Whether you self-publish or have a major publisher, you have to peddle
your book. Some of the best marketing tools cost only time, effort, and
the right timing.. Here are some ways to get FREE publicity that will
help your book sell:
Local
Publicity:
Two months before publication, send a short, snappy press release
to bookstores, radio and TV stations, newspaper reviewers -- to anyone
who
might order and/or want to read the book. Chain stores and book distributors
should be high on that list.
At publication time, follow up with an updated release and actual
copies of the book. Make yourself available for interviews, book
signings
and calls for further information.
Pre-publication offer:
Make up a flier about your book, including a picture of the cover.
At the bottom of your flier, print a tear-off order coupon which
offers a free reading or review copy and quantities at a discount.
Mail this
to potential buyers, including:
-
Wholesalers
-
Bookstores, especially those specializing in your subject;
-
Libraries (the second largest book buyers in the U.S., spending
more than a billion dollars
a year on books;
-
Catalog companies (there are nearly 10,000 ~ choose
the logical ones from a source such as
Catalog of Catalogs at your public library);
-
Special interest individuals, organizations, associations,
corporations, museums, specialized
stores, etc.
Review
copies:
Reviews provide the greatest sales impetus of anything you can do. Reviews
are worth your
greatest efforts. More than 40,000 books are published every year in the
U.S. Fewer than 10%
of them are reviewed. You'll have to be timely and persistent to succeed.
Several
months before your publication date , mail copies of your new
book to trade magazines
and large newspapers, also local newspapers and other reviewers. Send out
as many as you can
afford. Reviews often contain words of praise for your book which then can
be included in
your further publicizing efforts. Short quotes from several reviews look
especially good on the
back of your book's dust jacket, serving as an endorsement.
Use
the Web:
Be absolutely sure to spread the word electronically throughout the world.
Most ISPs include
a little free web space in their user dial-up account agreements, however
some have rules that restrict commercial advertising in non-commercial web space. Tell about your
book and about
you, the author, and create links to other sources (amazon.com, for instance).
Once you have
your home page up and running, be sure to register your page(s) with all
major search engines
so anyone searching the web will be able to find your site and learn about
your book. And
don't overlook the value of creating your own e-zine or newsletter for publicizing
your book. |
This article has been excerpted from the book, Everything
You Need to Know to WRITE PUBLISH & MARKET YOUR BOOK, by
Patrika Vaughn. Patrika is the world's foremost Author's Advocate,
helping writer's write better and get
published.
Find this book and others, plus online classes and consulting services, on
her website: http:www.ACappela.com
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
See the WritersCollege.com online class, Start Here |
Conclusion:
The extent of free publicity available to you is limited only by your time
and imagination. None
of these steps is beyond your ability, and each is invaluable for generating
publicity that will
put your book before the public eye.
* * *
PatrikaVaughn is the world's formost Author's Advocate, helping writer's
write better and get
published. Find this audiobook and others, plus online classes and consulting
services, on her
website: http:www.ACappela.com. She is listed in The International Authors
and Writer's Who's Who,
Outstanding People of the 21st Century, and has been awarded the Order of
Excellence in Who's Who in the 21st Century. |
