Many authors, either
self-published or published by major publishing houses, find getting the word
out about their newly-released book to be a challenge. There are just so many
reviews appearing in the major newspapers and they primarily focus on already
established authors. How can an unknown writer raise his or her profile and get
reviews to bolster book sales?
Publicity is key!
In order to maximize
visibility for you, your brand, and your book, it’s best to use the
following guidelines:
- Send review copies to the major media outlets
that will review the book, including Publishers Weekly, Library Journal,
and other publications that will do an honest critique of the book.
- Build up your own network of supporters of
your book, including friends and family. You want them to write reviews on websites like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, GoodReads, and other
book-specific blogs, ezines and sites.
- When you reach a specific milestone --like
signing a book deal, the actual printed books arriving, etc., organize a
party at your home to celebrate. At the party, read excerpts from the book
and answer any questions from your guests. Request that they write
reviews and post them after they’ve had a chance to read your book.
- If you don’t have any interest or talent in
actually promoting the book and if your publisher is not investing any
money in publicizing it, consider hiring a book publicist. Getting publicity and speaking
opportunities for an author – especially a new author – is a
time-consuming endeavor. It’s best left to the professionals who have
media contacts and have done book publicity for years. Reach out to
websites that focus on book marketing to see which public relations
agencies they recommend. With technology, it is no longer necessary for
your publicist to be in your geographic area….they can work from anywhere
to help you get the word out about your new book. Publicists can work
within an author's budget and can be very cost-effective. If an
article in a newspaper focuses on you and your book, it could translate to
thousands of dollars of comparable advertising of your book in that same publication. Hiring a Public
Relations firm or consultant is much more economical than advertising, and
has three times the credibility of an ad because the story is written by a third
party. Publicists can help you with every step of getting you and your
book out there to the local area and the world! For a comprehensive
listing of book publicists, go to John Kremer’s Book Marketing Best Sellers
website listing: http://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/book-publicists-pr-services-and-book-publicity-experts/ You’ll find yours truly under “T” (Tomic
Communications)
- If you have no budget at all for public
relations, you may wish to try to do it yourself. Start by writing a one-page summary
of the book. Get a great head shot taken by a good amateur or
professional. Include a color photograph of the book cover. Next, write a short
biography of yourself and a pitch letter to the reporter you are trying to
reach. Be sure to include a link where the book may be purchased (the Amazon
page, for example) in your signature line.
- Creating a website for the book is another
selling tool. Include sample chapters, a blog about the book, the media
kit, a schedule of your upcoming speaking engagements (if you have any)
and contact information.
- Six months or so before the book is published,
ask for reviews or blurbs from influential individuals – including book
reviewers at major newspapers. If your publisher doesn’t let you send the
entire book, you can send the first couple of chapters, a table of
contents (if it’s a non-fiction book) and your bio.
- Try to get speaking engagements in your local
community. Ask your local bookstores, libraries, schools, colleges,
if they are looking for speakers. Make sure to send out a calendar listing
of the event in advance to help draw a larger audience. Bring
a box of books and designate an area following the Q & A for a
book-signing. Expect to talk about a thirty minutes with 15 minutes or so of Q
& A.
- Create videos and post them on YouTube to help create an online following. This is particularly useful for
non-fiction authors who want to be seen as experts in their field.
- Be persistent! 99% of success requires hard
work and persistence! Believe in yourself, your writing, and your book and
your enthusiasm will draw people to you. They, in turn, will recommend
your book to their friends and family. In some cases, that’s how a
viral marketing campaign succeeds – through word of mouth.
- Hire a publicist
who really knows how to guide you in getting interviews and speaking
engagements. Many offer much-reduced fees for independent authors.
- Good luck!
Charlotte
Tomic, President
Tomic
Communications, Inc. 917-882-5243, charlotte@tomiccommunications.com
Tomic
Communications is a boutique public relations company that serves clients
around the world. We assist in shining the spotlight on companies, authors,
nonprofits and professionals to burnish their brand via strategic
communications and planning.
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