So, today we begin our official countdown!
This week we are meeting with the manager of Waterstones to make final arrangements with the setting up. And, Suzy is preparing our fliers to hand out. I will start handing out a few this Saturday at the market and to local families I see passing at the City Centre. I am sure I will be very annoying, but it’s all about selling yourself. And, if you are going to market yourself these are the things you’ve got to do.
Wish us luck!
One way to really get yourself out there is to physically walk into the book stores and pitch your book to them. ‘Divide and conquer.’ A really good friend and business woman said to me over some mulled wine. Nadia Finer, founder of More to Life Than Shoes, is a someone who understands business. (http://blog.moretolifethanshoes.com/)
There are so many different marketing techniques that people will try to pitch to you, but in the end you are your best marketing tool. Especially, if you have a local, children’s book like Suzy & I have. We support our local printers utilizing a London, local printers and appreciate the same support from our local retailers.
We spend all day Sunday walking in and out local shops and getting quite a few leads as well as sales. So rock on!
After the New Year we are going to meet and come up with a London plan to really get our book out there. And, because our first edition is subtitled, The Beach I think I am going to focus on selling it around the coast.
Try thinking out of the box. Figure out ways how to sell your book that isn’t the norm.
Thanks, Nadia for all of your tips as well as the mulled wine!
After you’re published now it’s time to market that book! Whether it be ebooks or print make sure you are on all of these websites:
Authonomy
Bibliophil
Book Buzzr
BookBrowse
Bookhitch
Booksie
Filed By
Jacket Flap
KindleBoards
LibraryThing
Nothing Binding
On Book Talk
SavvyBookWriters
Scribd
Shelfari
Wattpad
WhoWroteThat
WritersNet
And, of course make sure you are on all of the major bookstore’s websites as well as ireaders. Check out bookbaby.com or smashwords.com.
Thanks to my ‘Linked In’ networking writing/author’s group I have learned a lot about the do’s and don’ts (still learning along the way as Suzy would say).
One way to start your PR/Marketing is 1) start a blog. 2) get on facebook, twitter and linked in. 3) join an interest group. Whether you are a publisher, author, illustrator or designer (even a computer expert), join these groups on Linked In. They share valuable information as well as possible valuable people who can get you where you need to go.
Don’t under estimate the power of social media.
