How to Promote Your Own Publications

Authors, whether self-published or commercially published, can participate in the advertising, promotions, and marketing of their own publications.

Says Into Print, “…authors are notorious for complaining that their books are not selling well and that the reason is the publishers’ failure to advertise.”

Many publishers now recruit authors for the work of helping to sell their works and helping to sell themselves. This is not just up to the publisher. Some authors are salable and some authors are not necessarily salable. Nor are their books, even when well-written.

Some authors, beyond writing, simply don’t have effective communications and people skills, which help in making books and works salable. That’s why often books written by celebrity authors who do have the effective communications and people skills are often more salable than works by our so-called noted authors. As for writing, they may or may not be better written.

Here are some self-advertising and self-marketing strategies for authors:

1. Readings and lectures, including guest lecturers and after dinner speakers. Many of these lectures can be “free” to help to advertise your books.
2. Advertising in journals and magazines or suggesting these journals and magazines to publishers–this of course depends on your and/or their advertising budget.
3. Solicit blurbs or testimonials to contain on your book jacket.
4. Posters or postcards with your book jacket.
5. T-shirts, mugs, and stamps with your book jacket. These can be ordered via
   Cafepress.com
   .
6. Press releases: These can be sent to trade journals and to book review editors. For press releases your book must be newsworthy.
7. Book reviews: Send out review copies to book reviewers
8. Listing of book in new books section of libraries, bookstores, magazines, newspapers, newsletters. A listing in Book list.
9. Displays: Commercial exhibits and exhibits at book and trade shows.
10. TV, radio, and print interviews
11. Websites
12. Online videos and podcasts