Tag: Book Marketing

Book Marketing, Kelly Speaks

5 Ways to Promote Your Book in April

Today’s post is by book marketing industry expert, Kelly Schuknecht.

Book marketing is an ongoing effort.  Here are five ways to promote your book in April:

  1. April is National Poetry Month.  If you have published a book of poetry, this is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of National Poetry Month events.  Visit Poetry.org to find a full list of Poetry Month events.
  2. April 2nd is International Children’s Book Day.  If you are a Children’s book author, call your local library and elementary school(s).  Volunteer to read your book during storytime.
  3. Speaking of libraries, National Library Week is April 10-16.  Contact your local library, offer to donate a free copy of your book.
  4. The London Book Fair takes place April 11-13.  If you have not already made arrangements for your book to be represented this year, consider this opportunity for next year.
  5. April 22nd is Earth Day. If your book is about environment issues (or even if it’s not), contact your local schools and environmental agencies and ask about Earth Day events you can get involved with.  Even if you are not directly promoting your book, you will be doing something to help the environment and networking with individuals who have similar interests.

DISCUSSION: How are you planning to promote YOUR book this month?

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT:
Kelly Schuknecht works as the Director of Author Support for Outskirts Press.  In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Book Marketing, Kelly Speaks

What Does Your Online Presence Tell Your Potential Readers?

Today’s post is by book marketing industry expert, Kelly Schuknecht.

When it comes to publishing a book, no matter what goals you have, as an author your online presence is important and should be thoroughly reviewed and perfected.  Your personal website or blog, your profile on Amazon and any other social networking sites may be viewed by potential customers and should accurately reflect who you are and help sell your book.

If you have a website or blog, you will most likely want to list information about your book.  This can include:

  • About the book
  • About the author
  • Testimonials/reviews
  • Link to purchase the book on Amazon or other retail sites

Have you ever visited a website with so much “stuff” on it that it made it hard to figure out what you were looking at or where you should go?  The ability to navigate a website easily is very important for getting the attention of your viewers.  Be sure they can find what they want easily and that all links work properly.  If you use other social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or any others, your website should include links to those locations.  Also, your “behavior” on those sites should be professional and appropriate for your target audience.

DISCUSSION: Do you consider your target audience when you post something on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or YouTube?  If so, why?  If not, why not?

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT:
Kelly Schuknecht works as the Director of Author Support for Outskirts Press.  In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Book Promotion, Kelly Speaks

Don’t Always Listen to the Experts When It Comes to Marketing

Today’s post is by book marketing industry expert, Kelly Schuknecht.

There is a lot of advice out there about how to promote your book.  Of course you should read everything you can get your hands on, try new things and challenge yourself.  However, as the author of your book, ONLY you know best what your book is about, who your target audience is and how to reach them.  Take all of the tips and advice you read from the marketing experts and tailor them for your own book marketing plan.

Marketing experts will often provide general marketing ideas – these are not meant to be “one size fits all.”  Don’t waste time on one marketing effort just because a marketing expert said it is effective.  Take it as a general suggestion and think about whether or not it is a good fit for your book and your target audience.  If you aren’t sure, try it and then evaluate whether it worked or not.  If not, move on to another tactic.  If it did produce results, do more of it.  Take what works and make it work MORE.

Book marketing is an ongoing effort.  If you want to increase your books sales, you should constantly be evaluating what you are doing, what is working and what is not.

What is your best marketing tip?
Share it with us in the comment section below and include the title and genre of your book.

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT:
Kelly Schuknecht works as the Director of Author Support for Outskirts Press.  In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Book Marketing, Book Reviews, Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self Publishing Book Review of the Week: Did Success Spoil Jayne Mansfield? by Frank Ferruccio

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if they don’t know about it? Paired with other book marketing efforts, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us let the community know about a great book. So, without further adieu, here’s this week’s book review:

Did Success Spoil Jayne Mansfield book cover

Did Success Spoil Jayne Mansfield?: Her Life in Pictures & Text

Frank Ferruccio

Outskirts Press (2010)

ISBN 9781432761233

Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (2/11)

“I must say that many of us always wanted to know more about the mysterious Jayne Mansfield and the author has certainly done his research on her life and family.

Many individuals dream of being a movie star and Jayne was no different. Even though she came from a very strict upbringing she never lost sight that she would become a star. Jayne was a very beautiful child and teenager and did what she wanted. At the age of fifteen she got pregnant much to the dismay of everyone. She met her first husband, Paul Mansfield, during this time and even though he wasn’t the biological father he stepped up to the plate.

She married two more times, but it was hard for her husbands to deal with her fame and publicity stunts. Jayne knew how to get attention and she went for what she wanted and usually got it.

While she was married to Mickey Hargity, she began to party all night long and become very close to Matt Cimber, who would later become her third husband.

Jayne was fun, interesting and had a good heart. She loved her children and she loved acting. It’s sad that there are so many negative stories about her.

The author has provided pages and pages on Jayne throughout her life till the end. There is so much information in “Did Success Spoil Jayne Mansfield?” coming from interviews with family, friends and others in the entertainment field. The author has done an exceptional job in his research and providing references for all his information.”

DISCUSSION: Are you trying to obtain book reviews as part of your overall book marketing strategy?

Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week, Uncategorized

Self Publishing Book Review of the Week: The Gift of Schizophrenia by DJ Cushing

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if they don’t know about it? Paired with other book marketing efforts, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us let the community know about a great book. So, without further adieu, here’s this week’s book review:

The Gift of Schizophrenia book cover

The Gift of Schizophrenia: A Testimony

DJ Cushing

Outskirts Press (2010)

ISBN 9781432763565

Reviewed by: Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (2/11)

From a psychological viewpoint, Schizophrenia is misunderstood and often treatment by non-educated therapists provides more crises for their patients. Author DJ Cushing describes his own journey through discovering his life falling apart, being diagnosed with Schizophrenia, and how others viewed him.

One theme that I noticed throughout the book was that doctors or therapists first hospitalize then they try to diagnose and help. As the author states, many times the information received is hard to understand, much less try to overcome. When one is hospitalized for psychiatric reasons they lose their identity-they become a label and have to follow everyone else’s rules.

Cushing’s journey is well written, easy to follow and understand. His writing gives readers an opportunity to get into the mind of those who are diagnosed with mental illness. His honesty is truly a gift to see what individuals experience every day. Sometimes these individuals are never given any hope of recovery and this adds to their stress and anxiety.

There needs to be more educational awareness on Schizophrenia. Individuals with this diagnosis, as with other mental health diagnoses, do not have a tail and two horns; they are not dangerous when on medication. Before we judge we need to learn the facts. DJ Cushing has provided us with his personal story in The Gift of Schizophrenia: A Testimony.