Basic Marketing Plan for Authors

Posted by LM Preston on December 31, 2010 

What are the elements of a marketing plan?

Research the demographics of your audience. Like, where do teens hangout? How do they buy? Research other authors of like books - what are they or their publishing company doing to get the word out. What is your budget? Monthly budget (including time), remember your time is money too!

Here is some Basics for your promotion:


- Start at least 6 months prior to release.


Pre-Release Promotion

-Create a list (I use MS excel) of websites and places to put book excerpts.

-Create a list of contacts and the source of the contact? ie: FB, Blog, Friends, Family

-Create a list of researched bloggers that would love for you to hang out on their blog.

-Create a list of blog sites that you can advertise on.

-Create a list of Book Reviewers (magazines, publications, newspapers, local venues)

-Build a presence where your audience hangs out (per your research).

-Create Media Kit and post on website.

-You must start a blog, twitter, FB, Newsletter. Yeah, you must and search out tools that will allow you to post to all of them at one time, like hootsuite, tweetfeed, ping.fm and tons of others that are free.

-Get a book trailer and post to all sites available and ask others to spread the word

-Put link to book in all sites, emails, blogs, fb, twitter etc.

-Start tweeting, blogging and FB about book using auto tools like hootsuite or bookbuzzr.com


Reviews

Must be done at least 5 months in advance of book release!

Midwest Book Review, book blogs; book clubs, etc.

Set Up Your Blog Tours

Visit sites bookblogs.ning.com to build your book blogger list. Make sure you review their REVIEW POLICY.


30 days and to Release:

HAND to Hand Marketing

Send Flyers and book information to targeted bookstores. Follow up with phone or visit to schedule signing or ask for 'short sale' for your books.

Go to writing conferences to sell book at tables?

Go to book festivals, fairs and author pavilions and conduct booksignings?

Get Publicist to set up Press, media interviews?
Submit book to contest.


Direct mail

Mailing press kits, letters, or postcards to indie stores, write letters to major retailers.


Internet Marketing

Do spotty Blog Guest Spots and continue to request blog reviews (bloggers don't always require getting the book pre-release)


Advertise on Blog sites (1 each month)


Newsletter

Keep readers in the know for new projects or contest. Send newsletter monthly or every other month about your upcoming events, contest, or new wip.