Many
authors simply want to write books and get published. They hope to make money, but that’s not what
drives them. There is also ego, pride,
and one’s legacy at stake for sure. But most
of all, writers want to impact the world through their words and to truly make
a difference. To achieve any of these
goals, authors must actively promote theirs books and author brand. So why
don’t many authors do just that?
Authors
who do not seek out publicity will cite and or many of these factors:
·
Short
on time
·
Don’t
have a budget for publicity
·
Fear
speaking to the media or groups
·
Don’t
know what to do
·
Lack
of marketing skills
These
are very real factors but in the end they are excuses and they stand in the way
of what authors truly need to do.
Authors
need to effectively promote their books because:
·
It
allows them to be branded as an expert.
·
It
helps generate speaking engagements.
·
The
media validates the author to a publisher or literary agent who gets inspired
to take on your next book.
·
It
allows you to be positioned as a paid spokesperson.
·
It
can get one’s website traffic up – and help with getting potential consumers of
other products and services offered for sale on the site.
·
It
positions you to share a positive message with millions of people with impact
and influence.
Quite
simply, if authors don’t promote – or invest in the promotion of – their books,
then who will? For the self-published,
they know book promotions and marketing fall 100% on them. But for those with a publisher, they need a
wake-up call.
The
sad truth is that most publishers do not do much to promote their authors. Many
do nothing at all. Authors, if they are
to improve their prospect of long – and short-term success, will need to take
responsibility for the promoting, marketing and branding of themselves as a writer.
If authors want to generate book sales and influence people, they need to
actively promote their writings or hire someone to it for them. Authors need to do their share, both in the
budgeting of their time for PR and in how they spend for professional help.
For
the past 18 years at Media Connect, where I am the chief marketing officer for
the nation’s largest book publicity firm, I probably have helped over a
thousand authors achieve book publicity, but there were thousands more whom I
spoke to that ended up telling me they weren’t ready to invest in book
publicity and admittedly were not up to the task of doing it themselves.
Needless to say, most of these authors’ books did not fare well.
Authors
should first think about all of the types of marketing and publicity that they
could theoretically participate in and then figure out which ones make the most
sense for them. But they can’t simply do nothing or leave things to chance.
Here is a list of 15 things an author could do – and this is by no means an
exhaustive list:
·
Send
books out for review with traditional publications.
·
Share
a digital galley with online book reviewers.
·
Secure
radio interviews, by phone or in person.
·
Get
interviewed by podcasters.
·
Guest-post
on Facebook, blogs, and other social media.
·
Speak
before an organization and sell your book.
·
Schedule
book signings at bookstores, libraries, and schools.
·
Appear
on local television shows.
·
Do
a regional book tour, connecting with media, stores, and clubs in several
surrounding cities or states.
·
Buy
FB or Google ads.
·
Do
an email blast to all of your contacts, asking them for help or to buy the book
– or both.
·
Post
provocative videos on You Tube.
·
Connect
with readers on Twitter.
·
Offer
your book for free for a limited time to create word of mouth buzz.
·
Seek
out testimonials and endorsements.
The
truth is there are endless initiatives one can do to promote themselves or
their book, though some things certainly have a bigger pay-off than others. The
main reason you should do publicity for yourself and your book is up to you –
the rewards are many. Keep in mind that PR will pay for itself over time. Even
years from now, the links and clips that you generate now will help position
you as an expert. You can parlay that media exposure into some great
opportunities – but you must start now!
What does it really take to land on a best-seller list?
DON'T MISS!
Study this exclusive author media training video from T J Walker
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Here’s the 2017 Author Book PR & Marketing Toolkit
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