In the age of the Internet, writers are much more involved in marketing their books than ever before, whether they're heading up the bestseller lists or publishing themselves. But book promotion doesn't always come naturally to writers: after all, these are people who like spending time alone in a room. But with so many options available, from old-fashioned readings to YouTube videos, everyone can find a method of self-promotion that fits their personal style. Read on to find yours.
The first thing you'll need in promoting your book is a website, preferably one that includes a blog. But it doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive; you just need to establish your presence on the web.
An engaging website is just the beginning. Now you have to get out there and promote it. Choose one or two of these social networking sites and dive in. With a little experimentation, you'll find the ones that work for you.
With all the focus on online book promotion, don't forget to physically market your book at home. Members of your local community might be more intrigued with your work just because it's coming from one of their own. And it's far easier to break into the local media than it is to get reviewed by the
New York Times. Though it takes time and work to make contacts and set up events, the results can be effective and satisfying.
As
Stephanie Lessing, author of
She's Got Issues, commented, "In-house publicity departments don't have the time or the money (unless you’re famous) to spend on making your book a bestseller. It's up to the author to go out there and make things happen, to get the word out and get the book noticed. No one is going to do it for you." If you have a little money and some good contacts, take the initiative and set up readings in a few cities.
Don't sit passively back, waiting on an overworked publicist to get those review copies out. There's no reason you can't contact reviewers, bloggers, and
journal editors yourself. Here's how.
Videos aren't just for musicians anymore. They're wonderful vehicles for promoting books, too. The technology doesn't have to be fancy if you have a good concept. In fact, simple is better if you're doing it yourself.
Once you've found the parts of the process you like doing, it's easy to lose your writing time. British author Pamela Strange writes, "I am enjoying giving talks to interested groups of ladies and writers' groups. However, this has been at the expense of editing my third novel and writing my fourth." Once the self-promotional dust settles, make time for your writing again.
