Amanda Abiola's Page

50 Things Under $50 you can Do To Promote Your Book


If your book marketing budget is tight (and even if it's not) you
might want to consider some ideas that are powerful, and won't cost
you as much as you think. Here are a few to consider!

1) Buy your domain name as soon as you have a title for your book.
You can get domain names for as little as $8.95

2) Head on over to Blogger.com or Wordpress.com and start your very
own blog (you can add it to your Web site later).

3) Set up an event at your neighborhood bookstore

4) Write a few articles on your topic and submit them onto the
Internet for syndication

5) Check out your competition online and see if you can do some
networking

6) Do some radio research and pitch yourself to at least five new
stations this week

7) Ready to get some business cards? Head on over to
Vistaprint.com. The cards are free if you let them put their logo
on the back

8) Put together your marketing plan

9) Plan a contest. Contests are a great way to promote your book.

10) Google some topic-related online groups to see if you can
network with them

11) Send thank you notes to people who have been helpful to you

12) Send your book out to at least ten book reviewers this week

13) Do a quick Internet search for writers' conferences or book
festivals in your area you can attend

14) Create an email signature for every email you send; email
signatures are a great way to promote your book and message.

15) Put the contents of your Web site: book description, bio, q&a,
interviews, on CD to have on hand when the media comes calling!

16) Submit your Web site to the top five directories: Google, MSN,
Alexa, Yahoo, and DMOZ

17) Write a great press release and submit it to free online press
release sites.
-
18) Write your bio, you'll need it when you start pitching yourself
to the media

19) Schedule your first book signing

20) Start your own email newsletter; it's a great way to keep
readers, friends and family updated and informed on your success.

21) Go over to Yahoo Groups and join some online groups on your
topic - it's great Internet networking!

22) Develop a set of questions that book clubs can use for your
book, and post them on your Web site for handy downloads.

23) Add your book info or URL to your answering machine message

24) Join Audio Acrobat ($20 a month) and begin recording audio
products you can sell on your Web site

25) See if you can get your friends to host a "book party" in their
home. You come in and discuss your book and voila, a captive
audience!

26) Find some catalogs you think your book would be perfect for and
then submit your packet to them for consideration.

27) Go around to your local retailers and see if they'll carry your
book; even if it's on consignment it might be worth it!

28) Add your book to Google Book Search

29) Research some authors with similar subjects and then offer to
exchange links with them.

30) Is your book good for the My Space market? My Space has
recently started doing book reviews.

31) Write a "So You'd Like To..." article for Amazon.com

32) Ask friends and family to email five people they know and tell
them about your book.

33) Leave your business card, bookmark, or book flyer wherever you
go.

34) Are there any book fairs you could participate in? Look them up
on the Net!

35) Pitch yourself to your local television stations.

36) Pitch yourself to your local print media.

37) Work on the Q&A for your press kit. You'll need it when you
start booking media interviews!

38) Pitch Oprah. Go ahead, you know you want to.

39) Is the topic of your book in the news? Check your local paper,
and write a letter to the editor to share your expertise (and
promote your book!)

40) Stop by your local library and see if you can set up an event,
they love local authors.

41) Do you want to get your book into your local library system?
Try dropping off a copy to your main library; if they stock it
chances are the other branches will too.

42) Go to Chase's Calendar of Events (www.Chases.com.) and find out
how to create your own holiday!

43) Going on vacation? Use your away-from-home time to schedule a
book event, or two.

44) If your book is appropriate, go to local schools to see if you
can do a reading.

45) Got a book that could be sold in bulk? Start with your local
companies first and see if they're interested in buying some
promotional copies to give away at company events.

46) Don't forget to add reviews to your Web site. Remember that
what someone else has to say is one thousand times more effective
than anything you could say!

47) Trying to meet the press? Search the Net for Press Clubs in
your area, they meet once a month and are a great place to meet the
media.

48) Want a celebrity endorsement? Find celebs in your market with
an interest in your topic and then for it. Remember all they can
say is no.

49) Ready to get some magazine exposure? Why not pitch some
regional and national magazines with your topic or submit a
freelance article for reprint consideration.

50) Work on your next book. Sometimes the best way to sell your
first book is by promoting your second.