| As a self publisher you can market and promote | | | | the book features, book sales information and |
| your book on a shoestring budget, thousands of | | | | testimonials. Remember to make sure your book |
| independent publishers have done it; be careful | | | | is listed in Books-in-Print; don't assume it's already |
| about your promotion and marketing dollars and | | | | listed. Submit articles to online article directories |
| don't plunge into unknown waters -- test, test, | | | | that focus on your book's topic to drive |
| and test some more. Self publishers need to have | | | | customers to your website. |
| a good marketing plan to sell books and it should | | | | Build a web site that provides another avenue for |
| be written prior to writing your book and in place | | | | ordering, a virtual online press kit and link |
| a year prior to publishing your book. Your book | | | | exchanges with sites that relate to your topic. |
| selling, book marketing, and book promotion | | | | I've seen publishers lose a lot of money paying |
| planning should begin before the manuscript is | | | | for expensive display ads, so beware if you do |
| completed. | | | | this; I don't advise it in the beginning -- get your |
| Mail a press release to at least 1000 print and | | | | feet wet first so you know what you're doing. |
| broadcast contacts just prior to publishing your | | | | Arrange to speak at local, regional and national |
| title and again and again after you publish; you can | | | | events that relate to your book topic; bring books |
| never send too many. Make sure your press | | | | along and have an associate sell them at the back |
| release spells out the 'who, what, where, when, | | | | of the room. |
| and why.' Press releases can generate thousands | | | | It's important to publish a website that focuses on |
| of dollars in sales when picked up by national | | | | your title; you'll be able to refer editors and |
| trade or print media. | | | | customers and all interested parties to your book |
| Make sure you have at least one good press | | | | information with the click of a mouse. You can |
| release, written in AP style, which you can send | | | | give away your book in a raffle at a local function |
| out for the lifetime of your book. Learning to | | | | to get more book recognition. If your book fits a |
| write and use powerful optimized press releases | | | | specialty market, find a store that fits the genre |
| can often drive tons of traffic to your website | | | | and offer to leave books on consignment; many |
| while providing multiple back links that can lead to | | | | publishers have sold thousands of books this way. |
| increased page rank and numerous top ten search | | | | Contact any companies, corporations or |
| engine rankings for your targeted keywords. | | | | organizations that might use your book for |
| Using press releases for marketing or promoting | | | | promotions; offer significant discounts for volume |
| your book or book's website has become | | | | orders or for thousands of copies offer a |
| increasingly popular as publishers discover the | | | | specified amount above book production costs. |
| powerful benefits of using press releases. | | | | Women buy more books then men; see how you |
| Invest in press release submitting software and | | | | can fit your book into the women's market. |
| set aside time every week to send out a press | | | | Be your own publicist and send a press release |
| release online to the press directories. Don't | | | | along with a review copy of your book to |
| underestimate the value of a good press release | | | | publications in your book's genre and to book |
| for making book sales. | | | | review magazines. Market your book to your |
| Create an online contest and list it in online | | | | number one market first, and then go after the |
| contest directories to drive traffic to your | | | | secondary markets. |
| website. Make sure your sales letter or flier is first | | | | Now promote, promote, and promote your book |
| class; this is your formal presentation of your title | | | | some more! Use your book promotion and book |
| to the prospective buyer. Make sure not to | | | | marketing dollars wisely; go after the free and |
| overlook the Internet; get yourself interviewed or | | | | cheap resources daily. If you apply yourself every |
| profiled for sites both about writing, publishing and | | | | day and you promote your book like crazy, you |
| about the topics covered in your book. | | | | can achieve that ultimate goal of selling thousands |
| Your sales letter or flier should include an | | | | of copies of your book, many self publishers have |
| eye-grabbing headline, the benefits to the buyer, | | | | done it. |