Half a Dozen Superb Ways [I have discovered this time around] to market my book

As I was thinking about what I might share with you today it came to me that I have done a few things differently this time around to market my book. I have always marketed, but I haven't always wanted to spend any money doing it. I figured there were enough FREE places to get my name out there that I didn't need to spend any money to do it.

What I have discovered this time around is that I still need to be careful with my money, but that, with a little research, I can get my name out there forking out a few bucks. 

Photo by Visual Stories || Micheile on Unsplash

The first thing I read is that I needed to get reviewers before my book came out. I'd heard this before, but the sage advice added something I'd never heard before. Make a goal. They suggested a minimum of 30 reviewers in place before the release date. 

Can I tell you, this was a lot of work! As of yesterday, I am in need of 4, and my formal release date is August 30, so I feel like I still have some time. [Maybe you can help?]

I began to find reviewers asking people I knew personally, then online and from my list of followers, both on my blog and on my newsletter. And then I looked at blogs that had a list of book reviewers on their blog tour! On one particular blog, I received 6 yesses from the book tours listed, so that tells me something! [Though not all of them reviewed, they did give a thumbs up to post my book on their blog]. Unfortunately, I don't have the link for you. Fortunately, I have the list of the six blogs. They are A Blue Million Books, Wall-to-Wall Books; foreverreading@gmailcom [future post in the works], Novels Alive, Quiet Fury Books, B for Bookreview, and Margaret Yelton; mafyelton@msn.com; facebook.com/margaretfyelton.

One of the memes created by Novels Alive

From this list, I paid $25 to have Novels Alive create some memes for me and to post throughout the day on Twitter; something I have never done. Everything else was free. I currently have over 200 entries for the contest, and among the final count, one winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of my book. I wrote a blog post and shared an excerpt from my book, and was given an "About the Book" section, book description bio, links, and author photo opportunity.

 Photo by Katie Harp on Unsplash

Another thing I have done is to go through my list of #hashtags. I have been collecting hashtag ideas for a long while but have used them rarely. I am trying to use them when I send out my social media.

On the day my book was released, I sent out a new

book trailer with short quotes from reviews I'd received. Although I have done this before, I had never thought to release the video on the release date. I pay a yearly fee to Animoto.com for the service to create these book trailers. They are easy to do. I am no techie and they make the process simple.

Another thing I have done this time is to offer my previous eBook, "Enlightened: My Personal Journey with Christ Through Scripture Journaling" for FREE. [You have through the 30th of August if you'd like a copy]. Often, if readers can get a free book, and they love it, they will more than likely purchase your new book.

Yes, marketing your book takes a lot of time and work, but I have found [once again] there are many people out there, both authors and readers, who want to help you - even if it's for a few additional bucks. 

 

Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2013 Needs Reviewers

Do you want to get your hands on an electronic copy of Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2013?

 

FOR FREE?

Release date: March 21, 2013

Well, I'm in need of some book reviewers!

Here's what you need to do if you're interested:

• Write me back here, telling me of your interest. I will get a pdf out to you within the day. (The book is a short read: under 50 pages).
• I'm not looking for experienced reviewers, but I am looking for writers who need help with marketing their book(s). You can be a new or established writer, but you have to also be in the market for learning more about getting the word out about your book.
• I need reviewers who are willing and able to post their reviews on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.com. Goodreads is nice as well. If you have a blog, and can post it there, that's even better.

If this is you, please let me know.

Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2013 will be released on March 21. Without getting ahead of myself, there will be some fine deals during that time too, but keep in mind that if you decide to review my book, you'll get a nice head start!

One more thing!

You're not comfortable doing a review? Here's what I'll do. If you take a picture of yourself reading one of my books--and that means any of my books--and send me a photo of yourself reading one of my books,  I'll send you a free advanced copy! But March 20th is the deadline. Send your photo to: kathy@ariverofstones.com and I'll send out your pdf copy! That's all. Just be prepared for your photo to show up somewhere soon on my website!

I'm getting excited to share even more inexpensive marketing tools! If you read my book last year, Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2012, you found some great ideas. Be prepared for an update, including more links!

I'm excited to hear from you!

Kathryn

Start Small

There's nothing worse than getting overwhelmed about writing--okay, maybe your car breaking down is worse or the plumbing backing up, but hopefully you get my drift.

  

What you want to do is to start small. I'm talking short stories here instead of novels, short articles over a nonfiction book, even a blog over an entirely mastered website.

  

Starting small does many things. It helps you to keep things in perspective. You want to write but you also have a job and and career at home that keeps you hopping. It helps you to finish a project on a daily or weekly basis, and it allows for growth.

  

Because you can't expect to be a best seller right away, you should also use this time to perfect your craft. Say you're pretty good at dialogue but your setting stinks. Maybe your great at details but your writing is all over the place and needs to be honed in and organized. Whatever you're good at, start small and focus on the writing you do well. The following day, focus on an area of writing that you need help with.

  

Fifteen minute writes allow you to record just what you want. Even if the stuff you begin with is crazy, you will find that as you continue to write more great stuff will pop up. And this great stuff can be used in the short pieces you will later write.

  

Starting small is like taking one bite out of a piece of chocolate cake. You know the entire piece, the entire cake, is sitting there waiting to be eaten, but you don't want to get sick, so you take one bite at a time.