If you want to move from barely visible to all over the place, there’s work to do when and where is comes to gather publicity for yourself … for your book.
Here are ten tips to get you started:
- Create a Website for your book. No exceptions. If you don’t have one, it will be hard for potential readers to find you and the media to promote you. Make sure that you have a media tab on it and start posting within it. Start out with a decent photo of yourself, both color and black and white. Create a Tips for Media sheet with ahas, key questions (add how many minutes/seconds and takes to answer them—very hot with a host who is moving to a commercial spot). If yours has been “around” for some time –how current is it? Does it need a makeover?
- Launch a social media campaign. Yes, this is your primary town hall. Pick no more than three platforms to work within. You will make yourself nuts if you attempt to do them all. Start using hashtags to expand your outreach beyond your immediate followers in every post you do. It’s something you can and should do well before your book is in print to create a following/fan-base. Follow competitions and top influencers. Start following those who follow them—it’s logical. Those followers already say they “like” that author’s/leader’s thoughts words … why not yours?
- Start hanging out locally. Discover “like-minded” groups of people with your topic interest. For Profit and Non-Profits should be in your mix.
- Consider starting a Meetup group. After all, you are the pro. Start attracting others and lead the flock. Once you set it up and identify your key words, Meetup.com does a push out to all the local meetups members announcing the new Meetup. It’s a great way to start building your herd.
- Start building your Amazon Reviews. These are critical—the sooner the better. Ask people to post. Anyone who has a book, buys a book, ask them—remind them—to post a review. The more reviews and activity you have, the higher you move in the searchable listings. Amazon likes this.
- Start a blog and contribute to it regularly. Keep in mind the 3 C’s—consistent, committed and content. If you post weekly, pick a day and stick to it—along with a time of day. Provide content on your expertise—don’t be afraid to mention your book if appropriate and always have a standard signature line that includes the full title of the book, your website and how to reach you.
- Check out your local newspaper editorial calendars (both print and online versions). Spend some time researching the editorial calendar reporters use to determine where your story would fit best.
- Be topical and tie your book to the news. Pay attention to stories making their way through the news cycle—they could be a goldmine for you pitch to a media source.
- Create a press release. And do it often. Prepare regular press releases and distribute them to the media, or hire a publicist to do it for you—but do it. Those authors who send out regular press releases are more likely to become sources for reporters than those who don’t. If the release of your book marks the first time you reach out to the media, not the last.
Next week, The Book Shepherd will dive into the how-tos in pitching the media. And, when you see a story in the news that you can comment on, don’t just think about it, do it!
Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and is the Founder of Author U, a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 34 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms (ForeWord IndieFab Book of the Year), Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences. Book #34 was published this summer: The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors & Writers. Get your copy.
Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged, a three day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2015, the dates are August 27-29th. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Network at bit.ly/PublishingShow .
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