Promote Your Book: Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author

by Patricia Fry

Overview

Do you have what it takes to become an author, but are not sure where to start? Promote Your Book gives enterprising authors the advantage they need to navigate the publishing industry and gain a better understanding of what book promotion is all about. This well-organized collection of the most successful low-cost and no-cost ideas provides solutions for both aspiring and seasoned authors in any genre. You will learn how to promote the book without changing your lifestyle; how to promote creatively, locally, and through social media; submit news releases and tip sheets; arrange book signings, radio, and TV appearances; enhance marketing skills; spend money in all the right places, and more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781621533726
Publisher:	Allworth
Publication date:	08/10/2011
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	493 KB

About the Author

Patricia Fry has almost forty years of experience as a career writer. She is the author of more than forty-five books, including Promote Your Book, Publish Your Book, and Talk Up Your Book (Allworth Press). Her articles appear frequently in magazines and newsletters, she frequently speaks to writers’ groups and at writers’ conferences, and she teaches an online course in writing book proposals. Fry established her own publishing company, Matilija Press, in 1983, and is the executive director of the Small Publishers, Artists, and Writers Network (SPAWN). She blogs daily at www.matilijapress.com/publishingblog and lives in Ojai, California.

Table of Contents

Foreword xiii

Chapter 1 Book Promotion Basics 1

Chapter 2 Things You Must Do Before Your Book Is a Book 5

Study the Publishing Industry 5

Write a Book Proposal 7

Compile an Extensive Mailing/E-mailing List 9

Purchase Mailing Lists 10

Make Your Book More Salable 11

Create a Powerful First Impression 11

Build Promotion Into Your Book 12

Self-Edit Your Manuscript 14

Hire a Good Book Editor 15

Groom Your Book as a Marketing Tool 17

Have Your Publicity Photo Made 17

Request Endorsements 18

Create a Website 19

Name Your Site Right 20

Optimize Your Web Traffic 21

Solicit Prepublication Orders 22

Chapter 3 As Soon as Your Book Is Published 24

Ship Prepublication Book Orders 24

Run an Efficient Shipping Department 24

Send Complimentary Copies to Key People 25

Put Copies into the Hands of Influential People 26

Expand Your Internet Reach 27

Use Your E-mail List Expertly and Responsibly 28

Chapter 4 Promote Your Book Without Changing Your Lifestyle 30

Create Amazing Promotional Material 30

Use Testimonials and Endorsements in Promotion 32

Promote to Your Mailing List 32

Engage in Piggyback Marketing 33

Bundle Your Book 35

Put Your Book in Catalogs 35

Talk about Your Book to Everyone You Meet 36

Carry Books Wherever You Go 37

Prepare a Thirty-Second Commercial (Elevator Speech) 38

Write and Respond to Letters to the Editor 39

Chapter 5 Promote Locally 40

Solicit Interviews in Local Newspapers 40

Arrange for Press in Regional Publications 41

Get Involved in Local Events 42

Attend Local Group Meetings 43

Offer Your Book as a Premium 44

Give Home Parties 45

Sell Books at Yard Sales 45

Go Door-to-Door 46

Chapter 6 Submit News Releases and Tip Sheets 47

Contact Newspaper Editors through News Releases 47

Use News Releases to Reach Niche Magazine and Newsletter Editors 50

Send News Releases to Columnists 51

Try an Online Press Release Service 52

Create Tip Sheets 53

Chapter 7 Use Your Website to Sell Books 55

Showcase Your Book 55

Post Testimonial at Your Website 56

Design a Fantastic Book Trailer 56

Create a Podcast or Webcast 58

Turn Your Website into a Valuable Resource 59

Get Your Site Listed in Online Directories 60

Set up a Merchant Account 60

Use an E-mail Signature 61

Sign Up for Affiliate Marketing Programs 62

Chapter Eight: Promote Your Book through Social Media 64

Join Facebook, Twitter, Linkedln, Etc. 64

Participate in Forums and Bulletin Boards 67

Join Online Discussion Groups 68

Chapter 9 Solicit Book Reviews 69

Get Your Book Reviewed Many Times Over 69

Steps to Getting Book Reviews 71

Your Book as Recommended Reading 72

Solicit Author Reviews for Amazon 73

Discover Value in Book Review Sites 73

Chapter 10 Arrange for Book Signings 15

Set Up a Book Signing 75

Book Signing Tips for Authors 77

Have a Combined Signing 80

Give Demonstrations 80

Chapter 11 Get Out and Talk About Your Book 83

Become a Public Speaker 83

How to Get Speaking Gigs 86

Get Paid to Speak 87

Sing for Your Supper 88

Dress Up Your Talk 88

Sell Your Books on the Road 89

Give Seminars and Workshops Across the United States 89

Take Your Book to the Show 90

Chapter Twelve: Appear on Radio and TV 93

Promote Books on Radio and TV 93

Guidelines for Your Radio Interview 95

Host Your Own Show 96

Chapter 13 Sell Your Book Throughs Retail Stores 97

Place Your Book in Bookstores 91

Seek Out Appropriate Specialty Stores 99

Arrange for Point of Purchase Displays 100

Sign with a Distributor/Wholesaler 101

Engage a Fulfillment Company 103

Protect Yourself from Publishing Scams 103

Chapter 14 Get Creative With Book Promotion 105

Sell Books for Conference Goodie Bags 105

Design and Teach Courses Related to Your Topic or Genre 106

Offer Your Book as a Prize 106

Tap into a Specialty Market 107

Send Your Book to School 107

Make News 109

Engage in Creative Internet Marketing 110

Chapter 15 Use Your Writing Skills 112

Write Magazine Articles 112

Get Your Articles Published on the Web 114

Publish a Newsletter 115

Develop a Column 116

Establish Your Own Blog 118

Get Your Blog Site Listed 120

Be a Guest Blogger 121

Chapter 16 Become an Expert 122

Position Yourself as an Expert 122

Demand Proper Credit 123

Hang Out Your Shingle 123

Quantify Your Expertise at Amazon 124

Become an Expert through Blogs and Articles 125

Use Your Expertise by Offering Teleseminars 125

Chapter 17 Let Others Help Promote Your Book 127

Partner with Online Booksellers Such as Amazon.com 127

How to Keep a Larger Percentage from Online Book Sales 128

Get Involved with Appropriate Websites 129

Sell Books through eBay 129

Use Craigslist to Sell Books 130

Chapter 18 Give Something in Order to Get Something 131

Donate Books 131

Provide Waiting Room Copies 133

Offer Lunchroom Copies 134

Volunteer 134

Post Free Chapters 135

Share Excerpts 135

Give Testimonials 135

Create Amazing Handouts 136

Chapter 19 Network with the Right People 137

Join Clubs and Organizations 137

Participate in Online Forums and Discussion Groups 138

Glean Ideas from Other Authors 139

Chapter 20 Be a Resourceful and Imaginative Promoter 140

Market According to Season 140

Create Promotional Displays 142

Enter Contests 143

Design Contests 143

Chapter 21 Spend Some Money in All of the Right Places 145

Hire a Publicist 145

Employ Sales Representatives 146

Add to Your Line of Books 146

Create Other Items Related to Your Book 148

Buy Ads to Entice Your Readers 149

Create Advertising Tools 150

Let Your Book Cover Sell Books 150

Chapter 22 Go the Extra Mile for Your Customers 152

Encourage Repeat Customers by Doing Good Business 152

Learn How to Sell Books Face-to-Face 154

Make it Easy for Customers to Buy Your Books 155

Give Customers More Than They Expect 156

Develop a Professional Telephone Persona 156

Record Your Book on Tape for the Blind and the Busy 157

Chapter 23 Tap into the Library Market 158

Donate Books to Libraries 158

Do Readings at Libraries 159

Solicit Orders from Libraries Nationwide 159

Promote Author Recognition Week 161

Chapter 24 Enhance Your Marketing Skills 162

Join Trade/Genre Organizations 162

Study Trends in Your Field or Genre 162

Continue Reading about Book Promotion 163

Join Publishing Organizations and Clubs 163

Attend Writing/Publishing Conferences 164

Promote, Promote, Promote 165

Create a Marketing Plan 165

Design a Hotfile 166

Track Your Sales 167

Be Thankful 168

Contributors 169

Appendix 173

About the Author 201

Index 203