How to successfully promote your book.

So you've got that elusive contract, or you've gone the self-published route, but what happens now that you have a book? Well, if like me you're on a limited budget, the web is a good place to start.

1) Have your own web page. Think of it as a shop window, where you want people to browse as long as possible. Put samples of your work, picture of the cover, details of where people can buy your book, anything you like within the law really.

2) At authorsden you can have your own professional page for free. (You probably realise this already!)You can upload pictures, samples, short stories, articles, even have your own newsletter!

3) Join webrings, writing webrings, webrings suitable to your genre. Or even start your own.

4) Join online writing clubs and message boards of any subject that interests you or that you think will have people interested in the subject of your book. Every time you post, add the URL of your book or website. Exposure is what it's all about.

5) At http://www.allreaders.com, you can post a review and plot analysis of your book. It takes a bit of time, but it's free and there is space for your URL at the end of the review.

6) Free business cards are available at http://www.vistaprint.com, but you do have to pay for postage.

7) At cafepress.com, you can get t-shirts, mugs and other accessories with a picture of your book's cover (or whatever else you'd like.) They only print what's ordered, so it doesn't cost anything for you to offer the products for sale to buyers.

8) Print stickers with your books details and stick them on every piece of mail you send out. Letters, card, bills, everything. That company that keeps sending you junk? Mail them back your sticker!

9) If you have the nerve, stand on the street or a mall and hand out flyers or bookmarks to passers by. Bookmarks for your computer are available from http://www.paperdirect.com, and they have various designs.

10) Sponsor a contest with your book as one of the prizes. It won't be a sale, but word of mouth is good.

11) Write articles or short stories for other websites to get your name known.

12) Get good reviews of your book and place them on your website. A good place to start is the reviewers choice group on yahoo. Post details of your book and reviewers will email you if they are interested in reviewing your book.

Always get permission from the reviewer if you wish to use their review.

13)There are lots of places on the web offering free classifed ads, but I've tried that and didn't receive any hits that way. What seems to have worked is having my site on webrings, posting my URL in message boards, writing sites etc.

For even more ideas go to:

http://www.bookmarket.com

http://writersmanual.com

Copyright 2001 Annette Gisby