When you read about how one should pursue book promotion, do you sometimes feel a bit intimidated? Do some experts make the process sound way too complicated? Do we suggest ideas that you wouldn’t try in a million years? Are you just interested in finding your book promotion comfort zone?
If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you are probably timid about responding to that question. You don’t want to admit to me that you are a book promotion slacker—that you aren’t aggressively marketing your book and that there are activities that you just can’t bring yourself to pursue.
While I sure try to encourage you to step outside the box, widen your horizons, stretch, expand your reach and so forth, I realize that some of you are going to settle into a book promotion style and pretty much stay there. Here are some of the styles I’ve observed and the potential downfall of each:
• The gung-ho promoter. This author is excited, energetic and full of promotion ideas right out of the chute. He signs up for every opportunity that comes along and follows every lead. He eats, drinks and sleeps promotion. This is admirable, as long as the energy and enthusiasm holds. Beware of burnout.
• The focused promoter. She envisions one avenue of promotion for her book and that is the one she pursues. It might be getting it in bookstores, soliciting reviews or doing a press release blast. This could work for a while. But it is important to know when to continue and when to shift gears and try something else.
• The scattered promoter. He tries a little of many promotional activities, but doesn’t stay with any of them long enough to experience much success.
• The organized promoter. This author has a marketing plan and is dedicated to sticking with it no matter what. Problems arise when opportunities come up and he is so committed to his plan that he doesn’t acknowledge or even recognize them.
In my opinion, the best approach to book promotion is from a place of knowledge. Educate yourself about the publishing industry and the process of book promotion before getting involved. I also urge authors to be flexible and creative. Be willing to try something new and be equally willing to back away from a promotional activity that isn’t generating results.
For a good lesson in book promotion—one that covers the basics—sign up for my online, on-demand Book Promotion course. http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookpromotion.htm It’s like working one-on-one with me as your mentor for 6-weeks. The course is $200, and it could result in thousands in sales once you understand how to approach the process of book promotion.