Smith Publicity Blogs

Authors who self-publish their work can benefit from eBooks, and they can play a valuable role in the promotional mix. When you learn strategies for how to market your book , you'll see the value of offering an eBook. The exact online booksellers sell them and add very little to your cost of producing the book. When you need to excite an algorithm to get your book recommended to more people, running a deeply discounted eBook download promotion helps. Whatever the price, a download counts as a "book sale" and makes it appear you have worthwhile sales momentum. Like audiobooks, eBooks have a devoted following, although it is a small percentage of the overall market. To many people's surprise, printed books continue to command about 80 percent of the market. Therefore, the other forms are valuable when they play into promotional strategies. Many authors read the audio versions of their books, and it automatically makes sound bites that can be used in various ways. Succes...

Authors write book publicity for more reasons than it's possible to list. But for those who want to earn income and go with a safe bet, some nonfiction genres are appealing. Self-help, personal finance, cooking or dieting, and fitness are among potential book topics that have an easy time making news. The media and online media have screens, shows, and issues to fill, and books make excellent story subjects. You'll be covered when your book takes an interesting angle or makes a proclamation about a hot topic. As a result, if you're a profit-minded author, think carefully about the genre and your book's subject. As you write your book, consider target readers and its newsworthiness. Facts and data always make news and research-based information. The more built-in news hooks you maintain, the better the chances it will receive coverage. Taking a surprising or appropriately controversial view of a topic also helps you get attention. People are interested in novel views of...

In the broader world of book marketing , one of the more important opportunities lies on the back cover. If that sounds surprising, don't underestimate the value of your book's back cover blurb. If you're a first-time author self-publishing your work, do some research and benchmarking. You'll see other writers or their publishers coming up with well-crafted back cover blurbs that are compelling and motivating to prospective readers. When someone picks up your book in a store or clicks on it online, one of the first things many people do is flip to the back cover. The blurb is your chance to sell a copy of your book. Well-written blurbs can encourage people to open your book or click on a sample chapter to give it closer consideration. Marketers know the more information someone has, the more likely they will buy and read your book. The information from back cover blurbs is used prominently in eBook marketing and may be the most significant opportunity. Keeping keywords ...

If you ask book marketing pros today about blogs, nearly all will tell you bloggers can help promote books. One of the best things is the high level of engagement most people have with the blogs they follow. The close rapport bloggers have with their audiences means that when they mention your book, or you make a guest post on a blog, followers will become interested. In general, promoting non-fiction books is more straightforward because they are regarded as newsworthy more easily. However, bloggers interested in novels and other fiction books are willing to give them substantial coverage. Book bloggers (and video book bloggers) are enthusiastic proponents of titles they enjoy, and their followers seek advice about what to read. The coverage your book receives on blogs can take many forms. It can be reviews, a chapter or excerpt, giveaways if you furnish copies of your book or even a Q&A with you. Coverage for some books includes more than one, and if you receive a favorable revi...

When you want to get people talking as part of your book marketing campaign, encouraging book clubs to read your work can help. Their members are among the most enthusiastic readers and often speak to others with similar interests. Because "word-of-mouth" advertising is helpful for book sales, you can count on club members to talk to other book-loving friends. Just like blogs and podcasts that cover virtually every topic, there are book clubs interested in every genre. It makes it possible to find clubs interested in your topic or story, and that will enjoy your work; therefore, it helps to be proactive. Sales and profit-minded authors often take steps to encourage and attract club interest. Providing sample discussion questions is the most popular, but other steps are also worth consideration. If you want to be more complete and well-rounded with your questions, consider producing a reader's guide with them. You can go as far as contacting some clubs directly with a tar...

With the COVID-19 pandemic safely in the rearview mirror, authors are returning and holding events to promote their books. Well-planned appearances at carefully selected stores can benefit your book publicity campaign. Fans who attend typically appreciate signed copies of your book, but there is an opportunity to do more. Making a brief presentation is a nice gesture, and it can be recorded and photographed for posting later online. Fans find social media posts about events and presentations of interest, and they keep your feed interesting. When done well, they can also spark online sales. Locations for signings and presentations can include chain booksellers, local independent stores, libraries, and other venues that relate to your book. Generally speaking, people have most interest around the time of your book's launch, but if you are a local favorite or your book is seasonal, you might have opportunities after the release period. When you plan an event, it's essential to pr...

  An author's biography ranks right up there with a well-designed website as the cornerstone of a PR campaign. In book marketing services circles, bio writing is highly respected, and authors who do it well for themselves have a leg up. Besides the news release announcing your book's publication, your bio is often the first thing editors and producers will check. They want reassurance that you can write your book and have other impressive experiences. Getting across the right points in your bio can mean the difference between receiving coverage and being passed over; take bio writing seriously. Thinking about what you hope to accomplish with your bio and its alternate versions is crucial before you begin writing. Author branding is a critical opportunity today; your bio prominently figures into it. PR pros also advise you to write short and long versions. An extended version can go on your website and other places where people may be researching you. Press materials will carry...