Marketing Your Book - Eight Unique Ways to Promote Your Book
Marketing Your Book - Eight Unique Ways to Promote Your Book
Whether you have just completed your first, third or fifth book
you want to see it succeed. Book promotion is a daunting task
that can leave even a seasoned publicist floundering for ideas.
There are thousands of books jockeying for the readers'
attention and you want your book to be their first choice.
Promoting a book is like being a cross between Houdini and a
detective. You have got to sleuth for creative promoting avenues
then magically tie them to your book to maximize
revenue-generating publicity.
With these super easy tips, you can promote your book like a
pro. Promoting should be done off and on-line. Your goal is not
only to be creative but to garner as much publicity for your
book as possible. On all the items listed below be sure to
include your book cover, website address, contact information,
and, always a must, ordering information.
-Magnetic signs: We have all seen these signs on vehicles
advertising everything from AVON to plumbing services. Why not
use them to promote your book? Full-color magnetic signs placed
on the sides of your car are the ultimate advertising tools. If
your daily commute is anything like mine, an hour each way to
work, hundreds of people can see them on a daily basis. They are
relatively cheap. Depending on the size and design you choose,
you can get a pair ranging from $18.00 to $85.00. All you have
to do is email the company the verbiage, a succinct description
of your book, website address and a .JPEG of your book cover. Be
sure to review the proof they send you. The company can have a
custom sign to you within three to five business days.
-Create your own blog: Blog, what a funny sounding word, it
almost sounds like you are regurgitating lunch. But trust me
there is nothing funny about it. Having a blog has become one of
the coolest and in some cases most profitable things on the Web.
Blog, nickname for web log, is an online personal journal on
which you can add links to your favorite sites. A blog can take
your diary ramblings and turn them into a publicity-generating
machine. Depending on the popularity of your blog it can receive
more than one hundred thousand hits a day. A blog provides an
excellent venue to showcase your writing in addition to keeping
your fans abreast on what is going on with you. Be sure to
include a link on your blog that point visitors back to your
main website for them to read an excerpt of your book and to
purchase it. You may read my blog at
http://desireeday.blogspot.com.
-A mug: My agent, Bob Diforio, had my book cover emblazed on a
coffee mug. The mug can also serve double duty as a candy dish.
If you work in an office, give one to the receptionist to use as
a candy dish, that way every visitor to the office will see it.
-An acrylic holder: You can make your own holder or order one
from a promotional item company. Hang the holder on your car
window to hold your postcards. Whenever you stop at a store,
pull out your holder. Passersby can take a postcard while you
are shopping.
-Clothing: Make this a family event. Have your book cover,
website address and succinct information on your book emblazed
on a T-shirt, baseball cap, sweatpants, etc. Have family members
wear their T-shirts and/or baseball caps whenever the
opportunity presents itself. At the gym, out shopping, or just
out getting ice cream. There's no better walking billboard than
your loved ones.
-Advertise on www.classmates.com: The creation of this website
has allowed individuals to keep in touch with or renew
acquaintances from years past. For a nominal fee you can send an
announcement of your new book to the alumni of your high school
and college. Although they restrict you from adding a URL to
your announcement, you can still add information that will get
noticed. For example I used: Desiree Day has just published her
novel Crazy Love. Interested readers can then Google me to find
my website.
-Independent Book Sellers (IBS): By now you should know the
names of all the IBS within a one hundred mile radius of your
home. A number of them collect demographical information on
their customers, such as name, mailing address and email
address. This is vital information that you can use in promoting
your book. Contact the owner to see if they are willing to mail
out your promotional materials. However; if they do mail your
information, be prepared to pay postage.
-You: Keep a copy of your book with you at all times. Just
having it is bound to elicit questions. This is an especially
excellent technique if you are on public transportation. Anyone
within three feet of you is bound to ask what you are reading.
Also have a supply of your postcards to pass out to everyone you
meet.
Do not forget that you can also promote your book by writing
articles, facilitating a workshop, volunteer as a panelist, and
joining an assortment of professional associations and
organizations.
You can tack your postcards on local bulletin boards, post your
web site on Yahoo and MSN groups, have a friend host a book
signing/reading party and, finally, send press releases to
independent booksellers.
Happy Promoting!
Desiree Day Author of Crazy Love http://www.desireeday.com/
About the author:
Desiree Day Author of Crazy Love http://www.desireeday.com/
Written By: Desiree Day