Writing

Promote, Market and Sell Your Book

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Promote, Market, and Sell Your Book

“Promote, Market, and Sell Your Book” by Joan Y. Edwards

  1. Swap interviews with an author of the same kind of book. She/he interviews you on her blog; you interview him/her on your blog.
  2. Begin a blogging book blitz or blog tour on launch day.
  3. Have a Facebook launch party or a Twitter launch party with contests and prizes.
  4. Spread the word with Facebook, Twitter, and other social media.
  5. Create a book trailer for your book on YouTube.com
  6. Ask and encourage people to do book reviews on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads.
  7. Suggest your book to your local library. Ask your friends to suggest your book to their local library. Most libraries have an online form to use. Take a copy of the book and speak to a librarian in person.
  8. Send a newsletter email with a contest to family and friends online.
  9. Send out post cards to family and friends or community
  10. Contact local bookstores to set up a book signing event. Some Barnes and Noble stores have panels of authors to join for a book signing event. If your book is not available to buy and return through Baker and Taylor or Ingram, book stores may order them there. If not, they may take five copies on consignment for a year. Usually, they want 40% discount. You pay for shipping there and return shipping.
  11. Contact retail stores to see if they’ll sell your book on consignment. For instance, a golf shop might sell books about golf. Usually, they may want a 40% discount. You pay for shipping there and return shipping. Get it in writing.
  12. Contact local organizations, associations, clubs to be a speaker. Those who attend may wish to purchase your book. Here are ideas for groups to contact: writers groups, Rotary Club, local women’s club, Elk’s Lodge,  Moose Lodge, Civitan International Club, Kiwanis International Club, high school or college alumni associations, Elementary School PTAs.
 
Browse through the resources and click on one or two that capture your interest!

Resources:

  1. Debbie Ridpath Ohi. “Want to support an author’s or illustrator’s new book but can’t afford to buy it?” http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2015/6/19/want-to-support-an-authors-or-illustrators-new-book-but-cant.html
  2. D. Jean Quarles. “5 Tips to Writing Your Author Bio:”  http://www.writersonthemove.com/2014/09/5-tips-to-writing-your-authors-bio.html
  3. Erin Entrada Kelly, Book Publicist. “YOU DID NANO. NOW WHAT?” http://www.smithpublicity.com/2015/12/you-did-nano-now-what/
  4. Jen Malone. Writers’ Rumpus. “Part 1: How to Help an Author (Beyond Buying the Book):” http://writersrumpus.com/2014/01/03/how-to-help-an-author-beyond-buying-the-book-part-one/
  5. Jen Malone. Writers’ Rumpus. “Part 2: How to Help an Author (Beyond Buying the Book):” http://writersrumpus.com/2014/02/07/how-to-help-an-author-beyond-buying-the-book-part-two/
  6. Jen Malone. Writers’ Rumpus. “Part 3: How to Help an Author (Beyond Buying the Book): http://writersrumpus.com/2014/03/07/how-to-help-an-author-beyond-buying-the-book-part-three/
  7. Joanna Penn. “How to Create a Book Trailer:” http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2011/01/07/how-to-create-a-book-trailer/
  8. Josh Funk. “How Can You Help an Author?” https://papajfunk.wordpress.com/2015/09/24/how-can-you-help-an-author-im-so-glad-you-asked/
  9. Josh Funk. “How to Buy a Picture Book without Buying a Picture Book:” https://papajfunk.wordpress.com/2015/08/27/how-to-buy-a-picture-book-without-buying-a-picture-book/
  10. National Pen Company. Personalized, colorful, distinctive, smooth writing promotional pens, stylus, magnets. http://www.pens.com
  11. Rachel Abbott. “Reviews: The Good, the Bad, and the Scams:” http://rachelabbottwriter.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/reviews-the-good-the-bad-and-the-scams/#
  12. Sandra Warren. “Book Trailers Made Easy:” http://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com/2016/01/book-trailers-made-easy.html
  13. Sandra Warren. “Tag Team Marketing – Authors Helping Authors (contains additional marketing information related to book stores, retail stores, and organizations):” http://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com/2016/03/tag-team-marketing-author-helping.html
  14. Smith Publicity. “How to Hold a Social Media Contest:” http://www.smithpublicity.com/2015/12/how-to-hold-a-social-media-contest/
  15. Valerie Peterson. “Book Signings and Book Tours – A Reality Check for Authors:” http://publishing.about.com/od/BookPublicity/fl/Book-Signings-and-Book-Tours-A-Reality-Check-for-Authors.htm
  16. Vistaprint.com. Business cards, post cards, posters, car signs, etc. http://www.vistaprint.com 
  17. Zairmail.com. Direct Mailing lists, post card templates. http://www.zairmail.com/
Thank you for reading my blog. I appreciate you very much. Keep on writing. Keep on illustrating. Keep on doing what you love.

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Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards, Author
Copyright © 2016 Joan Y. Edwards
Flip Flap Floodle Will this little duck’s song save him from Mr. Fox?
Joan’s Elder Care Guide A guide to help caregivers and elders find solutions.

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16 thoughts on “Promote, Market and Sell Your Book”

  1. I laughed when I saw your photo for this post. Good one. Marketing a book must feel like being pulled around from place to place. It’s so important though, especially in today’s market. You’ve listed lots of resources here. Thanks so much. There’s much to study and do. Wishing you all the best on your upcoming book launch!

    Reply

    1. Dear Linda,
      Thanks for writing. I’m glad that you laughed when you saw the picture of the guy being pulled…hopefully, he’s being pulled to your book!
      My goal was to find a lot of resources that people could use. And that might also help me in my upcoming book launch of Joan’s Elder Care Guide.
      Thanks for wishing me all the best on my upcoming book launch and thanks for saying you’d do a blog post about it on Book Launch day 2016.
      Live with enthusiasm,
      Never Give Up
      Joan

      Reply

  3. Tons of useful info once again, Joan.
    If you don’t mind, I’d like to add my two cents:
    Re: #10 – Contacting local bookstores – Barnes & Noble has an online form for both requesting a book signing event as well as getting your books in the store (if you’ve self-published.) The link is: http://www.barnesandnobleinc.com (Click FOR AUTHORS, then GETTING YOUR BOOK IN BARNES & NOBLE. There will be a link on that page for suggesting an event aka book signing.)
    They ask for a lot of information including your promotional plan and reasons why they should carry your book as well as all the basics; ISBN, binding, format, price, how it stacks up to it’s competitors, etc. etc. (I just spent all morning and part of the afternoon getting all my information in a package for them.) Then, after about six weeks you will receive a YAY or NAY in written form. If it’s a YAY, your book will be added to their Small Press Department for distribution throughout their system, online and in stores.
    Re: #11 – Contact Retail Stores. You can add to that, gift shops in theaters, museums, amusement parks, sports stores, any place where you can find a connection to your story or theme.
    Also: it has been my experience that most (the ones I’ve dealt with) do not ask for a 60/40% split. It’s usually the other way around….they want a 40% discount which means I/you keep the 60%. The only venues I’m aware of that ask for a 60% discount are the fulfillment companies; Baker & Taylor and Ingram, etc. In fact, most stores even the bookstores I’ve dealt with on consignment are willing into take anywhere from a 25% to a 40% discount. Recently, I’ve been asked what kind of discount I’m willing to give. I normally respond by asking what they normally get from others? It’s almost always under 40%.
    Oh, and one more thing about retail stores, they usually pay upfront !) unlike bookstores where you might wait 3 or 4 months plus multiple phone calls, for payment.
    Re: #12 – Contact local organizations & groups. When speaking to a groups, especially non-profits, you can always offer to give back a percentage of sales or if not a percentage, then a donation of some kind. That’s assuming they allow you to sell your books following your presentation.
    Ask to PARTNER with them on a project that you believe in. Remember the old addage: What goes around comes around!
    Okay, enough said. Thanks again, Joan for ALL the useful information and links.
    Sandra

    Reply

    1. Dear Sandra,
      Thank you for writing! My goodness! What a wealth of information you’ve shared with me. May I add it to this blogpost? That would really help people.
      I added a link to your blog about making a book trailer in my book blitz post.
      If you’re going to post this information in one of your great blog posts, I’ll link to it here.
      I need to add your book trailer link to my list on this page, too.
      Celebrate you
      Never Give Up
      Joan

      Reply

    1. Dear Mary Jane,
      Thank you for writing. I’m glad you liked the information well enough to bookmark it as a reference! I am honored!
      Live with Enthusiasm
      Believe in you
      Never Give Up
      Joan

      Reply

  5. Joan, as usual you have such a wealth of information 🙂 I’m printing this list of 12 things out to keep handy in the coming months! Thank you for all you do!

    Reply

    1. Dear Kathleen,
      Thank you for writing. I’m honored and happy that you printed out the post to keep handy for when you might use them. What is the release date for your book?

      Reply

    1. Dear Kate,
      You are very welcome. You give writers good ideas to ponder and use. Thanks for that.
      Celebrate you and your helpful ways
      Never Give Up
      Joan

      Reply

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