How to Start Your Marketing Effort

I received this email from one of my authors:


John,
I thought you might be interested in some of my marketing:

1)I received a good review in a local Arts Magazine (circulation: 65,000) on 2/7. Here is a link to the online version. The print version includes the book cover.


http://artvoice.com/issues/v7n6/book_reviews/there_are_no_doors_on_a_cocoon_ugly_little_tales_of_nasty_little_humans_by_lou_rera

2) I am taping an interview on WKBW-TV (ABC), for a show called "Off Beat Cinema" on Thursday, 2/14. The promotional value is tremendous for online sales promotion. The show is part of the RTN network and is broadcast in over 40 markets across the U.S. I will focus on BookSurge and Amazon.

3) I am one of the vendors in a book fair in March in Buffalo, NY. Here are details for your blog:
The 2008 Buffalo Small Press Book Fair will be on March 22, 2008 at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, 453 Porter Avenue, Buffalo, NY.

4) Lastly,I have the book stocked in the Borders bookstores in Western New York, as well as other local book chains.

Thanks John,
Lou Rera


This is a great start to marketing your book so I ask Lou what types of activities he has been doing to get this attention. He responded with the following:


Hi John,
Here is what I did for these promotional efforts.

For the arts magazine book review I sent the editor of literary section a copy of the book. There is an editor specifically for the genre area I write, which is flash fiction. There is a larger hurdle to have self-published books reviewed, they don't always do this. That part makes it more difficult. I have had stories published by the magazine in the past, which may have helped. But nothing can guarantee a good review. I am grateful mine was.

The television show is produced by a local affiliate, which happens to be the taping station for this syndicated show. I sent the producer an email, followed by a press kit I had put together for book stores and media. The press kit had a brief bio with photo, a press release, a copy of the book, bookmarks from the book outline and a cover letter. I followed up on the press kit mailing with more emails. I was not accepted for the morning talk show, but I was accepted for the syndicated show. I am still waiting for another TV station locally to respond to a similar query.

The bookstore placement was set-up with press kits and personal contact with store managers, each with there own requirements. Borders and Barnes and Noble with other local stores.

I'm working on radio next. I have two readings/signings I've set up over the next two weeks and I cross promoted those through the arts magazine literary events calendar.

The tips from BookSurge, Writer's Digest and other web sites helped me formulate a promotional game plan. I'm hoping within the next few months to generate the bottom line: book sales. Persistence of vision.

Thanks John,
Lou Rera

Here is his book on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/There-are-no-doors-cocoon/dp/1605305936/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1202828092&sr=8-1

I hope you can take some of what Lou did for his book and use it in your own promotional efforts!

Technorati Tags:
marketing a self-published book, blogs to help me market a book, book marketing blogs, self-publishing blogs, should i self publish, marketing a self published book, book marketing tools, book marketing information, book marketing assistance, book marketing help, marketing books, self publishing, self-publishing, author marketing