Are you in the process of writing a book? What are you doing to promote that book?
I’m serious. In this fiercely competitive publishing climate, book promotion isn’t something you engage in as an afterthought. It is not something you put off until you are holding your book in your hands. It is such a major part of producing a book that it should be one of the first (not last) things you consider when you decide to write a book for publication.
What can you do to promote your book before your book is a book?
• Talk about your upcoming book everywhere you go so people will already have a mindset to purchase it when it comes out.
• Start compiling a massive mailing and emailing list. Collect business cards from everyone who expresses an interest in your book. Add in your former classmates, hairdresser, teachers at your children’s schools, coworkers, clients/customers, neighbors, former neighbors, shirttail relatives, email list, everyone in your Rolodex and so forth.
• Build promotion into your book by including other people and agencies where appropriate (interview them, quote them, list them in the resources section, list recommended books…).
• Make your novel appeal to a wider audience by giving one of your characters a horse, autism or a brain injury, for example. Give more appeal to a nonfiction book by bringing in additional aspects of your topic—add a section on senior dating to your relationship book, for example. Include a chapter featuring indoor crafts in your book of summer activities for children.
• Build a website. When I work with authors on their book proposals, I notice that often they write, “I plan to build a website to promote this book.” I say to them, “Build it now!” And this is what I urge you to do.
• Become known within your genre/topic by submitting stories/articles to appropriate publications. (Sign up this week for my online Article-Writing course. It’s not too late.) http://www.matilijapress.com/course_magarticles.htm
• Go out and speak on your topic. The point of submitting articles and doing some workshops or public speaking is to become known as a credible expert in your topic or an entertaining writer in your genre. So what if you don’t have a book, yet. You will within the year (public interest will help keep you motivated). During presentations, have a sign-up sheet and collect names to add to your mailing/emailing list. And offer a handout related to your book.
• Listen to your audience members. One reason why you want to do some public speaking
now is to become acquainted with your audience. You’ll find out what they want. You’ll get some excellent ideas for tweaking your book. You may discover some great resources. Networking during the writing process is always a good idea.
There you have 8 things that you can be doing NOW to help make your book the success that you dream of.
For additional assistance with your project, check out my array of books for authors:
http://www.matilijapress.com
Sign up for a course—you will be soooo glad you did:
http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm
Visit my personal website and check out my author services. If you are pleased with what you find in this blog every day, just imagine how much you could gain from my courses and services:
http://www.patriciafry.com