I'm sure we've all heard the saying, it takes money to make money. True, in a sense, but for those of you who are on limited budgets, there are ways to promote yourself and your book by just using your computer.
Get a Website. The first thing to remember, is that the internet is a way
to reach millions of people all over the world. If you are an author with at
least one book in print (or this goes for any business really) you need to set
up a website for yourself.
Having a website in today's world is crucial. Especially if you write for a
small publisher who does not sell your books overseas. There is no better way
to let people in Japan, Australia or the Netherlands know about your book than
to put it out there on a website and let them find it.
There is nothing more satisfying than to get a fan email from someone on the
other side of the world who has read and enjoyed your book. Trying to market
your book in other countries may not be an option. So instead of going to them,
let them come to you by finding you on the internet.
Make sure you register with some search engines, and get your name and book out there. Include a guestbook for visitors to sign and a counter to see how many hits you get a month - or year. Putting excerpts of your novels online for readers to view ahead of time could be another way to make a sale. Keep it updated and intriguing. Have somewhere where they can sign up to be on your email list, so you can contact them with every new release.
Have a Contest. Another way to reach new readers using your computer is by
having a contest for each new book that comes out. Post it on your website,
with a way to enter, the deadline posted, and then make certain to have an update
where you release the name - possibly photo of the winner.
If you happen to be attending a conference, you can use the website to announce
the contest as well as your appearances, and then give the prize away at the
writer's conference. I've given away swords to promote my Greek Myth romances,
choosing the winners at the Romantic Times Conference, and then posting the
winner and the photo later on the website. The sword I gave away to promote
The Oracle of Delphi was the one actually used on the cover of the book.
I want to make a note here, that I've stopped the sword giveaway, with all that is going on in the world today, and also because of the fact I would never be able to get a sword on a plane to get to the conference to begin with. But my 2003 fall release, The Pandora Curse will have the ornate chest which Pandora opened on the cover. That will be stuffed full of treasures and given away at the 2003 Romantic Times Conference in Kansas City this October.
Make Your Own Bookmarks and Flyers. I've seen many people pay extreme amounts
of money to get those glossy bookmarks made up. This is all fine if you write
for a big house and are bringing in tons of money to use for promotion. But
if you're not one of these people, you can still have bookmarks to pass out
at a minimal cost to you.
It is very easy to use the Microsoft Word program to do this. Just use the four
column option, copying and pasting what you have in the first column to the
other three. Use your color printer, and you can put the cover of your book
on the bookmark, or your photo, or any information you want to share.
Remember, you have two sides of the bookmark, so use the back for info such
as your backlist, the ISBN's and where people can buy your books.
This is a nice way to do it, because you can make the bookmarks as you need
them and not have thousands laying around unused afterwards. Keep updating them
when new books come out or with current information.
Be sure to include on the bookmark your website address and your email address
as well.
You can also make flyers to send snail mail to people on your mailing list that
don't have email. Announce your booksignings, when and where they can find you
and buy your book, as well as any other speaking appearances.
Join Authors and Readers Lists. There are many lists which are loops where
authors and/or readers can chat and discuss things. Use your computer to hook
up to some of these and it will be worth your while.
The only down side of this, is you may get mega emails a day. But no one is
saying you need to read them all. Read them when you can, and post things once
in a while. Make sure to tell the people on the list when you are up for awards,
are having a contest, are when you have a new release. This is a good way to
get your name out there and let people know who you are. Take time to discuss
books or other things discussed, and be a part of the group also, don't just
be there to promote yourself only.
Make Your Own Business Cards. I always make my own business cards, as they
are always changing. Every time I have a new book out, I make sure to put the
cover of the book on the business card, along with the information.
It is easy to do, and very inexpensive. And once again, you can make as many
or as few as needed. There are many programs where you can create your own business
cards. The program I use the most when creating cards, signs, flyers and other
promo is called Creatacard Plus by American Greetings. This is the same program
you use to make birthday cards and return address stickers.
You can go to Office Depot or a similar store and choose your blank business cards which come in anything from flowers to clouds to hot peppers on the background, and personally design them to fit your needs.
Make Your Own Promo. By this, I mean something that is beyond the bookmark or the business card. Something you can get creative and original with and hand out at a conference personally. It is a good feeling to have something on the giveaway table, and to know that it didn't cost you thousands of dollars to do it.
Let me give you an example. When my first book, Eden's Garden was released, I used my Creatacard program to make up four-fold cards out of paper. On the front I put the cover of the book. Inside I had not only info about the book and the release date, but I stapled a 10 cent packet of store boght seeds. It was an inexpensive and clever way to get people to remember Eden's Garden. Of course, I also made up stickers and put them on the actual packets of seeds. That way, if they removed the seeds and threw out the card, they still had a reminder of my book when they went to plant their garden.
Get An Online Review. If you have books out, then make sure to get them reviewed.
This is inexpensive, as all it will really cost you is the paper to print out
your manuscript, and the postage to get it to the reviewer. Or if your book
is already in print - a copy of the book.
Go to online review sites and check them out before you send your book. I've
always heard a bad review is better than none at all, but I can't say I really
believe it. There are sites out there that are out to trash the author, so you
need to be aware of this.
Read some of the reviews of other authors first, then if you are satisfied, contact them and ask if they'll review your book as well. Normally, these sites have archives, so even if your book isn't featured other than the month it comes out, it will still be in the archives for readers to find it later.
Do An Online Interview. There are tons of sites that are looking for authors
to interview. Every time you have a new book out, your should find somewhere
to do an interview.
They usually send you the questions ahead of time, and you can take your time thinking up answers before you send them back. This is a good way to let new readers know a little about you. Make sure to talk about your books in the interview and tell them things that will make them want to buy a copy of your book.
Do An Interactive Online Talk. By this, I mean a scheduled interview where
fans can ask you questions online and you answer - live. Yes, this is a little
nerve-wrecking at times, especially when you feel like you just can't type fast
enough (which is just your imagination of course.)
You answer questions directly to readers as they ask them. Usually there is a moderator who will call on the people in an order to actually ask their questions. This is a great way to be spontaneous.
Write Articles For Different Sites. There are always sites looking for writers.
You can write articles - which you probably won't get paid for - but they will
help get your name out there. Sometimes you can barter with writing an article
instead of paying for a service or advertising.
Look to the writers' sites or look to the specialized sites. Such as - if you
write medieval, perhaps there's a medieval loop you can write for. Or maybe
there's an online magazine dealing with paranormal dealings, and you love to
write anything paranormal.
There are sites out there that specialize in just about anything from vampires to the regency period, or even ethnic stories. If you write ethnic novels, search for the ethnic sites that would help to promote you and your writing, and write an article for them.
Write Short Stories. While you may really be a novel writer, it takes no time
at all to crank out short stories. There are many sites which sell downloads
of these short stories. This will help get your name out there.
While this won't bring in lots of money, it is a way to introduce readers to
your work via the short route. Once they read one of your short stories, and
like it of course, they will be interested in reading a longer story you've
written.
Keep in mind also, to write for the market you're targeting. If it's mainly
a paranormal site, then of course you're going to want to write paranormal,
or no one will be interested.
Give Away A Download. A good way to introduce your work to new readers is to
give away something for free. It's easy to give away a free download - and you
won't mind it as much if it's only one of your short stories and not a full
length novel.
This can be part of a contest, or used strictly to get people to visit your
website. I actually gave away a copy of one on my short stories, My Nutcracker
Soldier, to the assisted living home my grandparents occupy.
It was such a thrill to me to hear that the employees read it to the residents
and they all loved it and wanted more. My heroine worked in a nursing home,
and because of this, these people could really relate to the story.
While I know none of the residents are going to be going out and buying my
novels, this was a good promo move, because of the exposure. Because of this
story, now the employees know I write. Also, the residents may mention it to
their families, and because of that, it may bring in a few sales.
Always be thinking of opportunities. You never know where they may lead.
Contest Promo. Getting back to having a contest, I must mention this. There
are many sites who will mention your contest for free. Sometimes they'll do
this in a printed magazine, other times, online.
If you can get a free ad out of it, it is worth giving away something at your
expense. Once again, it gets your name out there, and lets people know who you
are and what you do.
Get Your Book On Amazon. Make sure to get your book on Amazon and other sites
that actually sell the books. Talk to your editor, find out who distributes
your books. Normally, they will show up there without you having to do a thing.
But if now, look into it. Amazon is a terrific tool to selling your book around
the world.
It is amazing how many times I am surprised to see my book appear somewhere I never knew existed. Search the internet and find those sites that do carry your books and know who they are. Then tell people about them. Let them know the options of where they can buy your books.
Post Your Reviews. Either get your publisher to do it, or do it yourself. Make sure you have excerpts of your reviews posted on the sites that sell your books. If someone reads that it received four stars from Romantic Times Magazine, or won an award, they will be more apt to try it, than if nothing is posted at all.
Link Your Website To Everything. Last of all, I'd like to mention that whenever
possible, get your website linked to other sites.
If you do an interview, see if they'll put a link on their site to your site.
If you write an article, try to get a link to that site as well. Ask your writer
friends if you can put a link to your site on theirs, and of course return the
favor. Wherever you're mentioned, have a way for people to find out more about
you and what you write.
The first step in promoting yourself is to put your name and work on the internet. You'll be surprised how many people you've reached - and in the process you have never had to even leave your desk at home!
Good luck. Now get promoting!
Elizabeth Rose
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