Last night I attended the Spreading The Word - PR for your Book workshop hosted by Vicki Morrison, a multi-genre author, freelance writer and keynote speaker.
There was to much information a blog post but part of the workshop highlighted 10 ways to market your book. I will detail these below.
10 WAYS TO MARKET YOUR BOOK
1 Your own website!
· It is essential for an author to have their own website.
· They can be created and hosted very cheaply.
· It is a great idea to purchase you name as a domain name (not the name of you book. Remember, the book is your product and you are your brand).
· Your website should be the central point of your on-line presence. Everything should link back to your site.
2) Press Release
· Press releases are good for attracting the attention of media outlets, book sellers, reviewers as well as readers.
· Ideally they should have a letterhead with an image of your book cover and contact details.
o Follow this with the books details
o Author
o Title
o Publisher
o ISBN
o Distributor
o RRP (Recommended Retail Price)
· When sending press releases out you need to research and target them at the right person.
· Find out the targeted person’s name and correct spelling of it.
o It’s no use sending a press release and book to a newspaper for a review if they do not review your genre.
o Or to the purchaser of a bookshop that doesn’t sell your genre.
· The more targeted you can be the more chance of success you have.
3) Articles – Magazines and Newspapers
· Most magazines need at least a 3 month lead time for articles.
· Newspapers are usually much less.
· Perhaps try an interview an expert in the field relating to the content of your book.
o The interview can be turned into an article for a magazine relating to your topic
o This is a great way of coming to the notice of people interested in that topic
· Some newspapers, particularly local one are usually happy to do a story on the success of a local author especially coming up to a book launch.
4) Book Launch
· Be professional
o Print up invitations (can be done relatively cheaply)
o Front (Picture of your book cover)
o Back (Details of the launch)
· Invite widely
o Family and friends
o Colleagues
o Media representatives
o Local book sellers
o Local names/celebrities
o For children’s books, local teach/librarians
o Local member
o Mayor/Local councillors
o Other authors you know
· Try and arrange a special guest to do the official launch of the book.
o Could be the Local Member or Mayor
o Well known author
o Celebrity
o Someone related to the topic of your book.
· Everything you do, do it as a Point of Difference
· Don’t be boring. Think outside the box.
o There is nothing as boring as a launch where the author reads from the book after a bunch of speeches and then does a signing.
o Have a video or Powerpoint display.
o Have someone act out a scene
o Have giveaways or prizes
o Display art from the book
o For kids books, do something hands on related to the book
o Raffle off the chance to have the winner’s name used for a character in your next book.
· Make the launch special and memorable.
· Provide nibbles and drinks
o Ask around, you might get some donations or at least offers of help.
· Look professional (considering your BRAND)
· Most important – ENGAGE THE AUDIENCE.
5) List the book on Amazon
· Claim your author page. You can edit it to enhance your brand.
· Pay close attention to key words
o Take advantage of common search phrases and choose your key words to suit
o Make it easy for the Amazon, Google etc. Search bots to find your book. That way it will display closer to the top of the list.
o Try to get reviews on Amazon. Good reviews increase sales.
6) Book Reviews Sites and Blogs
· Try to get as many reviews as possible.
o Find book review sites and request they review your book
o Target the sites most likely to review in your genre
o If they can’t do a review, they may still post an author interview or bio. Ask.
7) Radio
· Try and get an interview on radio stations
o Local radio stations are usually open to these
o ABC does book and reading segments that might do an interview
o Have giveaways
o Don’t just try and sell your book, sell your brand
· Radio interviews are brilliant in the days leading up to your launch, even the morning of the launch.
8) Social Media (This is a whole topic in itself).
· Social media sites can be good for generating word of mouth hype for your book
· Pick sites you are comfortable using
· Think about who and where your audience are and if they use social media you would be stupid not to use it to reach them
· If they don’t use social media then it is not as important.
· Make sure ALL your social media sites link back to your author website.
· Social Media Sites
o Facebook,
o Twitter
o Linkedin
o Goodreads
o Pinterest
o Google +
· DON’T BE ANNOYING
o Don’t just spruik your book
o Get involved in the community
o Promote your brand (YOU)
9) Blog
· Start a blog.
o A writers blog or
o Readers blog
o Keep your personal blog separate if you have one
o Your promotional or professional blog should be highlighting your brand
o Approach similar blogs and request to do a guest blog post
o Comment of similar blogs. This generates traffic to your blog
o After your books release, arrange a blog tour of sites that your audience may frequent.
10) Join Forums and Discussion Groups
· Google groups is a good place to find groups interested in your book’s topic.
· Becoming involved in these communities could generate interest in you and your book.
· Again, DON’T be annoying.
· Goodreads has 12 million members who all love to read books.
o Join their author Program
o You can add book excerpts
o Videos
o Quizzes
o Host Q & A’s etc.
BECOME PART OF THE WRITING COMMUNITY
There was to much information a blog post but part of the workshop highlighted 10 ways to market your book. I will detail these below.
10 WAYS TO MARKET YOUR BOOK
1 Your own website!
· It is essential for an author to have their own website.
· They can be created and hosted very cheaply.
· It is a great idea to purchase you name as a domain name (not the name of you book. Remember, the book is your product and you are your brand).
· Your website should be the central point of your on-line presence. Everything should link back to your site.
2) Press Release
· Press releases are good for attracting the attention of media outlets, book sellers, reviewers as well as readers.
· Ideally they should have a letterhead with an image of your book cover and contact details.
o Follow this with the books details
o Author
o Title
o Publisher
o ISBN
o Distributor
o RRP (Recommended Retail Price)
· When sending press releases out you need to research and target them at the right person.
· Find out the targeted person’s name and correct spelling of it.
o It’s no use sending a press release and book to a newspaper for a review if they do not review your genre.
o Or to the purchaser of a bookshop that doesn’t sell your genre.
· The more targeted you can be the more chance of success you have.
3) Articles – Magazines and Newspapers
· Most magazines need at least a 3 month lead time for articles.
· Newspapers are usually much less.
· Perhaps try an interview an expert in the field relating to the content of your book.
o The interview can be turned into an article for a magazine relating to your topic
o This is a great way of coming to the notice of people interested in that topic
· Some newspapers, particularly local one are usually happy to do a story on the success of a local author especially coming up to a book launch.
4) Book Launch
· Be professional
o Print up invitations (can be done relatively cheaply)
o Front (Picture of your book cover)
o Back (Details of the launch)
· Invite widely
o Family and friends
o Colleagues
o Media representatives
o Local book sellers
o Local names/celebrities
o For children’s books, local teach/librarians
o Local member
o Mayor/Local councillors
o Other authors you know
· Try and arrange a special guest to do the official launch of the book.
o Could be the Local Member or Mayor
o Well known author
o Celebrity
o Someone related to the topic of your book.
· Everything you do, do it as a Point of Difference
· Don’t be boring. Think outside the box.
o There is nothing as boring as a launch where the author reads from the book after a bunch of speeches and then does a signing.
o Have a video or Powerpoint display.
o Have someone act out a scene
o Have giveaways or prizes
o Display art from the book
o For kids books, do something hands on related to the book
o Raffle off the chance to have the winner’s name used for a character in your next book.
· Make the launch special and memorable.
· Provide nibbles and drinks
o Ask around, you might get some donations or at least offers of help.
· Look professional (considering your BRAND)
· Most important – ENGAGE THE AUDIENCE.
5) List the book on Amazon
· Claim your author page. You can edit it to enhance your brand.
· Pay close attention to key words
o Take advantage of common search phrases and choose your key words to suit
o Make it easy for the Amazon, Google etc. Search bots to find your book. That way it will display closer to the top of the list.
o Try to get reviews on Amazon. Good reviews increase sales.
6) Book Reviews Sites and Blogs
· Try to get as many reviews as possible.
o Find book review sites and request they review your book
o Target the sites most likely to review in your genre
o If they can’t do a review, they may still post an author interview or bio. Ask.
7) Radio
· Try and get an interview on radio stations
o Local radio stations are usually open to these
o ABC does book and reading segments that might do an interview
o Have giveaways
o Don’t just try and sell your book, sell your brand
· Radio interviews are brilliant in the days leading up to your launch, even the morning of the launch.
8) Social Media (This is a whole topic in itself).
· Social media sites can be good for generating word of mouth hype for your book
· Pick sites you are comfortable using
· Think about who and where your audience are and if they use social media you would be stupid not to use it to reach them
· If they don’t use social media then it is not as important.
· Make sure ALL your social media sites link back to your author website.
· Social Media Sites
o Facebook,
o Twitter
o Linkedin
o Goodreads
o Pinterest
o Google +
· DON’T BE ANNOYING
o Don’t just spruik your book
o Get involved in the community
o Promote your brand (YOU)
9) Blog
· Start a blog.
o A writers blog or
o Readers blog
o Keep your personal blog separate if you have one
o Your promotional or professional blog should be highlighting your brand
o Approach similar blogs and request to do a guest blog post
o Comment of similar blogs. This generates traffic to your blog
o After your books release, arrange a blog tour of sites that your audience may frequent.
10) Join Forums and Discussion Groups
· Google groups is a good place to find groups interested in your book’s topic.
· Becoming involved in these communities could generate interest in you and your book.
· Again, DON’T be annoying.
· Goodreads has 12 million members who all love to read books.
o Join their author Program
o You can add book excerpts
o Videos
o Quizzes
o Host Q & A’s etc.
BECOME PART OF THE WRITING COMMUNITY
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