5 Book Marketing Tips for Self-Promotion

Writing and finishing your book is just the beginning of the battle. Getting yourself published is only the halfway point. To reach the end of the line, there's one other significant matter to attend to and that's marketing. If your want your book to be a success, don't leave the marketing to your publisher. There are a lot of things you can do on your own to further promote your book.



Give Free Copies to Reviewers

If you're confident about the quality of your work then go ahead and send free copies to reviewers. The publicity you can get from their reviews, especially when they end up raving about your work, can only make more people aware of your book.



Post Summaries and Excerpts

Post it wherever and whenever you can. Be sure, however, that you have your publishers permission to do this. The summary could be the same blurb found on the back cover of your book, but it may also include additional details that you've long wanted to add. An excerpt would usually be composed of your books prologue and first chapter.



Prepare a Media Kit

Make it easier for people, regardless of the type of media they're involved with, to write about you by preparing a media kit. This should include a pitch letter, think of it as another variety of query letter, if you want, that lets them know what to expect from you and your book. Cite them a brief history of your career and personal life as well. Include photos of yourself, the book, and other events they may wish to print if and when they choose to feature you. Lastly, don't forget to provide them with your contact details!



Hold a Contest

Reviewers shouldn't be the only recipients of free copies of your books. People from your target market or readership base should also have the chance to win them. This is an excellent promotion strategy that could help increase your popularity. And remember, word-of-mouth marketing is often the best type of advertisement you can get.



Join a Contest

Of course, you, too, should join contests - particularly those that could give your book any sort of recognition. Winning awards for your book can only encourage readers to give your work a try, and in finding loyal readers, getting them to read the first page is usually the most difficult hurdle. If you manage to achieve that, the rest will be much, much easier!