term to
find the top blogs in your market: http://www.invesp.com/blog-rank/
- Enhance
your Amazon Author Central Page by linking to your blog, Twitter feed or
adding a video if you have one: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri/sell-more-on-amazoncom-un_b_3670424.html
- Plan your
free eBook promotion. If you're on KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) drop
your price to zero for one day or three days. You'll want to schedule this
a week or so out, then head on over to sites where you can list your
freebie. There are tons of them but here are two to get you started: www.igniteyourbook.com and www.ebookswag.com
- Write your
bio and have someone who can be objective critique it; you'll need it when
you start pitching yourself to the media.
- Schedule
your first book event!
- Start your
own email newsletter; it's a great way to keep readers, friends and family
updated and informed on your success.
- Start a
Twitter account and begin tweeting. If you don't think Twitter is
significant, think again; it's been a major part of our marketing strategy
for over two years now (before anyone even knew what Twitter was).
- Develop a
set of questions or discussion topics that book clubs or online book clubs
can use for your book, and post them on your website for handy downloads.
- Start a
Facebook Fan page. Fan Pages are much better than a personal profile for
marketing because they're searchable in Google.
- See if you
can get your friends to host a "book party" in their home. You
come in and discuss your book and voila, a captive audience!
- Find some
catalogs you think your book would be perfect for and then submit your
packet to them for consideration. If you're unsure of what catalogs might
work for you, head on over to http://www.catalogs.com/ and peruse their
list.
- Go around
to your local retailers and see if they'll carry your book; even if it's
on consignment, it might be worth it! Don't just offer this at bookstores
either, see if your local dry cleaner, gift shops, and restaurants will
take it. Often local establishments are very supportive of their local
authors!
- Visual is
so important these days, how about getting an account on Vine or Instagram
and doing short videos and pictures about your book or topic? Visuals are
a great way to sell a book!
- Write a
review for someone else's book that's similar to yours. Not sure how this
relates to your promotion? Well it's called networking and it's just a
great idea to always do outreach.
- Get
yourself on Library Thing or Goodreads and start gathering friends and
building your profile there: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri/how-to-become-a-goodreads_b_3719161.html
- Make sure
your blog is connected to Amazon via their Amazon connect program (yes,
it's free). (You can do this through your Author Central Page)
- Ask
friends and family to email five people they know and tell them about your
book.
- Leave your
business card, bookmark, or book flyer wherever you go.
- Subscribe
to Talkwalker.com or Mention.net and make sure that you are getting alerts
under your name as well as your book title(s), brand, and keywords.
- Pitch
yourself to your local television stations.
- Pitch
yourself to your local print media.
- Work on
the Q&A for your press kit. You'll need it when you start booking
media interviews!
- Schedule a
book giveaway on Library Thing or Goodreads. It's a fantastic way to drive
new interest for your book! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri/the-power-of-the-goodread_b_3736965.html
- Is the
topic of your book in the news? Check your local paper, and write a letter
to the editor to share your expertise (and promote your book!).
- Stop by
your local library and see if you can set up an event. They love local
authors.
- Do you
want to get your book into your local library system? Try dropping off a
copy to your main library; if they stock it chances are the other branches
will too.
- Go to
Chase's Calendar of Events (www.Chases.com.) and find out how to create
your own holiday!
- Going on
vacation? Use your away-from-home time to schedule a book event or two.
- If your
book is appropriate, go to local schools to see if you can do a reading.
- Got a book
that could be sold in bulk? Start with your local companies first and see
if they're interested in buying some promotional copies to give away at
company events.
- Don't
forget to add reviews to your website. Remember that what someone else has
to say is one thousand times more effective than anything you could say!
- Trying to
meet the press? Search the Net for Press Clubs in your area, they meet
once a month and are a great place to meet the media.
- Want a
celebrity endorsement? Find celebs in your market with an interest in your
topic and then go for it. Remember all they can say is no. Check out the
Actors Guild for a list of celeb representatives.
- Ready to
get some magazine exposure? Why not pitch some regional and national
magazines with your topic or submit a freelance article for reprint
consideration?
- Work on
your next book or work on writing mini-books. Sometimes the best way to
sell your first book is by promoting your second, but also many authors
are writing and promoting mini-books to keep readers engaged while they
wait for their next book to come out. How long do mini-books need to be?
50-75 pages. That's it!
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