How to Promote a Book Using Smilebox

If you've published a book either through a traditional publisher or self-published, you want to promote it in varied ways. Here's how to use Smilebox for promoting your book. Usually people use Smilebox slideshows as email greeting cards or to show off their photos, but it can be much more than that.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• photos
• a Smilebox account
• a book to promote

1. Sign up for a Smilebox account. It offers a free one (with ads) or a paid membership. I suggest trying out the free one first to see how well it suits you.

2. Download the program from the website to your computer. Try out the features and different designs. Maybe send a few photos to a friend using a Smilebox slideshow to test it out. Send it to yourself too, so you see how it looks to the recipient.

3. 
    

   To promote a book, select from the site's collection of artwork. Notice that it tells you how many photos can be used by that slideshow or postcard. The designs are grouped by categories and you can preview them before moving one to your computer.

4. 
    

   Bring in the photo(s) that you want to use with your Smilebox creation. Drag each photo over to the space in the design. Put in your message about the book in the sections provided for text. Choose music from their selection or add your own.

5. Click on PREVIEW to see how it will look to the recipient. Return to PERSONALIZE to move the pictures around or reword the message. Preview it again until it's perfect. Now your book promotion is ready to send or post.

6. 
    

   You should include a photo of the book cover, probably an author photo, a blurb and information on where to purchase the book.

7. Choose email to send the slideshow to friends, libraries or other possible buyers of your book. It also gives the option to post it on blogs or on Facebook and other sites. Follow the instructions for posting or in some cases it gives code to paste into a blog.

8. Use these to promote some event such as an book signing or meet-the-author. It's a lot of fun and very eye-catching.

Tips & Warnings

• When you email it, it doesn't clog the recipient's mailbox, as they actually receive a link that takes them to the slideshow on Smilebox's site. The original is saved there and can be used again later or revamped for another occasion.

Resources

• An example of a Smilebox postcard promoting a book
• Example of a Smilebox slideshow promoting a book signing

[eac913]

on 10/11/2009 What great information on how to promote a book using smilebox. I love your articles. 5*

[alystarcrane]

on 10/6/2009 thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience about promoting a book. cannot wait to use some of your suggestions.

[midcenturymaven]

on 9/23/2009 Self promotion is key for today's authors. This is an interesting idea. Thanks.

[jaredbangerter]

on 9/21/2009 Very interesting. I am writing a book currently, so I will be sure to do this when I am finished. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. 5*

[zhanna]

on 9/15/2009 great article and tips 5*