Do you realize how much effort goes into bringing a book to market? Take a look at our checklist whether you are just starting out with your book project, or knee deep in promotional items. See what you can do to help print and market your now, or for future reference.

Note: some of these tips are not in order, and may not apply if a publisher has picked your book up. However, just because your book is published, does not mean that you should not be actively involved in book marketing, as well as marketing yourself as an author.

• Write your book in PDF format
  • Make sure you embed fonts
• Finalized Rough Draft of Manuscript
• Research publishers and printers.
  • Send out manuscript to publishers, and follow-up via e-mail 5-7 days later.
  • Get quotes from publishers throughout the web.
• Work on editing your book
• Write a summary of your book
• Categorize your book into a genre
  • Use BISAC Codes
• Make list of contacts
  • For Reviewers
  • Sites geared towards your genre
  • Distributors
• Outline a budget
• First Printing of Advanced Reader Copies
  • Print on inexpensive paper
  • Note that you can always send an attachment of an ARC in an e-mail, but query the company, website, or person you want to send it to before e-mailing as it may be put in Spam e-mail box.
• Send out ARC’s to your list of reviewers and publishers
  • Follow-up by e-mail with reviewers to make sure they received their ARC.
• Get basic cover designed and OK’d
  • Go to your local bookstore, walk around, and see which covers jump out at you from the shelves: Find commonalities and use them.
• Decide final paper stock of book, and book cover.
• Use Feedback from reviewers on the back cover of your book.
• Design, on one single sheet of paper, a handout summarizing your book.
  • Include Pictures versus Graphics
  • Send out to list of contacts
• Print promotional business cards, hand them out (or accidentally leave them around town).
• Go to local bookstores, introduce yourself, and inform them of your new book.
• Contact online bookstores that cater to your genre.
• Print Book
• Research agents.
• Ask yourself honestly, as a reader, why you would read and buy your book. Use this answer as a constant message throughout your marketing campaign, this is key to any marketing plan: send the same message.
• Send out press releases announcing your book
  • Send them to your local paper
  • Distribute them online using free, or paid, services (depends on your budget)
• Place some books in your car (you never know who you will meet when you are out an about).
• Create a small blurb at the end of each e-mail you send out marketing your book.
• Have a glass of wine before the real work begins!
• Create, or have a website created.
  • Add shopping cart/paypal features so consumers can buy the book directly from you, or your favorite online bookstore.
  • Put your website URL on all marketing materials and direct readers to your site.
• Contact local bookstores and arrange book signings
• Announce book signings on your website, and on any local social networking pages.
• Become a member of author groups.
  • By genre (RWA etc), or just a local writing group as they are very supportive and offer great advice.
• Find blogs relates to your book, and contact the posters with information about your release.
• Use discussion forums to post information about your book as well as get free marketing advice.
• List your book on other websites, taking advantage of as many free services as possible.
• Subscribe to newsletters and read as many articles as possible for new ideas.
• Write articles that tie into the theme of your book (especially good with non-fiction).