What is book promotion? What is the concept behind it? Why is book promotion necessary? Who should engage in book promotion? What does it require? When is enough, enough? The concept of book promotion seems to be different things to different authors. And we each approach it with a different attitude and style.
I suppose it boils down to our individuality and what we believe with regard to what we create in alignment with what we know and accept about marketing—how we feel about it, what we believe we are capable of and what we are willing to do. How we approach book promotion also depends on the results we desire.
I see a lot of creative scenarios when it comes to book promotion. Here are a few common ones. See if you can spot yourself in this list:
1: The author doesn’t understand that a book, in order to sell vigorously, must be vigorously promoted.
2: He doesn’t know that it is his job to promote his book. He either expects to land a publisher who will do the promotion, to pay his pay-to-publish company to do all of the promotion or to get the book into bookstores and at Amazon.com where it will automatically sell. This author lives in a fantasy world.
3: The author plans to drop everything and promote the heck out of her book for the first three months and then kick back and collect money thereafter. It won’t happen. Promotion is ongoing for as long as you want your book to sell.
4: The author understands that promotion is her responsibility, but doesn’t believe it will take all that much effort and time to introduce it to all of the right individuals and important websites. There is much more to book promotion than most uninformed authors can even imagine.
5: He has a formal marketing plan drawn up, which includes all of his favorite methods of promotion. Mainly he will land gigs on major TV and radio shows, get reviews in Publisher’s Weekly and other key magazines and go on a nationwide book tour paid for by a sponsor, who is yet unknown. This author is dreaming way out of his league.
6: She has studied the publishing industry long and hard before producing her book and understands the dynamics of successful book promotion. She has also spent time investigating the promotional activities of other authors who have similar books. She is prepared to explore what has been successful for others. This author is taking the easy-does-it, informed approach to the huge, huge process of book promotion. Good for her.
7: He has two or three books by marketing experts at his elbow as he develops his marketing plan. In fact, since this is his first book and he doesn’t exactly know what will and what won’t work, and has a couple of backup plans in place. This author is on the right track. Flexibility is also an important asset.
Perhaps you recognize yourself in one or more of these scenarios. I can tell you that if you are the author in points 1 through 5, you need help. I suggest that you start by ordering my book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author and at least one other book on book promotion. I recommend books by Brian Jud and John Kremer. Carolyn Howard-Johnson also has a good book out on book marketing. For books on Internet marketing, choose Penny Sansevieri’s.
Read these books from cover to cover and keep them at your elbow throughout the book promotion process. How long is this? Well, for as long as you want your book to sell. Yes, book promotion isn’t a one-time event. It isn’t an afterthought to the process of publishing. It is the most time-consuming and important part of publishing and it is your responsibility.
Order your copy of Promote Your Book here:
http://www.matilijapress.com/PromoteYourBook.html
If you’ve read the book and if it has helped you in anyway, post your comment at the book page at Amazon.com.