How to Market Your Books

Congratulations, you have published your book. Marketing your books can be a challenging experience. Knowing how to plan and strategically sell your books can help you be more successful. Marketing your books can be a fun adventure for any author. Savvy self-promotion can make a big difference. Here are some great tips and ideas to begin your marketing journey.

Things You'll Need

• Knowledge of public relations
• Top radio, television, and newspaper contacts.
• A roundup of Book Reviewers
• A list of local and national bookstores

Instructions

Savvy Book Promotion Ideas

1. A crucial step to planning your marketing begins before the production of your book. You must have a good book on a good topic and with good writing. No amount of publicity can help a terribly written book.

2. 

   Gather all the information on book reviewers, newspaper contacts, radio and television contacts, and media outlets that you can. Put all this information in a file to use as you begin your marketing plan. Strategically plan how you are going to market by putting your marketing steps in order, just as if you were planning another chapter to your book.

3. Use word of mouth. It is an excellent source of marketing. Add business cards, letterheads, t-shirts and other advertising materials to go with your book. Be prepared to hand out freebies to the media. If you are an introvert who does not like speaking in public, hire a wonderful P.R. firm with good references and loads of experience.

4. 

   Get as many book reviews as possible to garner interest for your new book. Send out press releases to all forms of media and plan book signings at local bookstores. Your P.R. firm should help you with an effective press kit which includes a press release, biography, book excerpts, story angles, statistics and facts, and other materials that capture the media's attention.

5. 

   Find local media first, such as your local radio stations, who are popular for finding the latest news events or subjects. Put together an effective online campaign to get attention for your new book. Send out articles to reporters at newspapers for coverage locally and nationally. Try your hand at getting television, teleseminars, or any online video production to market your book.

6. Attend the National Book Expo held every year in NYC. Find, visit, attend or speak at places where publishers, other authors, literary agents, editors, book distributors, and other publishing members hang out. Network with the pros and keep up with what goes on in the publishing industry. Build alternative methods of book distribution at fairs, conventions, smaller storefronts, gas stations, gift shops, grocery stores and many other methods of book distribution.

Tips & Warnings

• Alternative methods of book distribution can be even more profitable than bookstores at times.

• Carry books with you at all times. You never know when a book selling opportunity might arise.

• Try selling book as a add-on to other products and services.

• Never sit and do nothing Your book will never be sold this way.

• Choose a P.R. firm with excellent references and a history of experience.

• Nothing can help you if you have written a bad book. Learn to write well and you will profit from it.

• You can judge a book by its cover, layout and title. Make sure your book is neat, error free and attractive.

Resources