Average bookstore shelf life these days is just four months, unless you publicize your book avidly. So this month, in no particular order, a list of 19 ways to publicize your book:
- Create a holiday around the book’s theme or title. (See http://www.chases.com)
- Create a contest that ties in to the book.
- Email all your friends. All of them.
- Write syndicated articles on your topic and submit them to online article banks.
- Just start sending articles on your topic to other websites in your niche.
- Try sending some of those articles to your local newspaper.
- Join an online social networking group, such as Facebook, and get involved in posting to a group.
- Better yet, start a social networking group based on the topic of your book—for an example, see my Writing and Publishing group at http://harvard.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6138914001
- Send review copies of your book to top Amazon reviewers
- Send information on your book to bloggers.
- Send some details on your book to your alumni newsletter.
- Produce special reports tied to your book’s topic (see http://www.PublishingGame.com/specialreports.htm for some examples)
- Create a national or international association (see http://publishinggame.com/art_createnationalassn.htm)
- Interest a Publishers Weekly local writer in your book
- Get active in Twitter (http://twitter.com) or add some social bookmarking links to your website
- Start soliciting speaking gigs related to your book.
- Wear a button that announces your book.
- Investigate and actively work Profnet (http://www.Profnet.com)
- Join my Expertizing Publicity Forum, and pitch your book to a different high-profile journalist every week for five months, with feedback guaranteed (see http://www.Expertizing.com/forum.htm)
- For more tips like this on how to publicize your book, see our special report at http://www.publishinggame.com/mediareport.htm.
Not all of these suggestions will work for all books, and not all will be something you’ll want to do—but pick any of these ideas that appeal to you, and start marketing your book right now!
Fern Reiss is CEO of PublishingGame.com (www.PublishingGame.com) and Expertizing.com (www.Expertizing.com) and the author of the books, The Publishing Game: Find an Agent in 30 Days, The Publishing Game: Bestseller in 30 Days, and The Publishing Game: Publish a Book in 30 Days as well as several other award-winning books. She also runs The Expertizing® Publicity Forum where you can pitch your book or business directly to journalists; more information at www.Expertizing.com/forum.htm. Sign up for her complimentary newsletter at www.PublishingGame.com/signup.htm
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Thank you for the insight. I have not finished my book, but I’m already planning the marketing, thanks again.
Fern!
Your articles/postings are always informative and useful, thanks.
Adrienne Zurub
Author
‘Notes From the Mothership The Naked Invisibles’
Just a quick note…another consideration for publicizing and promoting your book is to do online radio interviews. I am host of a show called: The Bobby Ozuna Show that streams LIVE every Wednesday night @ 7PM CST via Artist First Radio Network. The shows objective is to spotlight the works and efforts of indie authors. Just two days ago I featured John Kremer, book marketing guru and we discussed the multitude of ways authors can promote their works. It has been my priviledge and blessing to offer a platform, a stage, for the indie author to discuss their literary endeavors.
I will be offering a spin-off show this summer via Blog Talk Radio: The Independent Author. This show will spotlight feature articles, written by my guests, and allow them an opportunity to discuss it live on the air. My hope is that it will help develop their credibility as they work to establish a mantra, or a brand in the literary business.
Great post and great information!
…supporting the independent arts…
~Bobby Ozuna