The old saying, “If you want something done right, do it yourself,” certainly applies to marketing you self-published memoir. You can hire professionals to help you if are so inclined and your budget allows. But even if you do, you will need to stay directly involved in managing and presenting your book’s marketing. Here are some things you will need to do:
- Choose the best self-publishing service – To do this you’ll need to consider what each offers including distribution, royalties, rights policies, etc. Each one is different. Most offer marketing services. Review carefully what they actually provide. It won’t replace your own efforts.
- Develop a marketing plan – Decide what strategies you will use to market and publicize your book. Work to implement those strategies.
- Focus on online sales first – It is difficult for self-published books to get shelf space in bookstores today. Besides less than half of books sold are sold in bookstores. Outlets like Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com offer you a better opportunity to compete by putting you on a level playing field with commercially published books. Make sure to review access to these channels when selecting a publisher.
- Use online marketing – Online marketing is relatively inexpensive. Here are just some of the elements of web marketing: develop a webpage, write web articles and press releases with links to your site, blog about your book, post on relevant forums, list profiles on social networking sites, or develop a podcast available on your site.
- Use public relations techniques – Send press releases to newspapers and magazines. Offer to be interviewed. Local newspapers, radio, and TV often book local authors. Seek public speaking opportunities at local libraries, independent bookstores, museums, and community groups meetings. Participate in book or authors fairs or expos. Write articles for newspapers or magazines. Seek to media outlets to review your book. Seek people online to review your book on their website and link back to your site.
- Concentrate on your local market first – Drawing upon your personal network of family, friends and business associates can help your PR strategy succeed on a local level. Take advantage of it. When you have some media credits seek a larger or even national audience.
- Consider working with professionals – Your marketing plan, personal skills and budget will all be factors here. But hiring people to help with website design, publicity and marketing can help you reach contact and help get them to take your book seriously. It’s important to remember that the people you hire are working for you not replacing you. Whoever you hire you will remain the key person in your marketing efforts.
- Be a guerilla marketing – The Guerilla marketing series has been around for several years providing low-cost marketing ideas in a variety of fields. Guerilla Marketing for Writers offers 100 techniques for marketing your book.
- Be patient – Most commercially published books are sold within six months of publication. Self-published books are just the opposite. Sales build later after marketing and publicity campaigns gain momentum.
