As an author, you probably spend a lot of time seeking book promotion opportunities. You’ve researched book review sites, you attend all local book fairs, you’re constantly on the lookout for speaking venues, you have a nice website and you post to your blog every few days or so. But, at the same time, if you’re not paying attention to what’s going on around you, you may be missing out on some good book promotion opportunities.
While you’re busy exploring the unknown possibilities, make sure that you also keep up with the obvious ones. For example:
- Read your emails every day. And check your spam box often for the occasional legitimate message. All of my book orders spill into my spam email box and I often find a potential client in there, as well.
- Open those emails from strangers, even if you’re a tad suspicious. They might include an invitation to speak in some exotic setting, a chance for a book review or a large book order. It has happened to me more than once!
- Read messages from your “list.” Occasionally, there’s an opportunity among the chatter. Recently, I posted a request for authors to participate in interviews for a book to be published by a New York publisher. (Only 2 responded.)
- Take Google alerts seriously. Open the daily emails. When you see a post related to the theme/topic of your book, go there and leave a comment.
- Follow-up with those who have signed up at your website, folks you met at a recent book festival, those who comment at your blog and former customers. You may get an order or additional orders or a bookselling lead, for example.
- Read the newsletters that you subscribe to. Faithfully study those related to book promotion (such as this one) and those within your topic/genre.
Book promotion is a full-time job. There’s no doubt about it. But take a break, occasionally, from the push and pay attention to the opportunities that are right under your nose.
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