| You can have the greatest book in the world, but if | | | | You can give away your book in a raffle at a local |
| no one knows about it, no one will buy it; publicity, | | | | function to get more book recognition. It's important |
| promotion, marketing and a focus on selling more | | | | to publish a website that focuses on your title; you'll |
| books should now be a big part of your daily life. In | | | | be able to refer editors and customers and all |
| today's publishing environment, a book's success | | | | interested parties to your book information with the |
| depends greatly on a strong marketing plan. Ensuring | | | | click of a mouse. Every day it's important to focus on |
| the success of any book is something even the | | | | a variety of marketing approaches. |
| biggest publishers have never been able to | | | | Market your book to your number one market first, |
| guarantee, but with a good book, a little or a lot of | | | | and then go after the secondary markets. Find a |
| money depending on your budget, and just plain hard | | | | non-exclusive distributor with a good reputation to |
| work the odds are in your favor; many have done it. | | | | carry your book for the book store trade, as well as |
| Invest in press release submitting software and set | | | | for other retailers. Get as many testimonials about |
| aside time every week to send out a press release | | | | your book, as possible, from experts in the field |
| online to the press directories. Your book press | | | | relating to your title, not customers; use on your |
| release should not be written as you would a sales | | | | fliers and back of books. |
| letter or flier, it should be written for the editor and | | | | Arrange to speak at local, regional and national |
| tell about your book in a factual way, no opinion or | | | | events that relate to your book topic; bring books |
| glowing remarks. Mail a press release to at least 1000 | | | | along and have an associate sell them at the back of |
| print and broadcast contacts just prior to publishing | | | | the room. I've not found that book signings sell many |
| your title and again and again after you publish; you | | | | books for publishers and are often a waste of time; |
| can never send too many. | | | | better to spend it elsewhere. Submit articles to online |
| Make sure your press release spells out the 'who, | | | | article directories that focus on your book's topic to |
| what, where, when, and why.' When picked up by | | | | drive customers to your website. |
| wire services, a press release can easily end up | | | | Contact any companies, corporations or organizations |
| generating hundreds of mentions for your book. | | | | that might use your book for promotions; offer |
| Press releases can generate thousands of dollars in | | | | significant discounts for volume orders or for |
| sales when picked up by national trade or print media. | | | | thousands of copies offer a specified amount above |
| Learning to write and use powerful optimized press | | | | book production costs. Place free ads periodically for |
| releases can often drive tons of traffic to your | | | | your book's website on Craig's List in different |
| website while providing multiple back links that can | | | | categories to drive even more traffic to your |
| lead to increased page rank and numerous top ten | | | | website. |
| search engine rankings for your targeted keywords. | | | | Contact non-bookstore booksellers and offer to |
| Send out at least 10 press releases to the print and | | | | leave books on consignment. Make five telephone |
| broadcast media in your area every month. | | | | calls a day that relate to marketing your book. |
| Make sure not to overlook the Internet; get yourself | | | | With well chosen book marketing and book |
| interviewed or profiled for sites both about writing, | | | | promotion, online and offline, you'll reap the profits |
| publishing and about the topics covered in your book. | | | | you deserve for your efforts by way of the |
| I've seen publishers lose a lot of money paying for | | | | Internet and in your mailbox. I hope this article has |
| expensive display ads, so beware if you do this; I | | | | provided you with helpful tips to accelerate your |
| don't advise it in the beginning -- get your feet wet | | | | book marketing and book promotion efforts. The |
| first so you know what you're doing. Build a web site | | | | success of any book marketing effort depends first |
| that provides another avenue for ordering, a virtual | | | | on a good book and then just plain hard work; its |
| online press kit and link exchanges with sites that | | | | been done many times before and you can do it too. |
| relate to your topic. | | | | |