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Make your SP publicity machine roll
Since I (self) published latest book on 4th June I've worked hard to generate loads of publicity. Here's some hints and tips for others, based on what I've done in the past five weeks for my book Notable Sussex Women.
For example, book launch at local museum with local MP giving a speech=photos=something to send the local paper.
Piece published in local paper = scan it in and put it on website!
Tell local bookshops about all the local publicity you're getting and send them the webpage!
Book signing at bookshop.
Tell local press and radio stations before the event so that can broadcast it as a "meet the author event".
Sell books. Take photos. Give out an author-flyer to those who won't buy, so they can visit your website when they get home and buy direct from you!
Send photos to press as above, and put resultant press article on website.
Tell other bookshops about all the local publicity you're getting and send them the webpage!
Arrange to give a talk at the local library.
Tell local press and radio stations before the event so that can broadcast it as a "meet the author event".
Take photos. Sell books.
Send photos to press as above, and put resultant press article on website.
Tell other bookshops about all the local publicity you're getting and send them the webpage!
Track down all relevant publications and e-zines, and the relevant people within them (e.g. book corner or arts page).
Email them and offer to send a copy of the book for review.
Offer to write articles based on the material in the book, in return for them advertising your book at the foot of the article.
Also publicise any personal appearances, talks, etc that you are doing in the newspaper's area.
Also try to think up ways that you can offer something more in the paper or magazine ... for example, give away a copy or two as prizes in a competition. Makes sure ALL competition entries are sent to you so you can send the losers a special offer to buy the book direct from you at a discount. Chances are, if they bothered to enter the competition, they are sufficiently interested already.
Track down the broadcasters of hospital radio and offer yourself as a guest to be interviewed live. This will give you a chance to practise your radio skills in preparation for being on "real" radio.
You can then legitimately say in your online biog that you "have appeared on radio."
Get a CD or tape copy of the broadcast. Listen and learn how you can improve next time.
The BBC are more likely to have you on if you are not tongue-tied or embarrassed.
When you are on the radio, NEVER say "my book", always give its title and always say at the end where people can buy it.
Find ALL local publications, not just the local paper. For example, in Hastings alone I found four other local publications. In the past month I've had features about my book in all of them.
Don't pass by secondhand bookshops, so long as they are tasteful and not too grubby. I've managed to persuade three so far to stock my new book. Just make sure you only leave one or two copies and tell them you'll have them back if they don't sell. As they have nothing to lose, why should they not take them?
Think of off-beat places to sell your book. So far I've got mine in two cafes, an antique shop, a gift shop, the local tourist info centre, the shipwreck museum and a hotel.
If your book lends itself to such things (mine does!) create booklets for sale at £1 or so with an extract from your book and an irresistable offer to buy it direct from you at a big discount.
At my talk at a local library, I sold 15 such booklets.
My booklets will soon be sold at local museums, cafes, etc who refuse to stock a hardback book, on ebay and on instant download on my website, using Payloadz to take the money (no fees).
Comments & additional ideas welcome.
Helena Wojtczak
Notable Sussex Women
www.hastingspress.co.uk
For example, book launch at local museum with local MP giving a speech=photos=something to send the local paper.
Piece published in local paper = scan it in and put it on website!
Tell local bookshops about all the local publicity you're getting and send them the webpage!
Book signing at bookshop.
Tell local press and radio stations before the event so that can broadcast it as a "meet the author event".
Sell books. Take photos. Give out an author-flyer to those who won't buy, so they can visit your website when they get home and buy direct from you!
Send photos to press as above, and put resultant press article on website.
Tell other bookshops about all the local publicity you're getting and send them the webpage!
Arrange to give a talk at the local library.
Tell local press and radio stations before the event so that can broadcast it as a "meet the author event".
Take photos. Sell books.
Send photos to press as above, and put resultant press article on website.
Tell other bookshops about all the local publicity you're getting and send them the webpage!
Track down all relevant publications and e-zines, and the relevant people within them (e.g. book corner or arts page).
Email them and offer to send a copy of the book for review.
Offer to write articles based on the material in the book, in return for them advertising your book at the foot of the article.
Also publicise any personal appearances, talks, etc that you are doing in the newspaper's area.
Also try to think up ways that you can offer something more in the paper or magazine ... for example, give away a copy or two as prizes in a competition. Makes sure ALL competition entries are sent to you so you can send the losers a special offer to buy the book direct from you at a discount. Chances are, if they bothered to enter the competition, they are sufficiently interested already.
Track down the broadcasters of hospital radio and offer yourself as a guest to be interviewed live. This will give you a chance to practise your radio skills in preparation for being on "real" radio.
You can then legitimately say in your online biog that you "have appeared on radio."
Get a CD or tape copy of the broadcast. Listen and learn how you can improve next time.
The BBC are more likely to have you on if you are not tongue-tied or embarrassed.
When you are on the radio, NEVER say "my book", always give its title and always say at the end where people can buy it.
Find ALL local publications, not just the local paper. For example, in Hastings alone I found four other local publications. In the past month I've had features about my book in all of them.
Don't pass by secondhand bookshops, so long as they are tasteful and not too grubby. I've managed to persuade three so far to stock my new book. Just make sure you only leave one or two copies and tell them you'll have them back if they don't sell. As they have nothing to lose, why should they not take them?
Think of off-beat places to sell your book. So far I've got mine in two cafes, an antique shop, a gift shop, the local tourist info centre, the shipwreck museum and a hotel.
If your book lends itself to such things (mine does!) create booklets for sale at £1 or so with an extract from your book and an irresistable offer to buy it direct from you at a big discount.
At my talk at a local library, I sold 15 such booklets.
My booklets will soon be sold at local museums, cafes, etc who refuse to stock a hardback book, on ebay and on instant download on my website, using Payloadz to take the money (no fees).
Comments & additional ideas welcome.
Helena Wojtczak
Notable Sussex Women
www.hastingspress.co.uk
Comments
I did the whole round, newsagents, book shops, stately homes, museums, tourist attractions, local coffee bar (already signed two copies for customers) and so on. An island distributor was approached by several people I targeted with a sample, result, they are taking on the distribution for me, which means getting into Tourist Information Offices and saves me the postage.
The book has also gone to associated societies (any with 15th century links) for review and to other magazines who might be interested. Don't overlook reviews in journals of relevant societies, and as there appears to be a society for everything ...
The book has already opened one door for me, although they have decided not to stock it, I got a freebie visit to a local stately home and a long chat with the owner, a chance to sit and absorb the atmosphere of the rooms, and a promise of any future help I need with that particular book when I get back to writing it. Not bad for one free copy!
I do envy you having only the Isle of Wight to conquer. My darned county is 75 miles across, and I am at one end of it! But I am determined to get as much coverage at the other end as I do locally!
Helena
Your sales will be bigger than mine, having so much of an area, but I am told by the magazine editor that I will need a minimum of 1000 books to satisfy the island's history lovers and tourists. I had 500 printed and can arrange the other print run as and when needed.
Have you had any problems with the Legal Deposit Office of the British Library? I have just sent them one of my ultra sarcastic letters. They asked for a copy of a book we have not printed and have never notified anyone that it has been printed and also asked for a copy of a book by someone I had never heard of, with a title that I had never heard of, either. How they managed to associate that with my imprint I don't know. When they ask me properly, with paperwork, for Captain of the Wight, they can have a copy, and not a moment before. They are not exactly the most competent bunch of government officials - but who are these days?
Welshman: I've done a fair few talks and book sales are disappointing, sometimes as low as zero. I guess I am a dull speaker! I don't drive, so the talks circuit has its limits for me. However, I am doing a talk on 7th August, and I am doing a Meet The Author day in a pub that holds these things in an attempt to become a literary Mecca.
I had an article published in a local free mag that is pushed through people's doors and have already had five orders in by mail in response to the special offer.
Helena
I think I'm just a dull speaker, quite frankly. More than one person has fallen asleep during my talks. I think I'm trying so hard to get my facts right and my voice right, and trying not to sway from side to side, (which I have a tendency to do and have to watch myself all the time to make sure I don't!) that the actual content comes out a bit stiff, dull and serious. I do exactly what you do though: put in humour, use comic timing and say hilariously funny things with a deadpan look on my face, which usually gets a laugh.
People always come up and say how much they enjoyed my talk, but I think they are just being polite!
Helena
http://www.hastingspress.co.uk/sussexwomenpress3.html
http://www.hastingspress.co.uk/sussexwomenpress2.html
http://www.hastingspress.co.uk/sussexwomenpress.html