Creative Marketing Ideas for Authors

A couple of weeks ago, I shared with you my upcoming workshops with the Alabama Writers' Conclave and the Alabama State Poetry Society being held July 20 -22, 2012. I'll be conducting two workshops. The first one is titled, Low Cost Creative Marketing Strategies. In this workshop we will discuss ways to market your book creatively and on a budget. I often come across aspiring authors who think once they publish their book, they'll instantly sell millions of copies, major publishers will come knocking at the door and they'll walk into a major bookstore and see their book on the New York Times Bestseller List. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. Marketing is not something that often produces results overnight. It takes work, lots and lots of hard work and a lot of effort and consistency. Some of the ideas listed may not be right for your work and you will likely need to try a combination of ideas to see results. Just remember to keep track of what worked and what didn't and don't give up. Do something everyday to get your book noticed or read.

Marketing Ideas for Your Books

• Know the optimal publishing date for your book. College textbooks, cookbooks, calendars and diet books need to be published at a different time than most novels.
• Business Cards (carry them everywhere you go)
• Bookmarks (keep several on hand, leave several at bookstores and cafes)
• Join trade associations (Association of American Publishers, NAIP, SPAN & IBPA)
• Attend Trade Shows (Book Expo of America and ALA aka American Library Assoc.)
• Newspaper Ads

• Radio Spots
• Personal Letters
• Vanity Phone Number
• Professional Web Address
• Professional Website
• Start a Blog
• Postcards
• Forums
• Radio appearances
• Email Signatures
• Landing pages for your website, blog, etc
• Pay-per click ads
• Collaborative ventures
• Podcasts
• Video tutorials

• Books
• Ezine ads
• Reciprocal link exchanges
• Google AdWords (pay to be linked to specific key words in Internet searches)
• Public Service Announcement
• Free seminars
• Free workshops
• Speak at Schools, Churches, Book fairs, Colleges, Business Luncheons, Non-profit organizations, Rotary Club, Kiwanis, the Lions, Sororities, Fraternities, Alumni Associations, Chamber of Commerce, Writing Groups, etc
• Have Free Readings
• Become Friends with the Competition
• Publish Articles
• Webinars
• YouTube Channel
• Give Speeches
• Judge a writing or poetry contest
• Coupons
• Giveaways
• Guest Posting on other Blogs
• Bartering Services
• Create Folders of Favorites on Pinterest.com (You can create a folder of favorite book covers, favorite characters, etc. Include your book in some of the folders.)
• Submit Books to Book Sites and Blogs (bookblogs.ning.com)
• Newsletters
• Write a Column
• Write an article
• Send an editorial to the newspaper
• Free trials
• Free eBooks
• Presell your books

• Sell Your Books Door to Door (people get to meet an author and get it autographed)
• Have an Easy to Remember Email Address
• Give Away Sample Chapters
• Join Press Associations
• Submit Press Releases
• Solicit Book Reviews
• Get to Know the Librarians
• Sponsor a Contest
• Sponsor an Award
• Sponsor a Scholarship
• Attend Trade Shows
• Attend Writing Conferences
• Have an Attractive Book Cover
• Book Tours
• Virtual Book Tours
• Sneak a copy on a retail store shelf at airport gift shops, hotels and tourist shops. The store may sell it unknowingly and order more or if nothing else, someone read your book and may spread the word.
• Serialize Your Books or Create a Series
• Use Actual Stamps (People generally throw away junk mail unopened)
• Submit for Literary Awards and Honors
• Provide Free Waiting Room Copies
• Submit for Book Cover Awards
• Solicit for Blog Interviews
• Have a Launch Party
• Donate Books to Charity Events
• Be an Expert in Your Field

• Offer Free Shipping
• Product Placement on TV Shows and Movies (Creative Entertainment Services and UPP Entertainment Marketing)
• Participate in Local Theater (After the performance, you can sell your books and take photos)
• Send copies to Advocates

• Create a Fan Club
• Create a Facebook Fan Page
• Create a Twitter Account
• Direct Mail
• Include Sticker Bookplates with Books
• Use Classified Ads
• Submit Your Book to Home Shopping Network or QVC
• T-Shirts (walking billboards)
• Buttons
• Notepads
• Custom Book Bags
• Movie Theater Commercials
• Attend Book Festivals and Fairs
• Teach People to Do What You Do
• Have a Home Book Party

• Become a Consultant
• Register with Speaking Bureaus
• Speak at Churches
• Speak on Cruise Ships
• Get a Celebrity Endorsement, Blurb or Foreword
• Reply to Your Email
• Create Listmania List on Amazon.com
• Become an Expert on Amazon.com
• Write Reviews about Books and Products on Amazon.com
• Follow Up on Books Sold (send a thank you card a few weeks later)
• Promote Books to Local Bookstores, Gift Shops or Small Secluded Shops
• Mail Your Catalog or List Directly to the Book Buyer of a Bookstore (for a list of top 700 Independent Bookstores, contact Open Horizons at www.bookmarket.com)
• Sell to Places Other Than Bookstores: Supermarkets, Auto Part Stores, Banks, Beauty Salons, Drug Stores, Pet Stores, Gourmet Shops, Toy Stores, Arts and Crafts Stores, Fitness Centers, Museums, Newsstands, Novelty Shops, Office Supply Stores, Prison Commissaries, Travel Agencies, Tourist Shops, Stationery Stores, Print Shops, Hospital Gift Shops, Florist, Military PX’s and Discount Stores

Do you have any marketing ideas to share? 

Feel free to share this list, just please make sure to link back to my blog or give credit. 

Wordless Wednesday

I'm at the 2012 Annual AWP Conference!

Each year, The Association of Writers and Writing Programs holds its Annual Conference & Bookfair in a different region of North America in order to celebrate the outstanding authors, teachers, writing programs, literary centers, and small press publishers of that region. The Annual Conference typically features 400 presentations: readings, lectures, panel discussions, and forums plus hundreds of book signings, receptions, dances, and informal gatherings. The conference attracts more than 9,000 attendees and more than 550 publishers. It’s one of the biggest and liveliest literary gatherings in North America. 


This year the conference is being held in Chicago from February 29th - March 3rd. I'm so elated to be in attendance. The Keynote address will be given by Margaret Atwood, author of The Blind Assassin, Bodily Harm and the Year of the Flood to name a few of her works. Also in attendance will be Audrey Niffenegger, who is the author of The Time Traveler's Wife and Her Fearful Symmetry, along with Pulitzer Prize winner and the current United States Poet Laureate, Philip Levine, as well as Rebecca Skloot, author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and wait...wait.....Nikki Giovanni. Yes, Nikki Giovanni! Do you remember my interview with Ms. Giovanni last year? If not, click here to view the three part series we did together. And that's not all, there are so many other talented and distinguished authors in attendance. To find out more about the presenters, authors, workshops or the conference, go the AWP conference site. And if you are here at the conference, let me know so I can say hello! I'll keep you posted on everything going on over the week here in Chicago. Have a wonderful week.

Leap into Books Giveaway Hop

Celebrate Leap Day by entering 200 Great Giveaways 

with the Leap into Books Giveaway Hop 

February 29, 2012 - March 5, 2012 midnight. 

Hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer & Jinky is Reading

Rules to Enter:
1) Must be a follower of my blog
All other entries on the Rafflecopter form are optional.
If you decide to Tweet about the giveaway. You DO NOT have to paste and copy the url back into the Rafflecopter. It's not necessary, I will get a notification that you tweeted it if you decide to Tweet.

The Giveaway:
I'm giving away a $25Amazon Gift Card or up to $25 in purchases from the Book Depository.

Who can enter?
Giveaway is open to U.S. and International participants.

Don't forget to enter all the other giveaways on the hop. Click here for a list of the other blog participating. There are over 200 blogs!!! That's a lot of chances to win. Good luck!

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P.S. Don't forget to follow @Olliemarie on Twitter for her tweets about free eBooks every Friday. She always has a great recommendations.