{"id":412,"date":"2009-01-18T05:39:18","date_gmt":"2009-01-18T13:39:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=412"},"modified":"2009-01-18T05:39:18","modified_gmt":"2009-01-18T13:39:18","slug":"market-your-book-before-its-a-book","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=412","title":{"rendered":"Market Your Book Before it’s a Book"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve read in my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/em>, about the advantages to marketing your book before it\u2019s a book. I know, I know, there\u2019s not much time left over when you are busy writing and editing your book; looking for a publisher or preparing your project for publication and so forth. But there are still things you can (AND SHOULD) be doing to create an awareness of and an interest in your book.<\/p>\n

You know that I am about to launch my latest book, Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats<\/em><\/strong>. I am waiting for my webmaster to put it up at my website and get it connected to my merchant account so that folks can order it. And she says that could happen TOMORROW. I will keep you posted. <\/p>\n

In the meantime, instead of twiddling my thumbs and pacing the floor in anticipation of this book finally being posted so I can open the doors to my virtual cat book store, I am doing some marketing.<\/p>\n

Of course, I\u2019ve been talking about the book for a few months\u2014ever since I decided to revive this book of cat stories and finally produce it. You know I\u2019ve been writing about it here in my blog. Did I tell you that I plan to establish a blog site for this book, as well? What else have I done?<\/p>\n

Yesterday, I researched cat-related websites. Do you know how many I came up with? I logged about 3 dozen sites in about 2 hours time\u2014all of the hosts either interview people on cat-related topics, publish book reviews on cat books, have an active forum on cat topics or blog about cats. I spent some time familiarizing myself with the sites and then I listed those that I will contact once the book is available and I contacted those that offer book reviews. <\/p>\n

I was on an information gathering mission yesterday. I noted the sites that would be appropriate for promoting my book, what type of promotion I can pursue through this site (contributing to the blog, participating in the forum, having my book featured, requesting an interview, etc.), I noted the web host and, of course, the link, so I can find my way back to this site. If there was something special or unusual about the site, I noted that, too. For example, some hosts for these sites focus on specific types of cats, just feral cats or they write mostly about their own household cats. Why does this make a difference?<\/p>\n

Think about it, when I contact them with information about my book and a link to it, I want to give it my best shot, right? I want to move in with the right ammunition. I often get inquiries through my website\u2014folks asking, \u201cWill you publish my book?\u201d If these authors had taken the time to examine my site, they would know that I only publish my own books and that I do not produce novels. They would know that my site is run by a woman and that the salutation, \u201cDear Sir,\u201d is totally inappropriate. They might also find out that my main focus is helping other authors and a better question might have been, \u201cWhere can I go to find the right publisher for my novel?\u201d <\/p>\n

So, yesterday I put a dent in my marketing to-do list. Once the book is ready for purchase and the description and cover are posted at my website, I will first inform my blog readers (you). Then I will shoot an email to my email list letting my friends, colleagues, clients, students and others know about the new book of cat stories. I will send out press releases to appropriate magazines, newsletters and other publications. And I will use the information I gathered yesterday to spread the word through cat-related sites and blogs.<\/p>\n

I will announce my new book in newsletters and at websites for organizations I\u2019m affiliated with. And I will notify the hosts for blogs where I\u2019ve been interviewed in the past. Some of them appreciate receiving updates on their interview subjects.<\/p>\n

After that, I will offer excerpts and articles to some of my favorite editors of Cat Fancy Magazine, I Love Cats and Pet Age. Unfortunately, ASPCA Animal Watch and Cats Magazine are gone. But there are probably some new magazines and newsletters on the scene. I will begin a search for them as part of my marketing program.<\/p>\n

I will locate pet columns in newspapers nationwide and contact the editors with something they can use\u2014and something that brings attention to my new book.<\/p>\n

I hope to start my own Catscapades blog as soon as my webmaster can arrange it. <\/p>\n

So there you have it\u2014my preliminary marketing plan for my latest book, Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats<\/em><\/strong>. If you just have to have the ebook even before it is up at my site, send me a check for $10, along with your email address and I\u2019ll email it directly to you. If you want the print, comb-bound print version, send me a check for $16.00 ($14.00, plus shipping). Add tax if you\u2019re in California and I\u2019ll mail it right out to you. Send checks to:<\/p>\n

Matilija Press
\nPMB 123
\n323 E. Matilija St., Ste. 110
\nOjai, CA 93023<\/p>\n

I hope the blog this morning helped you to see the possibilities for promoting your own book. And folks, this is just the tip of the iceberg. As you may or may not know, your book will survive for as long as you are willing to put promotional effort into it. Your level of success with a book depends on how much you put into promotion. And this is true whether you self-publish (establish your own publishing company), go with a fee-based \u201cself-publishing\u201d company or land a traditional royalty publisher.<\/p>\n

For more about writing, publishing and promoting your book, read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.<\/em><\/strong> http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/rightway.html<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve read in my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, about the advantages to marketing your book before it\u2019s a book. I know, I know, there\u2019s not much time left over when you are busy writing and editing your book; looking for a publisher or preparing your project for publication […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2,3],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t