The Basics Of Book Publicity
books
PR is one of the biggest factors in determining the success of an author. However, it is also one of the most difficult things for an author to get a handle on. As an author, you specialize in writing, whereas a publicist specializes in promotion. You can try doing it yourself, but if you don't have any PR experience, your time is limited, or you don't feel comfortable promoting yourself, your best bet may be to hire a publicist. They know what they are doing and already have the established relationships and contacts in the book world.
In order to sell more books, people need to be able to find it. In order for them to find your book, you need to have a presence. Here are a few simple ways to promote your book:
Reviews
Readers are more inclined to purchase your book if they see positive reviews. Note that these reviews don't need to be from professional critics – Amazon customers and bloggers can have just as big of an impact.
The best way to get reviews for your book is to research online for reviewers that cover your genre. Shoot them an email to introduce yourself and offer them a free copy of your book. It is important to get your book in front of as many reviewers as possible. The more reviewers you pitch, the better! Keep in mind that reviewers love to receive a copy of the book before it's released. They also tend to prefer paperbacks, over ebooks. And when mailing copies of your book out, it's always nice to add a little personalized note.
It takes time for a reviewer to receive your book, read it, and publish a review. A lot of times they have other books on their list to read first, but be patient, because the more reviews you have, the more sales you'll see.
Social Media
In the Internet age, websites such as Facebook and Twitter have become a major source of publicity for authors. These websites are free to use and allow you to communicate with people you might not be able to reach in other ways. To get the most out of social media, you will need to regularly engage your potential fan base with tweets and Facebook posts. It is important to not be overly self-promotional though. Not every post needs to mention your book. Instead, you could share articles, images, or quotes that are on topics related to your book. For example, if your book is about healthy eating, you could share a new recipe or a recent article the NY Times did on juicing. Social networking is easy to do yourself, and fun, once you get the hang of it.
Write a Press Release
To get any kind of traction in traditional media, you'll need to write up a press release. In short, a press release details why you and your book are interesting. The press release should be short – no more than a page – and include tidbits of information that could be used in a feature article about you. Sometimes, traditional media will opt to simply print the press release. If you're lucky and you attract enough attention, you may find yourself the subject of a feature piece, which is excellent publicity for an author. Start by mailing a copy of the press release, along with a copy of your book, to the editor at your local newspaper and/or the producer at your local TV station. Once you've reached out to your local media outlets, then you can expand your reach to other magazines or news sites that may be a good fit to cover your book.
Get Out There
In the end, the biggest determining factor in how much publicity you'll get is the amount of stuff you put out there. The more tweets, blog posts, press releases, and reviews you have, the more traction you're likely to obtain. So if you do decide to hire a publicist, don't just sit back and relax. The more you contribute, the better your results will be.