Home
Monthly Columns
How to Write
Books for Writers
Poetry
Freelance Links
Content Sites
UK Literary Agents
Small Presses
Academic Publishers
Critique Service
Checklist Critique
Mailing List
Creative Writing Courses
Literature Festivals
Calender of Events
Authors! Please email karen@author-network.com for an interview.
The UK Directory of Writers' Circles 2001: has over a 1,000 listings. The directory is now available to
purchase online. Contact diana@writers-circles.com.
Articles
How To Promote, Advertise, and Market Your Book
written by Mary Cox-Bilz(excerpts are taken from HOW TO PROMOTE, ADVERTISE, AND MARKET YOUR PUBLISHED BOOK, co-authored by Arline Chase and Mary Cox-Bilz, released August 2001)
Promote Your Book
Sometimes authors do not realize the importance of self-promotion. They depend on the publisher to spread the news about their book. Months pass. The pain of waiting escalates. "What's going on?" they ask. "I wrote a great book. Why isn't my publisher helping me?"
In the early stages of their writing career, many authors do not realize that, generally, only larger publishing houses have the money to promote books.
Self-promotion, the first key to sales, is a strange and uncomfortable concept that many writers frequently want to avoid. Why? Among the many reasons include fear of rejection and lack of know-how.
You, the author, need to take the responsibility for promoting your book. Here are some steps that you can take to help people realize you have a book out.
Create a press kit. Every author needs a press kit. A press kit is your information packaged in a presentation folder to capture newspaper or magazine editors' attention. A good press kit can result in broadcast or print interviews, get your book reviewed, and it may even result in speaking engagements.
Use neutral colored paper and a basic font: Courier or Courier New, regular, 12-point type. Double spaced.
Every page of the press kit must include your contact information: name, mailing address, phone number, and email address.
Give them an author's Biography. First give a short 30 to 50 word bio. Follow this with a more detailed account of your writing life and experience. This information can be used as notes after publication, or to introduce you in interviews. Be sure to state your qualifications for writing the book.
Include an author resume. On one to two pages tops, include information on your writing experience, education, and professional organizations to which you belong. Make certain to list any writing awards and three references (ask your references before you include them). Be Concise.
Send along an author photo. Make high quality black-and-white or color photos available. Have photos scanned into computer generated images, so they can be emailed.
Include a list of the author's publications. This icludes every single thing you ever published, whether you were paid or not: books, short stories, articles, poetry. Keep the list updated, with the most recent publications first.
Include clips of reviews, especially prestigious ones.
You should also make an Author's Tour Schedule available, with a list of interviews, books signings, and speaking engagements. Keep updated.
Book jacket. Include a postcard or photograph of your book cover for media and bookstore promotional use.
In your cover letter, write to the specific person who will be reading your press kit. Use the letter to sell them on you. Make the goal for sending your press kit clear.
Add a sheet with suggested interview questions and answers. Include questions you would like to be asked. Make any interviewer's job easier.
If you are writing articles, send along clippings or photocopies of work you have done before.
When a new book is released, send press kit information and a photograph with the review copy of your book or note in your cover letter that a copy of your book is available upon request.
Put your press kit on your website and convert it into an electronic file that can be sent via email.
Create a database of people with whom you come in contact. Take a sign in sheet to autograph sessions, or workshops you teach and collect names and addresses of everyone who attends. You can have all of the tools necessary to accomplish your goals, but without a contact list nothing is going to happen.
Who do you want to call you for an interview? Television and radio stations? Newspapers and magazines? Libraries? Special organizations? Book reviewers? Write them all down. Organize your data base into categories. Include contact names, addresses, phone/fax numbers, and email addresses.
Make your own game plan. When are you mailing out press kits? What date are you going to follow-up? Are you calling the contact by telephone, writing a letter, faxing a note, or emailing them? If you are telephoning the contact, write your script before you call, and keep it short. If you are writing a letter or note, be brief. State why you are following up, and request a reply. If you do not receive an answer, follow-up again. Inform the contact that this is your second follow-up. Make certain that you have the right contact person. The number of times to follow-up with the same person is decided on an individual basis.
Advertise Your Book
There is no place you can advertise your book to as many people at once as the Internet.
Do you have your own website? If the answer is "No. I don't know how to build a website," do not fear. For an investment as little as $100 you can pay to have the job done for you. If you don't know how to find out who to contact, ask someone who has a website who created their page. Or make some phone calls to business owners in your area and ask if they know of anyone that does web design. Call your Internet provider. Another option is to use a search engine to find a web designer.
On your webpage include your photo, biography, book reviews, book cover, links to where your book is sold, email link where people can send you fan mail, booksignings and speaking engagements, promotions and giveaways, guestbook, and messageboard.
Join email groups and forums created for writers and special interest groups (spirituality, homemakers, world history). Format a signiature for your email that includes your name, website address, and list of books and links of where they can be purchased. Every time you post in your groups or email people, they will see your signature. The power of this free advertising cannot overestimated.
Search engine advertising. Having a website is of no benefit to an author unless the site can be found. At the bottom of the search engine web site is a link that takes you to the page you need to fill out to request that they list your webpage.
Ask a friend to place a link on their site to your webpage. It costs them nothing, and you can offer the free service to them.
Print bookmarks and postmards. Scan the cover of your book. Use the picture on bookmarks and postcards that you can make on your computer. Inexpensive software is available to teach you these desktop publishing skills and free software can be found at shareware websites.
Write your own zine. Are you skilled in writing good fiction or creating beautiful arts and crafts projects? Become the editor of an electronic magazine or moderator of an email group. Share with others what you know, and advertise your book in the process.
Write articles for publication. When you write articles for publication, your name, short biography, and published book titles will be included. Consider newspapers, magazines, and electronic zines targeted to you interests and skills. Submit query letters and have samples of your writing available.
Another option is to write commentaries for your local newspaper. Though frequently a no-pay submission, local newspaper writing offers free advertising for you, the author and helps to lengthen your publication list.
Market Your Book
Contact Book Distributors. Telephone bookstores that carry books like yours. If your book is Christian fiction, contact Christian bookstores. If your book is New Age, contact New Age bookstores. Tell them that you are an author and would like to know the name of their book distributor.
Bookstore distribution. Call bookstores in your area and tell them that you are an author that is working with your publisher in marketing your book. Ask them what their policy is for selling your book. Contact via internet Barnes and Noble, Borders Books, etc. and ask for the criteria for selling your books on their site.
Author events and booksignings. Ask the bookstores that sell your books if you could schedule a booksigning. Inform them that you will contact local newspapers, radio, and television for coverage. Inquire if they would be willing to do some advertising, too.
Chats. Set-up Internet chats and offer discount coupons to the participants of the event.
Credit card orders. Establish a merchant account through your bank, or on the Internet.
Sell your books at tradeshows. Set-up your calendar in advance. Check newspaper ads, internet community newsboards, etc. for coming shows that promise a flow of traffic. Offer give-a-ways at your table to draw a crowd.
Sell your book on your website. This option is used by many authors. Not only can you advertise your book and where it is sold, you can sell your book directly from your site.
Come one, come all! Join writers' organizations that sponsors a newsletter or conference. Attend their convention. Take business cards with you. Include on the business card a discount if the prospective buyer purchases your book by the end of the convention.
Teach what you know. Contact your local college and speak with their Continuing Eucation Department regarding the possibility of teaching a course on your area of expertise.
Promote, advertise, and market your book.
About the authors:
Mary Cox-Bilz is a quadriplegic who has written and published five books by tapping on a keyboard with a mouth stick. Her professional background is in marketing. Arline Chase is a writer and teacher who has written and published six books and more than 500 articles and short stories.
HOW TO PROMOTE, ADVERTISE, AND MARKET YOUR PUBLISHED BOOK
ISBN 0-9706152-1-3
Contact Cambridge Books, 2934 Old Route 50,
Cambridge, MD 21613
Fax: #1-410-221-7510
Email: arline@ezy.net
$9.95 plus $4.00 to ship.www.marycoxbilz.com
Latest inspirational:
AT THE GATE CALLED BEAUTIFUL
www.amazon.com latest non-fiction book:
HOW TO PROMOTE, ADVERTISE, AND MARKET YOUR PUBLISHED BOOK ebooksonthe.net
Non-fiction category, page 1, electronic downloads or paperbackIf you would like to send us an article, email: karen@author-network.com
This web site is Copyright © 2000, Karen Scott
Author Network
35A Lower Park Road, Brightlingsea, Essex C07 OJX, England
Phone: (44) 01206 303607
Fax: (44) 01206 303607
Email: karen@author-network.com
Author Network
35A Lower Park Road, Brightlingsea, Essex C07 OJX, England
Phone: (44) 01206 303607
Fax: (44) 01206 303607
Email: karen@author-network.com