Guest blogger Holly Robinson finishes her three-part series on publicity for both traditionally published authors and Indies.
Befriend Book Bloggers. Book bloggers are our “fairy godmothers,” as my friend Terri Giuliano Long, a best-selling indie author, pointed out in one of her blogs recently. Without their support and generosity, many of our books would never be read. Check out as many book blogs as you can find. When you discover a book blogger who reviews books like yours, write a personal note and ask if you can send a review copy. You might want to send her an e-book because it's cheaper than mailing a paperback, but if she says she'd rather have a paperback, send it! Media mail is cheap postage and print-on-demand paperbacks are inexpensive, too. Remember: she is the one doing you a favor, and it's a good investment. Most book bloggers post reviews on Amazon and Goodreads; once they're up, be sure to tweet and post those links on your own pages. Add them to your Amazon Author Central page as well.
Look for Out-of-the-Box Marketing Opportunities. Just like parents know their own children better than anyone else can, you know your book: its content, style, and target audience. Use that expertise in thinking about out-of-the-box marketing opportunities. I contacted pet groups when I published The Gerbil Farmer's Daughter, for instance, and found a loyal following. For Sleeping Tigers, I'm contacting breast cancer groups, because my main character is a breast cancer survivor, and I know other cancer survivors will connect with this story about hope and starting over.
Lasting Impressions. All of your marketing efforts will eventually come together. If you're a parent, think about how many times you had to show your toddler peas or carrots before that child stopped thinking of veggies as too weird to eat. The same is true of your book: keep putting it out there, and pretty soon people will start saying, “Hey, I remember that title. I meant to read that book!”
Learn more about Holly at her website.
Holly this is Great, I will use this tip.
ReplyDeleteI have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome. It is a very painful crippling disease and I wrote a book called Against All Odds that is the memoirs about the first 13 years of my disability and my budding writing career. I wrote it to inspire especially those with disabilities that there is still hope.
on a side note: Readers do not know that we can see our sales reports. We know how many of our books sold. I also do not need my friends promising to buy my books to think it will make me feel better. I actually have a good friend that was up front with me that said at this time I did not write in the style or subject matter in which she enjoys reading. It did not offend me, in fact I asked what kind of subject matter that she enjoys and well I will probably never write in this subject matter, but now I know for future reference I can suggest a book by a author friend of mine that writes in that subject matter.