What’s your favorite book promotion activity?
What book promotion activity seems to be most effective for your particular book?
If your answers to these two questions match, you’re probably enjoying the process of book promotion. If not, it would behoove you to find a way to make it more pleasant and lucrative.
Some authors go into publishing already hating the very thought of promoting their books. Believe it or not, I still hear hopeful authors say, “I’m holding out for a publisher because I don’t want to have to do promotion.”
Don’t you know that the author is responsible for promoting his or her book no matter which publishing option they choose? One of the most important parts of your proposal package (according to most publishers) is your platform and your marketing plan. Publishers want to know why would anyone buy a book you wrote and how do you expect to reach your audience? Do you have the time, ideas and energy to devote when it comes to promoting your book? They want to know this before they issue you a contract and invest in your project. If you aren’t going to be an integral part of the marketing team on behalf of your book, the publisher may move on to an author who understands the importance of his role in promoting his book.
Some of you are already involved in book promotion. And many of you are stuck using the same activities over and over again. This is okay, if they’re working for you. Think about it, is your book promotion activity of choice as effective as you would like it to be? Are booksellers responding to your mass mailings/e-mailings? Are customers and supporters showing up to your book signings? Are you selling a lot of books at book festivals and flea markets? Are you getting a significant number of visitors to your website? Do your sales increase after a book review is posted?
If sales are down, it could be that you need to revise your marketing plan. Begin the process today by evaluating the results of your book promotion activities. Which ones seem to be working and which ones aren’t? What aspects of your activities are most effective? It might be that you sell more books face-to-face than you do through press releases or e-mailings. But you don’t attract many customers when you do book signings. In this case, consider going where crowds gather. For example, arrange to speak at local civic club meetings. Program chairpersons are always looking for good speakers for their programs. Offer signed books for sale after the meeting.
If your book doesn’t seem to attract much interest even after a good review is posted at an online review site, consider soliciting more intimate reviews. Locate the magazines and e-zines that your customers read. Isolate those that run book review or recommended book columns and ask for a review of your book.
The major holiday book-buying season is upon us. This is a good time to reorganize and regroup. If your book sales are down, maybe it isn’t your book, but your tactics. Try something new based on what you know and see what happens. I’d love a report.
In the meantime, if you want some fresh book promotion ideas from a whole different perspective, order my print or Kindle book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. http://amzn.to/oe56Ia
Thanks for this! I have been slacking on my promotion for my latest book, and though I have things lined up for book sales in November, I think I could be doing more. This reminder is great for me. Diana Fletcher, author of Happy on Purpose Daily Messages of Empowerment and Joy for Women
You’re welcome–thanks for leaving a comment. I think most of us could be doing more to promote our books, which is one reason why I wrote “Promote Your Book.” It helps us to understand more about the demands and necessities of book promotion and guides authors in how to devise a promotional program that works best for their particular book.
Good luck with your book–GREAT topic.
Patricia