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).
The
list is endless. But, the key to marketing your book is to constantly build
momentum and do something every day to sell yourself as well as your book.
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