Marketing your book should be a fun endeavor, but most importantly it needs to be cost-effective. When you use the Internet as your platform, the possibilities are endless. Increasing your customer base and boosting book sales is all about getting the word out.
Creating awareness is crucial and all you have to do is pick up the megaphone! Here are a few tips you can use:
Free media leads
Free services such as Reporter Connection, HARO and http://www.PitchRate.com can help you get valuable media coverage. This is a great way to find the media and build relationships with them. Experts and authors who have signed on with PitchRate have had great results pitching journalists and getting their expertise and products out to the world. It offers an amazing opportunity to gain free publicity for you and your book. Sign up for all of these and you will receive free daily opportunities via email to speak with the media about topics and trends related to your expertise.
Article portals
Free portals allow you to post articles on the Web to promote your book. They offer a great opportunity for you to implement your SEO marketing plan by writing articles with specific keywords that will drive more traffic to your Web site or online press kit.
Free press release distribution
Free press release distribution sites like http://www.1888pressrelease.com allow you to post press releases on the Web related to your expertise. They offer another great opportunity to implement your SEO marketing plan and build your Internet presence. One of the hardest things about PR is getting the information out there and read by potential customers. Sites like these provide an effective platform to help increase your Web site traffic.
Social networking
Free social networking sites, such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, offer authors endless possibilities to publicize their books. Social networking connects you with existing fans and readers, and potential customers. It allows you to get a feel for what is happening in your market and to provide excellent customer service. Create a fan page for yourself on Facebook and interact with your fans. Before you know it, the word will be spread throughout the network. Do the same with Twitter.
Video portals
Post videos to free portals like YouTube and Metacafe to increase your Web site traffic. Many of these portals will allow you to link to your site as well as offer a cool platform to market your book. Have fun and be creative with it. You never know; it may go viral.
What’s most important about these free marketing opportunities is the ability to test the waters. You are investing your time, but it’s a great chance to take some risks, be creative and have fun with your PR plan.
L. Drew Gerber is CEO of www.PublicityResults.com and creator of www.PitchRate.com, a free media tool that connects journalists, publicists, and experts. Gerber’s business practices and staffing innovations have been revered by PR Week, Good Morning America and the Christian Science Monitor. His companies handle international PR campaigns and his staff develops online press kits for authors, speakers and companies with Online PressKit 24/7, a technology he developed (www.PressKit247.com). Contact L. Drew Gerber at: AskDrew@PublicityResults.com or call him at 828-749-3548.
