Favorite Books on Book Marketing and Promotion

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Scott Lorenz, book publicist and president of Westwind Communications, recently wrote the article My Favorite Books on Book Marketing and Promotion Every Author Must Read. In this article, Lorenz discusses The Web-Savvy Writer plus ten other books that can help with your book promotion efforts.

“The Web-Savvy Writer” is a MUST read if you want to utilize the most cost-effective and viral methods in promoting your book like blogs, pay per click advertising, online reviews, ezines and more. — Scott Lorenz

December 18, 2006 | Filed Under Online Book Promotion | 1 Comment 

Online Media Kits: Get More Mileage from Your Promotional Efforts

Have an online media kit on your website? If not, get one … now!

Creating an online media kit is essential for any author looking to get the attention of the media. Your online media kit can contain special content just for the media as well as links to content that’s appropriate for multiple audiences, including:

December 18, 2006 | Filed Under Author Websites, Online Book Promotion | Leave a Comment 

Good Read: For Authors, Writing’s Just Half the Job

Are you relying on your publisher’s in-house publicist to do most of your marketing for you? Take a look at this article The Miami Herald published recently: For Authors, Writing’s Just Half the Job. It highlights the importance of actively participating in the marketing and promotion of your book, even if you published with a big-name publisher.

December 11, 2006 | Filed Under Book Publishing News, Online Book Promotion | Leave a Comment 

Why Combine Your Ezine and Your Blog?

Several readers have sent me email asking why I combined my ezine and blog and what benefits that provides. I recently read a great blog post on this topic: How and why to combine an e-newsletter and a blog. Take a look.

November 30, 2006 | Filed Under Blogging, Online Book Promotion | Leave a Comment 

Time to Design — or Redesign — YOUR Website?

I’ve had a number of authors ask me to recommend a web design and hosting service that focuses on author websites, particularly since I no longer offer web design services myself. Last week I had a conversation with Lars Clausen of American Author, who gave me a behind the scenes look at their site-building tools targeted specifically to authors. The system is easy to use and customize, and the price is affordable. Best of all, the features are suited specifically to your needs as an author (templates for an author bio page, book feature page, press kit, and so forth). To learn more, visit the American Author site or call Lars directly at 877-700-2519. He’s an author himself and understands the type of site you need to help sell your book and promote your career.

November 13, 2006 | Filed Under Author Websites, Online Book Promotion | Leave a Comment 

Get Personal to Get Sales

One of the biggest benefits of online book promotion is its ability to create a “from me to you” relationship between you and your readers. Interactive websites, blogs, and podcasts are all great ways to create this connection online. In terms of traditional book promotion, autographing books is one of the most common ways to personalize the interaction between author and reader. You don’t need to limit yourself to in-person autograph opportunities, either. If you sell books from your website, offer to autograph them for your readers.

Another good sales opportunities is to work with a website such as Autographed by Author, which links you to potential readers who are looking for autographed books.

Even if you don’t sell your own books directly, you can offer readers signed book plates. Many authors let their readers know via their website, blog, or ezine that they’ll be glad to send an autographed book plate, often in exchange for a self-addressed stamped envelope.

So start thinking of ways to increase the personal connection between you and your target audience, and see the benefit in your sales.

November 13, 2006 | Filed Under Author Websites, Online Book Promotion | 2 Comments 

Join Forces with Other Authors to Sell More Books

Writing a book can be a solitary task; promoting your book doesn’t have to be. Many times, joining forces with other writers can actually help you sell more books than you could on your own. Besides the camaraderie that develops when you work in a group, you can share ideas, experiences, and expenses by forming a coalition of authors to promote your books as a joint effort.

That’s what award-winning author Carolyn Howard-Johnson did when she co-founded Authors’ Coalition. Initially started as a way to share booth expenses at a book fair, the coalition has now expanded online and is in the process of developing a new website with options for authors to help each other promote books (the current site is available at Authors’ Coalition and Red Engine Press).

September 7, 2006 | Filed Under Conferences, Fairs, Festivals, Online Book Promotion | 1 Comment 

Take Advantage of the Summer Slowdown

Although the summer months, particularly August, are normally viewed as a “quiet” time in terms of book promotion potential, summer can actually be a great opportunity for savvy promoters. While others are away for a couple weeks of vacation, or even a month in some lucky countries, you can get a lot of work done on your fall book promotion campaign.

This was my plan last week, at least until the weather and power started to not cooperate. For the first time in my life, I experienced 116-degree heat. It wasn’t much fun, and became even less exciting when the power kept going out. So I packed up my notebook computer and headed to the coast where I was able to get a lot of work done on my upcoming book promotion campaign–with a little time left over for visits to the beach, galleries, and cool little ethnic restaurants.

So enjoy your August–and in between your own vacation plans, spend some quiet time strategizing and planning for your own fall book promotion activities.

August 1, 2006 | Filed Under Online Book Promotion | Leave a Comment 

What’s Age Got to Do with It? Online Book Promotion for All Ages

Recently a sixtysomething author told me that online book promotion wouldn’t work for her because her books cater specifically to the 50 plus crowd. I quickly told her stories about the online adventures of my mom, aunt, and uncle, who all fit this demographic and use the Internet frequently. In fact, my mom is one of my best sources of new ideas for online book promotion.

I truly believe that online promotion campaigns don’t just attract the young. I even found some statistics to back up this statement. According to a recent study by Jupiter Research, online seniors will grow the faster of any age group in the U.S., doubling from nearly 10 million in 2004 to just over 20 million by 2010. So if you’re targeting readers over 50, go ahead and create an online book promotion campaign designed specifically for them. You’ll find a solid audience, ready and waiting.

July 15, 2006 | Filed Under Online Book Promotion | Leave a Comment 

Get Your Share of Online Book Sales

Everyone who knows me, knows that I love statistics, particularly those that help me prove a point. It probably stems from my days of traditional journalism and the need to constantly ferret out facts for my stories. In any event, here are some interesting statistics for authors promoting their books online.

According to JupiterResearch, by 2010:

Need any more reasons to try to step up your online book promotion campaign?

June 23, 2006 | Filed Under Online Book Promotion | 1 Comment 

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