If you're already a self publisher or planning to be, you can market and promote your book on a shoestring budget - thousands have done it; be careful about your promotion and marketing dollars and don't plunge into unknown waters -- test, test, and test. It's one thing to write a book, but an entirely different thing to write one that's saleable, viable, and marketable. In today's publishing environment, a book's success depends greatly on the right marketing plan.
Using press releases for marketing or promoting your book or book's website has become increasingly popular as publishers discover the powerful benefits of using press releases. Send out at least 10 press releases to the print and broadcast media in your area every month. When picked up by wire services, a press release can easily end up generating hundreds of mentions for your book.
Your book press release should not be written as you would a sales letter or flier, it should be written for the editor and tell about your book in a factual way, no opinion or glowing remarks. Send out the same press release to the editor of your local daily newspaper every week until you are called for an interview or are written up. Mail a press release to at least 1000 print and broadcast contacts just prior to publishing your title and again and again after you publish; you can never send too many.
Don't underestimate the value of a good press release for making book sales. Using press releases can be a very effective marketing tool if used properly.
Be your own publicist and send a press release along with a review copy of your book to publications in your book's genre and to book review magazines. Women buy more books then men; see how you can fit your book into the women's' market. If your book fits a specialty market, find a store that fits the genre and offer to leave books on consignment; many publishers have sold thousands of books this way.
It's important to publish a website that focuses on your title; you'll be able to refer editors and customers and all interested parties to your book information with the click of a mouse. Offer to trade writing a monthly column in a trade publication in your books' genre, in trade for display ads on the same page. Give away one of your books in a charity raffle at a local function to get more exposure for your book.
I've seen publishers lose a lot of money paying for expensive display ads, so beware if you do this; I don't advise it in the beginning -- get your feet wet first so you know what you're doing. Make sure not to overlook the Internet; get yourself interviewed or profiled for sites both about writing, publishing and about the topics covered in your book. Print and online publications provide longevity to your marketing campaign in terms of having something tangible for people to reference ongoing.
Create an online contest and list it in online contest directories to drive traffic to your website. Make sure your sales letter or flier is first class; this is your formal presentation of your title to the prospective buyer. Your sales letter or flier should include an eye-grabbing headline, the benefits to the buyer, the book features, book sales information and testimonials.
I've not found that book signings sell many books for publishers and are often a waste of time; better to spend it elsewhere. Place free ads periodically for your book's website on Craigs List in different categories to drive even more traffic to your website. When you get a nice write up or feature about you and/or your book, have it laminated and set it up on an easel at trade shows. Market your book to your number one market first, and then go after the secondary markets.
The success of any book marketing effort depends on a good book and just plain hard work; its been done many times before and you can do it too. Make sure to test, test, and test some more before you lay out large sums of money. With these book marketing tips you'll be well on your way to conquering the world of self publishing and book publishing.
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