An author takes on quite a bit of responsibility when he or she decides to publish. Maybe more than you realize. First, you spend months or years in intense writing mode. Then you enter into the complex process of sorting through publishing options. You decide on a publisher and maybe barely come out of that process scarred and penniless. You’d think it is now time to relax. You got what you wanted—a published book in your hands.
If you’ve been following this blog and reading my books and articles, you know better than that. Now is the time to shift into high gear promoting your book. What many new authors don’t realize is that, while you may have a great book that people truly enjoy reading—that touches hearts, challenges minds or offers pure entertainment—you still must find ways to let your audience know the book exists. Make sense? No one will buy your book if they don’t know about it.
So your job is to get word out about your book—to appropriately and adequately introduce your book and become somewhat known to your potential readers.
There are many avenues of promotion and many venues for your promotional activities, whether they are signings, demonstrations or entertaining or informational presentations. There are hundreds of large and small book festivals held throughout the world in all seasons. There are conferences held all year round on every topic imaginable. And you might be able to get a speaking gig at some of those related to your book. There are scads of opportunities to speak to your audience via the Internet and through air waves. You should also be writing about and on behalf of your book, announcing it through your clubs and organizations, showcasing it on your website and more.
As you can see, there are many, many ways to become known and to introduce your book using a wide variety of mediums and processes. My favorite and one of the most successful is the personal appearance. I’m talking to around 150 authors tomorrow in the desert community of Rancho Mirage about the psychology of the book proposal. I’m excited because this is 150 more people who I get to help and inform. It is also 150 more authors who will know about me and my services and books.
But the benefits to me don’t stop there—the Palm Springs Writers Guild has done remarkable promotion online and locally—so, perhaps, another thousand or so people have become aware of me as a result of this publicity. I’ve been promoting it myself. The event is posted at my website and I will blog about it after the fact. And then there is the trickle-down effect. The people I meet may talk about me to their author friends—show the books they bought from me to others, write about something I said in their blogs and so forth.
If you are not currently involved in the more personal side of book promotion, be sure to order my latest book: “Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More.” http://amzn.to/ZMJndK