Publicizing Your Book
Do it yourself, using:
Many authors are hiring a publicist to increase exposure for their books to major media. Since even trade publishers are delegating promotion to authors, with minimal assistance from the publisher's publicity department, it's not just self-publishers who have to figure out how to get the book noticed. Before you hire a publicist, make sure you understand how much this will cost, with details on exactly what the publicist will do and what you're expected to do to cooperate with his/her efforts. Some p.r. firms handle publicity on a "per placement" basis. Read this article by Joan Stewart (The Publicity Hound, www.PublicityHound.com) to understand some of the problems this might entail: http://tinyurl.com/2w5mfh.
A publicist I can recommend:
Randy Ray is a colleague who helps authors, publishers, businesses,
associations and charities in Ottawa and across
Canada secure interviews,
feature stories, and reviews in some of the most
important broadcast and
print media in Canada, including CBC Radio, The
Globe & Mail, The Toronto
Star, and CTV News.
Your project, whether it's a new book, or the launch of an innovative
product or service, could be the next to appear in
these and other media outlets.
And the cost of getting your name into the public
eye will be very affordable.
Visit Randy's Web site www.randyray.ca
or contact him at (613) 731-3873
or rocket@intranet.ca.
CREATE EFFECTIVE PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
Have bookmarks printed with your book covers. Be sure to include your website on the front, and print adhesive labels to stick on the back with full contact information.
Postcards of various sizes can be effective marketing tools. Hand them out at meetings, mail them to your target market, use them as greeting cards. Divide the postcard in half, using your book cover on half of the front, with the other half free for the recipient's address and a stamp. On the back, put your book blurb and contact information, leaving a space for a personal message.
When I had Mewsings/Musings printed, I had bookmarks and greeting cards printed while the color cover was on the press. Then they were all laminated for durability. The greeting card looks like a mini version of the book, but inside there is a description and ordering info behind the front of the card, and the space where one would normally have a message has just "Best wishes" and "Love & purrs, Simon Teakettle" with a space between them for a Christmas seal, birthday sticker, or hand-written message. I have used these as Christmas cards, birthday cards to media contacts, thank-you notes, and enclosures in gift books.
|
HOME (Index Page) |
||