Many
people in the public eye believe that there is no such thing as bad publicity. Publicity,
positive or negative, promotes a career because it puts that person in the limelight.
Of course, writers would like to be recognized for the quality of their work.
Bad reviews hurt a writer’s sales and recognition as a serious author.
Nevertheless, being ignored by reviewers is not something that authors appreciate
either. Readers aren’t going to buy books they’ve never heard of. No reviews? No
publicity? No sales.
So how do
authors go about reaching readers, building a following among those who buy
books? After all, it’s not just the small independent publishers who do little
to promote their authors. These days even the major publishers do not put much
effort and money into book promotion either. Writers have to think proactive.
How
should writers go about reaching and building a readership? I’m going to offer
a few suggestions that won’t break your bank account.
l. Use the internet:
a. Create
a website. Every professional writer should have one.
b. Do
social media networking such as blogging. Create your own blog and also guest
blog on other sites. Interview other authors. Offer to do interviews on other
sites, not those only for writers. Reach out to a more general, larger
audience. Create a presence on such
popular internet sites as: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Bookbub, Booktown,
etc.
d. Join
internet writer groups of authors with common interests. Be an active reader
and comment often in group and on their blogs. Not everyone can be an
“influencer” but it helps to connect.
e. Be
willing to read and review the work of other writers.
f. Ask
other authors in your genre to read and review your books as well. You want as
many reviews as possible on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, Kobo, etc.
g. Send
out advance review copies to internet reviewers who read in your genre. Reviews
are important and we can’t always get them from the major review publications.
h.
Possibly offer ARCs as giveaways both on your site, other sites. Is giving away
free books a good method of increasing overall sales and getting publicity for
an author’s brand? It appears to do so for ebooks. Many writers are offering
free ebooks on Amazon. Usually this creates awareness of an author who has
numerous books to offer. I don’t have the statistics on how well this is
working out. If you do, please comment.
2. Bookstore
signings and events are great. However, unless you are a famous author, these
opportunities have diminished. My advice is to see if there are any independent
bookstores locally that you can contact. Be prepared to advertise your
“event”/signing on your own.
3.
Library Events. Offer to do a program at your local library. You can have a
book signing and selling afterward if the library approves.
4. Don’t
forget to advertise every program you do. Contact the local newspapers and offer
a “news release.”
5. Your
college probably has a graduate publication, magazine or newsletter. The
publication of your book is certainly a newsworthy item.
6.
Consider selling books at various unexpected places. Book fairs sponsored by
local libraries are great and so are craft shows, however, you might think of a
more creative venue. Try to think outside the box. For example, suppose your
novel is about a baker. Is there a local bakery that might display and sell
your books on consignment? Is your novel
set in a beauty parlor? Would a beauty shop owner allow your books selling
space for a cut of the profits?
7.
Attending conferences. Many writers swear by them. It’s a great place for
networking and connecting. You can meet editors, agents and other authors. At
the very least, you can interact and get interesting feedback and share ideas.
Since our work is solitary, this is a good way to know you are not alone.
8. Some
writers publish their own newsletters which advertise the release of their new
books as they come out.
9. You
might also keep friends and relatives in the loop through e-mail announcements.
10. Send
out announcements to acquisition librarians, especially if your book has had
good reviews which you can quote. This can be done inexpensively via e-mail.
11.
Podcasts are popular as are Youtube videos. If you have a talent for creating
either one, it might benefit sales.
Have I
left out anything that I should be mentioning? As a writer, what promotion and
or publicity ideas have worked well for you and might work well for other
authors?
Readers,
what determines the books you select? I would love to share ideas in this
forum.
