There's no point in reinventing the wheel. How many times have you heard that line? I am forever trying to do things better, but I got caught up trying to reinvent the marketing wheel myself. I was such a bright eyed goober with my first release, blundering into every promotional opportunity I could find, especially the free ones. When book number two was released, I realised I'd made a colossal error. I hadn't kept track of things.
That's my topic today - keeping track of things. I recommend that writers, especially new ones, keep a generic time line of what to do when. Within that file, keep the addresses, the contact names, and the results if possible.
In case my meaning isn't clear, let's imagine a scenario where you book comes out in electronic format in March and print format in July. You have your cover and your galley before the book comes out, and you can't rest on your laurels. With each book you must make the rounds to let people know its out there. Develop your timeline of things based on your comfort level of activity. Here's a sample timeline I made up:
2 months before the book comes out: put your cover and release dates on your website
2 months out: schedule stops on virtual tour for both releases; write those posts now
2 months out: sign up for author days on Yahoo loops
2 months out: write up press releases for both electronic and print release
2 months out: if no ARCs, make some yourself and send to print reviewers
2 months out: see what conferences fit your release date and sign up, if feasible
1 month out: plan a contest to celebrate your book's release
1 month out: create an excerpt file, a list of snips from your book to use as teasers
1 month out: design and finalize promo items (bookmarks, chapbooks, etc)
1 month out: create a buzz about your book by putting the release date in your sig line
Electronic release: tell everyone! hold that contest! blitz the virtual tour sites
3 months before print release: send ARCs (publisher provided or homemade) to newspapers
3 months out: schedule the signings at stops on your book tour, book appearances locally
2 months out: talk up the release in your newsletter
2 months out: send out those promo items to generate buzz for your book
1 month out: post a pre-order link on your website
2 weeks before: reconfirm with book tour stops, chat the release up electronically
Print release: make those appearances
This is by no means exhaustive, and it will certainly be tailored to you and your schedule. Keep a list of those media contacts handy so that you can be successful with books 2, 3 and so on, without reinventing the wheel.
Happy marketing!
Maggie Toussaint
read, write, unwind at The Book Spa
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheBookSpa/
www.maggietoussaint.com
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
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7 comments:
That's a great list Maggie. I've done a lot of these. I think so far, marketing is one of the most important non-writing aspects of this career. You don't have to be a genius, which for me is a good thing. You just have to do it.
More than 70% of all my site hits are organic. That means they come directly through my .com. That means my name is getting the most searches, the most oomph. Marketing does that.
Great suggestions Maggie. I really do need to try to be more organised.
Hi Nell and Diana,
Today I'm doing speed commenting. I need to be more organized too - that's how come I wrote the post. I've captured some of the stuff from the first time around, but I don't think I hit all the same places again, which is a shame. We're supposed to building a fan base, and you can't do that if they don't know you've got a new book out.
Thanks for dropping in, ladies!
Maggie
romance.danger.mystery
www.maggietoussaint.com
Great list Maggie. Sometimes there just isn't enough hours in a day.
Thanks for your comment, Adelle.
I'm another one who needs to be more organised, I'm very much like you were - I've just been taking advantage of as many on-line promotions as I can without keeping track. I say on-line becvause there aren't many public appearance type opportunities in Britain, although I'm going to try to organise some signings for my print release. Thanks for the common sense tips!
Hi Lyn,
Thanks for stopping in. I wish you luck getting things organized. And I know your first signing will be great. You'll see friends and family you haven't seen in forever. They all want to cheer you on in your success.
Happy writing!
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