How to Promote a Book

If you’re on a major press or an independent press the question isn’t if you should promote your book, but how. Even if your publisher is throwing a sizable promotional budget behind a book, you should still be looking into promoting the book yourself. That’s a big “if” because the vast majority of the time, promoting a book is left on the author’s shoulders.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A book

1. 

   Determine your audience. This will go a long way in narrowing down where you focus promotion. If you wrote a crime novel, science fiction novel, or non-genre literary novel, there are different places where a book can be promoted.

2. 

   Write a press release. List your past credits with a few blurbs for past books. Include a short synopsis of the current work and any reviews if they are available. Send the press release via a press release distribution service. Also, send press releases directly to the more important contacts, such as the book reviewer of the local paper.

3. 

   Make a press pack: include an author photo, book cover photo, short bio and synopsis, as well as any advance reviews.

4. 

   Hunt down literary blogs, magazines, and websites that cater to your specific audience. There will be some crossover with some sites. Contact the writers of these sites or magazines and request an interview or book review. Don’t necessarily just send the press release to each writer—a personalized letter can be much more effective.

5. 

   Contact local TV. This is usually easier for writers of non-fiction than fiction, but a novelist can be interviewed on TV if the book has some local interest. Contact national TV as well—Today, Good Morning America, etc.

6. 

   Contact local radio for an interview request.

7. 

   Send out a press release/book/press pack to all of the above.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of sending out an entire book, send a few chapters of the book. This is useful for places you’re querying who won’t guarantee a review or interview.
• Keep your publisher apprised of all developments with the book. The marketing department could be of additional help.
• Don’t turn down interview requests—no matter how small. It can lead to bigger things.
• Keep an organized list of media contacts so you can contact them again in the future.
• Hire a publicist to do this all for you. It still wouldn’t hurt to do some of these steps even if you hire a publicist—but make sure you don’t double up on contacts.
• Write blurbs for other author’s books, so your book will be listed on the back cover.
• Make sure any publicity firm has a good track record.