You’ve worked hard to write and edit your book. You’ve taken great care with your cover design and securing the necessary endorsements to get your book noticed. The beautiful product of your craftsmanship is just the beginning of the long road ahead to getting your book into the hands of buying readers. The following three free ways to promote your book are just a beginning. I’ll expand on these tactics in future articles, but I wanted to jump start your thinking about 2011.
#1 Send a news release to local media.
The key to your news release is finding the right “news” hook or angle that shows the relevance of your book to a current event. As a former newspaper editor, I remember reviewing hundreds of news releases every day. The news release that was timely and relevant got followed up on. HigherLife offers press release development and distribution services.
If I were an author, I would not want to try this on my own. Crafting a news release that catches an editor’s eye is an art in itself and a whole separate article. The benefit of a news release is that your book could get a mention in your local newspaper or land you an interview on a TV or radio show.
#2 Schedule a book signing.
Setting up a book signing in your local bookstore is as easy as picking up the phone and talking to the bookstore manager. Bookstores, especially independent bookstores, are always eager to promote local authors. The tricky part is promoting the signing yourself to ensure a good crowd.
#3 Create a presentation or workshop related to your book topic.
Your local library, Chamber of Commerce, community education centers, or business groups are always looking for presenters or speakers. Create a PowerPoint presentation or a workshop and you could be booked as a presenter or speaker. To pitch your presentation or workshop, you need a good bio. Again, HigherLife Development Services can work with you to create your presentation or workshop and marketing materials.
These three tactics help put you in front of readers who will want to buy your book after hearing your message. — Leilani Haywood
