There are two concepts that you need to consider when you have a book to promote.
• No one will buy a book they don’t know about.
• It is up to the author to promote his or her book.
I spoke to a group of 50 or 60 authors and hopeful authors last night—all who came out to learn how to promote their books without having to step too far outside their comfort zone. And I felt it was important for them to understand these two concepts first.
Let’s examine the first statement: doesn’t it make sense that if you keep your book a secret—if you don’t reach out to your potential readers and tell them about your book—they aren’t going to be clamoring to buy it? First, you should answer the following questions.
• Who comprises your audience?
• Where are these potential readers?
• What is the best way to approach them?
And you should be the one to create a marketing plan for your book since you care more about your project than anyone else in the world. As I told my audience last night, you can buy into your self-publishing company’s marketing package. You can hire a publicist. You can accept the (often) minimal help a traditional publisher offers as far as book promotion. But you should never turn your responsibility for marketing your book over to anyone else.
During the writing process, through the publishing process and on throughout the entire book promotion process, you—the author—must take charge and consider yourself the CEO of your book.
Learn more about publishing and book promotion through Publish Your Book and Promote Your Book, available at amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores.