How do you promote your book?

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

It is simple really...

1) Write a GOOD book
2) Have it professionally edited
3) Get a good cover
4) Get book edited again
5) Put book in every* store you have access to, mention it to everywhere you can (blogs, friends, FB, Twitter, etc, etc)
6) While doing step 5, go back and start over with step one.
7) Repeat unlit you are dead.
8) Profit!

*Edited

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Is this a variation on what Sue Grafton said?

"If you have a good story to tell and if you write it well, the Universe will come to your aid."


To the OP: Make sure your book is listed on GR, Shelfari and Library Thing. Create an author page with them.

No, not really, but some truth in that. The detail point I'm trying to make is that most writing is sh*t and the writers think everyone is going to love it and they are going to make a fortune. This is the view of an amateur. The professional knows better.

Reading Recommendation: "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield
http://www.amazon.com/The-War-of-Art...The+war+of+art

[Namekuseijin]

write a damn good book, fake a bizarre fatal accident, change identity and collect the royalties when the media promotes your book like mad

[AncientGardener]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Is this a variation on what Sue Grafton said?

"If you have a good story to tell and if you write it well, the Universe will come to your aid."


To the OP: Make sure your book is listed on GR, Shelfari and Library Thing. Create an author page with them.

I'm on GR but I'd not heard of Shelfari and Library Thing, thanks

[DaringNovelist]

Most promotion is not worth doing until you have five or six books, imho. And even then, it's often better to keep writing.

The main thing is that there are no short cuts.

Camille

[ebusinesstutor]

I am a professional marketer and here are a few suggestions:

1. Understand who your target audience is - your "perfect" customers
2. Find out where they gather online - forums, blogs they read, web sites they hang out on
3. Get conversion tracking in place so you know where each sale comes from (Do NOT skip this step)
4. Buy advertising on these sites or ask the blog owner if they would review your ebook
5. Build a list of your readers on your own web site so that you can tell them when you have new releases. Let them subscribe via email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

[uebyn]

Originally Posted by ebusinesstutor

I am a professional marketer and here are a few suggestions:

1. Understand who your target audience is - your "perfect" customers
2. Find out where they gather online - forums, blogs they read, web sites they hang out on
3. Get conversion tracking in place so you know where each sale comes from (Do NOT skip this step)
4. Buy advertising on these sites or ask the blog owner if they would review your ebook
5. Build a list of your readers on your own web site so that you can tell them when you have new releases. Let them subscribe via email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

I do think I know what you are talking about. Problem is, most of us non-professional writers have our own profession that makes us a living, maybe a family to take care of, certainly more than a few practical matters that need our attention, and finally we need time to write. Research on the market and do stuff like conversion tracking? Very unlikely, really. But yes, we know you are right. *sigh*

[apbschmitz]

A friend recently published a non-fiction title through a major publishing house. It all sounds great — favorable review in the Times Book Review, reviews in other major papers, radio interviews, readings, etc. A month after the book release, I asked him how many copies he had actually sold. About a thousand, he said. He's maybe got another month or two before the window on this book is closed and the stores start sending back the unsold copies.

The nasty little truth, I fear, is that most books don't really sell, even with massive publicity far beyond the dreams of most lowly eBook author/publishers. That doesn't mean you should do nothing, but it suggests that your expectations should be aligned with reality. It could be that selling a couple hundred books qualifies as remarkable success, even if most of them go to your friends and family.

[Alex Bleach]

I think measure your own success is a good tip. Some indie, first time writers expect to sell as many as a leading author in a few months and except for a few freak exceptions (like 50 shades of grey) this doesn't happen. My book is free, so I don't make anything off it, but I'm happy if people enjoy it and are reading it.

[JoelArnold]

Assuming you've done all the things like writing a good book, getting a great cover, etc, I think it's important to just get out there and interact with people, whether online or in real life. Don't overtly try to sell them your book - just talk to people, respond to blog posts, and always have a link to your blog or book in your signature. If people think you're a good person with interesting things to say, they might just click on that link and consider buying your book.

[owly]

Maybe offering yourself for a talk at you local library?

[JoelArnold]

Originally Posted by owly

Maybe offering yourself for a talk at you local library?

Definitely! One of my books is historical fiction set along the boundary of Minnesota and North/South Dakota. I've been fortunate to have libraries and historical societies around that area have me over for talks. (I've contacted them first, telling what my book is about and asking if they'd like to have me for a book discussion/reading, and have received a good response.) Usually, an audience that actually goes out of their way to see you is more likely to purchase copies of your book. Plus you get to meet a lot of great people.