How does one develop a marketing plan for a book? Here are 10 things you can do to get started and impress the socks of a potential agent or publisher. No matter if you've already written that bestseller or are still in the writing and editing stages, you need to start pitching your book as soon as possible. Here are ten most effective ways that will give you a leg up in the market place. If you are traditionally published or self-published, you still need to do these things and more in order to promote your book(s). Publishers will expect at least this much from a potential author, and this will let them know how serious you are about getting your book out there. You can do this if you live in Memphis or anywhere in the world.
- Get a website - no matter if you are published or not - you need a website to promote your efforts as a writer. Get your name out there in the public arena and get that web presence which is vital to your success in the market place. A Facebook or Myspace profile does not count as a professional website and should not take the place of one. Although, you may want to create a separate profile for this purpose. Purchasing your own domain name in your author name is inexpensive and a wise purchase for a professionally developed website. Be aware that most agents and editors will look at your social network profiles for continuity and appropriateness in your promotional efforts.
- Pitch your book or idea to the general public and put this on your website. Write a blurb about your book. Make it compelling and enticing, so the reader will want to know more about it.
- Develop a Bio - not a biography. This will give publishers and agents an idea of what you are all about. Make it about you as a writer only. You don't need to include everyone in your family or write about every incident in your life up to this point. Just the simple facts, where you live and who you live with, where you went to school, what degrees you hold and other publishing credits. Also, include any professional organizations you are involved with at the time. Be sure to update your bio as needed.
- Find a Photo - online there are public domain photos that you can download for free. Make sure they are royalty free as well or use a picture you took yourself. Find a photo that will help promote your book and post it along with your books blurb or pitch on your website.
- Get a professional photo done of yourself. Glamour shots is good for this one, but even better is to hire a professional. Tell them you are needing a good headshot for your website. This will cost you between $50.00 and $150.00, but it is well worth the money. This photo will go a long way in promoting you as a professional writer and you can use it for many years to come. You may consider updating it every 5 to 7 years or so, just to keep up with your present hair style and appearance.
6. Promote your book on Facebook.com and all other FREE social networks. Create a fan page using your book title.
7. Twitter several times a day about your book and other projects you are working on. You can set up a separate twitter account just for your book projects using your author name. Consider using Tweet Adder. You pay only a one time fee for a automated system that helps find appropriate fellow twitterers to increase your followers.
8. Use Digg.com to interconnect and interface all your main social networks, so that all you have to do is tweet once and it goes to all of them. All your followers in every network will see the same tweet.
9. Talk up your book to everyone you meet in order to develop a strong pitch. Join book clubs, writers groups, volunteer at your local library, attend conferences, writers workshops, feature short excerpts in your blog, ask others to mention your book on their blogs and websites.
And last, but not least. One of the most effective ways to promote your book is to:
10. Join professional organizations such as the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI.org)that will help mentor your efforts.
Copyright@2011 by Londa Hayden - for more valuable writing tips, check out Londa's blog at http://londahayden.com
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