As you put the final touches on your book manuscript, you may be planning your marketing strategy. If you’ve been following along with this blog these past few days, you know that I’d prefer you start that activity as early as possible.
However, few authors do. They make sure their wonderful manuscript is carefully put to bed (in other words published) and then they begin thinking about the marketing aspect. Hundreds, if not thousands, of authors engage in just a few promotional activities and then stop. They might set up a book signing at a local independent bookstore, speak to a group at the church, build a website and maybe even write a few articles or stories designed to promote their book. They put it at Amazon, tell a few people about it and then get caught up in their former lifestyle and leave the book to fend for itself. You wouldn’t treat a kitten or a puppy that way. Believe me, a book destined for success needs at least as much care and consideration.
There are hundreds of ways to promote a book. I write about over 250 of them in my book, Promote Your Book. John Kremer lists 1001 book promotion activities. The Internet is brimming with ideas, companies, sites, services and more designed to help you promote your book. All you have to do is understand who your audience is, where they are, how best to approach them and then devise a logical plan.
Let these two books help: Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author
Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author
These books by Patricia Fry (Allworth Press) are available at Amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio as well as at my website: http://www.matilijapress.com