75 Things Authors Need To Do

Authors, in order to market and promote their books properly, are expected to know and do a lot of things – all while either holding down a day job or writing new books – or doing both.  Here’s a cheat sheet outlining the scores of things that will need tending to:

1.      Creating a business plan for your book.

2.      Drafting a marketing and PR plan.

3.      Putting together an advertising campaign, which includes: identifying a budget, when and where to advertise, creating ad copy, and reviewing the results.

4.      Creating a blog, posting to it, and using social media to circulate it.

5.      Writing your biography and social media profile.

6.      Building a website – finding a web host/designer, drafting content, making sure it’s functional and updated.

7.      Printing business cards (and designing them).

8.      Applying for awards (and identifying which ones to go for).

9.      Reviewing contests and applying to several of them.

10.  Creating a give-away.

11.  Holding a contest or sponsoring an event.

12.  Writing guest-posts for bloggers.

13.  Writing by-line articles for newspapers, magazines, or journals.

14.  Scheduling book signings and then conducting them.

15.  Developing fliers and distributing them.

16.  Developing postcards and mailing them.

17.  Writing a press kit for the news media.

18.  Getting media coached and prepped for interviews.

19.  Seeking out testimonials and blurbs.

20.  Developing ancillary products or services for sale.

21.  Filming and editing a video trailer.

22.  Getting a Twitter account and learning how to use it.

23.  Tweeting frequently.

24.  Using Twitter to grow your network of connections.

25.  Getting a Facebook account, designating a page for your book, and learning how to use it.

26.  Posting on Facebook often.

27.  Using FB to expand your network of connections.

28.  Finding groups via LinkedIn, FB, Twitter and other social media platforms, joining them, and interacting with members.

29.  Opening a YouTube account and learning how to master it.

30.  Loading videos to the site for distribution.

31.  Utilizing YouTube to build up your network of connections.

32.  Exploring whether to be on Instagram, Pinterest, Vine, Google+ and other social media platforms – and then, if interested, open an account with one or more of them, learn about how to use them, and then delve into making connections and sharing content.

33.  Doing a virtual book tour.

34.  Going on a physical road tour – but only if it makes economical sense.

35.  Locating and attend (or participate as a speaker/displayer at) book fairs, festivals,

conventions, or events.

36.  Contacting your alumni association to see what opportunities exist to promote your book.

37.  Making a matrix of everyone you know – list people you can network with and then connect with them.

38.  Attending networking events.

39.  Donating books to good causes.

40.  Pursuing selling the rights to your book or for specific areas: audio, foreign film, etc.

41.  Creating a podcast and distribute it.

42.  Finding podcasters who will interview you.

43.  Doing a radio tour – by phone.

44.  Creating teleseminars and/or webinars for free or a fee.

45.  Developing a plan for SEO -- Search Engine Optimization.

46.  Designing and printing posters or display signs.

47.  Hosting guest-bloggers on your site.

48.  Exchange links with others.

49.  Hold a book launch party.

50.  Writing targeted pitches for specific types of media, such as business editors or parenting columnists.

51.  Finding people to sell your book via affiliate programs.

52.  Creating your own networking group.

53.  Posting blog comments or writing letters-to-the-editor at publications, mentioning your book and website.

54.  Printing bookmarks.

55.  Converting your book into a seminar or course.

56.  Researching what honorary days, weeks, months, and holidays tie into your book’s theme or contents.

57.  Applying to make a list, such as a publication’s list of best books of the year.

58.  Seeking to be included in gift guides.

59.  Attending any relevant conventions.

60.  Build up a huge email list to solicit sales.

61.  Selecting your best book excerpts or a sample chapter for download at your site.

62.  Creating an email signature that includes your book.

63.  Placing your book on NetGalley and Goodreads

64.  Reading blogs about book marketing, sales, and publicity.

65.  Creating cool infographics.

66.  Joining relevant professional or hobby or non-profit organizations.

67.  Participating in online forums.

68.  Seeing if you can get a sponsor or partner with a charity, corporation, or group.

69.  Connecting with social book marketing sites.

70.  Pursue speaking engagements for a fee or free, including applying to speakers bureaus.

71.  Sending out thank you notes to people you meet or who help you.

72.  Setting up and do radio interviews.

73.  Setting up and participate in local and national TV interviews.

74.  Contacting book reviewers, editors, reporters and columnists at local and national newspapers, magazines, newswires and journals.  Seek out reviews, stories, and interviews.

75.  Seeing how you can package your book with another book, product, or service.

DON’T MISS: ALL NEW RESOURCE OF THE YEAR

2015 Book PR & Marketing Toolkit: All New

http://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/2015-book-marketing-pr-toolkit.html

Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2015