The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing: Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish, Promote and Sell Your Own Book by Marilyn Ross & Sue Collier. Now the title of this book is a tad misleading. While it is first and foremost about self-publishing, I found much of the marketing advice perfect for any writer, especially those writers (most of us) who publish with small presses/publishers. I found this guide when I was at Barnes & Noble hunting for books about marketing. I sat down and jotted many notes that I felt I could do, and when I got home, I started working on them.
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What advice did I find?
- Look for niche magazines about
subjects or destinations your books cover. Write articles for them, ask for
reviews or interviews, and/or offer them an excerpt of your book.
- Provide literary magazines with
freebie chapters that include your promo materials at the end, such as full
ordering information.
- If your book is a how-to, take a
part of a chapter, alter it, toss in an introduction and conclusion, and you
have a fresh article.
- Find a writing group in your area
and promote together.
- If possible, team up with
organizations. Sell your book to help them raise funds.
- At a book signing, wear a badge
with your book cover on it, or one that says “Author” with your name.
- At an event, have a packet of
sample reviews on your table for interested readers to look at.
- Put an author interview in the
“From the Author” section on your book’s Amazon page.
- When writing reviews, sign off as
“Author of XYZ.” Or put this at the beginning.
If you’re self-publishing,
definitely get this book. If you’re looking for ways to promote that’s unique
from 1001 Ways and Guerrilla Marketing…get this book!
QUESTION: What’s your favorite
self-publishing how-to book?
An interview in the From the Author section - interesting idea!
ReplyDeleteI've added a few interview questions on my books' From the Author sections. :)
DeleteI'd feel weird adding 'author of xxx' to a review I'd written, but thinking about it, that's what happens in newspaper reviews isn't it?
ReplyDeleteOr you could just add "author" to your Amazon name. That simple word/title could intrigue someone.
DeleteThe interview and signing off for a review are great ideas indeed. But then the review could come off as self promotion, so hmmm.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't talk about your book in a review for another book, it wouldn't really be self-promo.
DeleteAs a self publisher I found good and bad. Good that I found a good company to print my books then bad that they changed hands without my knowledge, sad to say they were not so good with my last book. Also your post seems interesting as I have found copies I wish to sell .
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
I'm sorry the company changed hands without you knowing about it.
DeleteThe Self Publishing Manual by Dan Poynter is still one of the best ones. It's sad he passed away last year and it will never be updated.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember if I looked at that one or not, but since I'm doing more self-publishing ;) I'll have to check it out. That is sad that it won't ever be updated.
DeleteI wish my temporary area had a writers' group like my old city! This is one of many reasons I feel like I'm in a desert wasteland since my parents shanghaied me. I trust there'll be far more resources for indie authors trying to promote themselves in Pittsburgh than there are in this pathetic place. I'm so deep in the hole in terms of marketing and promotion.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can find a good group in Pittsburgh! I've recently started to meet up with local authors from a book event I did in June (this is the first time I've ever done anything like this), and I a enjoying it.
DeleteI should have read some of these, I guess. I'm easily bored by "how to" books, so that's probably why I didn't.
ReplyDeleteI love how-to books. I can't get enough of them. :)
DeleteI haven't self-published, but these are good marketing suggestions.
ReplyDeleteand all my "paying gigs" have been in niche market publications :)
DeleteI hadn't self-published when I took a look at this book, but I found a lot of great marketing suggestions any author could do.
DeleteI'm not a big 'how-to' book kind of guy. I like to just figure it out on my own, since everyone's results vary, anyway. But that is some great advice. Minus the book signing name tag. I don't think I want to wear a name tag. :)
ReplyDeleteEveryone's results do vary. I don't like it when someone says this or that will work for one and all, because that's not true. At a book event, though, they'll most likely give you a lanyard with a name tag. ;)
DeleteI'll have to add this to my wishlist. Thanks for the rec.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteSounds like a good book to start out with when seeking to publish!
ReplyDeleteI think so. :)
DeleteI'm always looking for marketing tips. I might check that book out.
ReplyDeleteI created a neat list of ideas after going through this book.
DeleteHi Chrys - thanks for the review and ideas ... which we can follow up - and the other commenters' thoughts. Dan Poynter has an interesting history ... sad that he's died, but he had a full life and has left us this book. Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteIt is terribly sad that Dan passed away.
DeleteI've worked my way through some of Joanna Penn's books about writing. I found it helpful. Thank you for sharing your tips about what you've learnt with us, Chrys. You are awesome.
ReplyDeleteI've checked out some of the stuff she's done online, but I haven't looked at any of her books yet. One day.
DeleteThose are some neat ideas. Thanks for sharing with us! I don't have a favorite how-to book because I've read so much about marketing over the years. I take bits and pieces from here and there.
ReplyDeleteI take bits and pieces of all sorts of places as well. ;)
DeleteThanks for recommending this book, Chrys! Also, it's really helpful that you've listed what helped you or what highlights you found in the book. I don't know of any author who couldn't benefit from learning more about marketing their work.
ReplyDeleteI always benefit from checking out marketing books. Even if most of the information is stuff I know, I can still find a couple of nuggets.
DeleteI've read a few books about writing in general, but not one devoted to self-publishing. Good pointers here. I need to get better at reaching out to publications. What's the worst that could happen?
ReplyDeleteExactly! The worse that could happen is a rejection or no response, and when you think about it, that's not too bad.
DeleteSelf-publishing sounds so scary to me. Having to do it all, I don't know that I could.
ReplyDeleteI've only self-published a short story and that made me so nervous. lol
DeleteExcellent advice from the book, Chrys. I'm going to copy these points and who knows, might use them one day soon!
ReplyDeleteYou could definitely use them one day. :D
DeleteGreat tips! That sounds like an amazing book! :)
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed. :)
DeleteGood ideas. There are so many good ideas out there.
ReplyDeleteThere really are.
DeleteYou're welcome!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely ideas worth trying, nice of you to share. Greetings!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
DeleteThanks, Chrys. I haven't considered writing a book yet but this will be helpful if ever. :)
ReplyDeleteYou never know, eh?
DeleteLooks like a good book to pick up. I'd like to get back into writing again. So difficult, I've been so busy lately.
ReplyDeletePer your question, I have no favourite book thus far. Perhaps if I can find it, this will be the one. I certainly need as much info as I can get.
Hope all is going well with you.
I just (this past week) got back into writing again after 8 months if not writing.
DeleteThanks on the tip-side.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
Delete