Let’s talk about the dreaded “P” word

Promotion

For some authors, this is a four letter word (even though it has 9 letters).

But since the Romantic Times Booklovers convention was last month, I decided a discussion about author promotion would be a timely topic. If you’ve never attended a RT convention, I STRONGLY recommend that you do. This event is a fantastic venue for promoting your work directly to your market.

Many of the folks attending this annual event are avid readers who are there just to meet their favorite authors, and to learn about new ones. And RT offers so many ways, in so many price ranges (from free to expensive) to introduce yourself to this wonderfully enthusiastic bunch. Think of it this way, the Romantic Times Booklovers convention is just what the name implies, a convention of booklovers. It’s a wonderful experience meeting people who love books and really appreciate and enjoy meeting authors.

Other than at local book signings, the opportunity to actually connect one on one to readers is not prevalent for authors. And if you don’t have a lot to spend, don’t worry. You can promote your items in Promotion Lane, made up of your free goodies just for readers, or schmooze with readers at the many breakfast, lunch, dinner and party events offered. Another option, at no cost to you, is to set yourself up as an expert by sitting on one of the many industry workshop panels hosted by RT. Panelists are publicized not only in the magazine, but also during the convention itself. These various opportunities help showcase your name and your work over and over again.

I know many out there are thinking this same thought: I would love to promote more, but I just don’t have the time! It’s one more thing I wish I could do, but my writing schedule is too tight. I understand, and I sympathize, but I don’t agree. The opportunities created through the internet have made that excuse passé. I know I might hear back from folks on this, but I want to be frank because this is very important. Writing a book, no matter how much of a literary masterpiece it is, is not enough to guarantee its success. Promotion is vital and absolutely necessary.

Authors must make the time to promote, just as they must make the time to write. In today’s market the two go hand and hand. Carving out a small chunk of your day to get your name in front of readers should be a priority. I know it’s sometimes a challenge, but I can’t stress the necessity of it enough.

I’m going to offer some simple ways to get started. These are ways I’ve tried or new ideas I’d like to explore. Just remember one thing before I continue, do this A LITTLE AT A TIME. Trying to do this all at once can be overwhelming and self-defeating. Start out dedicating as little as ten to fifteen minutes a day on self-promotion and you will see a difference!

I’ll break the tasks down into a timetable to help make it more manageable. Keep in mind that this is not a comprehensive list, but it’s a great place to start! And also remember that I am listing various possible websites to visit to help you promote, but I in no way represent or provide any sort of guarantee about your personal experience or the outcome of you efforts in visiting them.

HOW TO PROMOTE…

1. TODAY:

• Get a website: This is such an important part of promoting yourself. And if you’re interested in learning about online communities, MySpace is something to look into also. I have my own website www.edenrobins.com devoted to all of my books as well as my other writing endeavors, plus I also have a MySpace website designed for and dedicated specifically to my urban fantasy AFTER SUNDOWN series. Also, tell the authors you know that you’d like to participate in a link exchange with them. List their site link on your site, and they’ll list yours on their site.

• Tracking Counter: Don’t forget to set up a website tracking counter to see how many folks are visiting your site each day, and to help you decide if certain advertising is successful in getting people to your site.

• Create your own blog: One consistent comment I’ve gotten from readers is that they love to hear personally from authors, and they like blogs! It makes them feel as if they are getting to know their favorite authors better or learning more about new authors. Blogs are a wonderful way to connect with readers. Even if you can only write in your blog once a week or even every other week, it gives readers a chance to learn more about you. An alternative to this would be joining a group of authors in a joint blog project, just like this one. I participate in theCerridwen Press Authors Blog every other week.

• Create Your Online/Public Personality: Who do you want your readers to see you as? What kind of words can best describe you and/ore your work. Think about it, explore it, and use it. That online personality will be one you promote again and again, and again in an effort to get folks to remember you. And if you don’t know who you are, your readers won’t either.

• Make or have someone make promotional giveaway goodies for you: Everyone likes getting free goodies. It’s just a fact. So create something fun that is both useful and will help readers remember you.

• Decide on a budget: What can you spend on promotion? Figure it out, and try to stick to it. If it’s not a lot, pick the promotional tools that have the biggest impact/distribution and go with just those.

2. THREE TO SIX MONTHS BEFORE YOUR BOOK RELEASE:

• Set up online chats: A great way to meet readers and talk about your upcoming release, works in progress, and future plans. If you can give away a prize to participants, this is a great draw. Schedule these chats for the month of your book release and after.

• Set up online interviews/features/spotlights: Discuss your work, upcoming releases and future plans at the many writer/reader websites out there, or in other forums that you think might aid you.

• Guest Blog Tour: Other than your own blog, go to other author blogs and ask them if they welcome guests. Blogging takes time and many authors see guests as a welcome relief. This could open up a whole new market for you.

• Print and Online Ads: Based on your budget, create or have someone create book ads for you for magazines and/or online forums. Group ads are a great way to promote your work in a less expensive way. Schedule these ads to come out the month before, the month of and the month after your book release.

• Get your titles into bookstores: Take advantage of RWA’s Romance Sells program and Romantic Times Magazine’s Bookstores that Care network of over 700 independent bookstores. Both are great ways to get your name and title in front of booksellers.

• Send your promotion goodies to conferences. And of course don’t forget the annual Romantic Times Booklovers Convention or the All About Romance Conference, or RWA National.

• Podcasts: Authors are doing them, and readers are listening. Create your own podcast or be a visiting guest on someone else’s.

• Reviews: Check with your publisher to see where your books are being sent for review, but once you find out, don’t be afraid to inquire in other places about getting your book reviewed. Again, get your name and your title out there.

• Booktrailers: This can vary in price. Some folks choose to try to create their own book trailers while others have someone design it for them. Many sites do an excellent job and both offer different packages. Show these trailers on your site, MySpace, and the other many sites out there that will promote your work.

3. AFTER YOUR BOOK RELEASE:

• Take advantage of the Fruits of You Labor: It’s time to take your show on the road. Those guest blogs you set up, those online interviews and the chats fall into place as you interact with readers and get to shine. Talk about your books, your current and future projects and have fun. This is a great time to project that online/public personality you’ve developed and let folks know who you are and what you’re about!

• Do online or conference workshops or host special author days on your publisher’s or other loops: Set yourself up as an expert in your genre, or something else writing related that you feel knowledgeable about. This is a great way to promote yourself and your books. I write a series of Modern Day Fairytale short stories for Romantic Times Magazine online. Each month a new story is published at their online site, and for that month, I host the RT fairytale message board, talking with readers and answering questions. .

• Bookclubs: If you can arrange to have your book discussed off or online, go for it! Certain reader/writer groups online do this kind of thing for you by request, and advertise your book in the process. There may be a fee, but look around and see what you can find out.

• Newsletters: If you can create a newsletter and start sending it out to folks you know, advertising it at reader/writer websites this is a great promotion/branding tool. It also provides one more place to let readers know about what’s happening in your life, and what to expect from you now and in the future. Again, as an alternative, arrange to be listed or make announcements on other author or website newsletters. Often authors are looking for news to add, and if you’re willing to give away some promotional goodies in the process they are generally open to this. I send out my Monthly Garden Newsletter each month, and get lots of feedback because of it.

• Contests: Readers love winning contests. Don’t we all? So, if you can run a contest in celebration of your book release and advertise it wherever and whenever you can this is a great way to get readers to your website. I host a contest each month. My prizes vary depending on the season and/or my book releases. I also coordinate and host the annual online RT Faery Court Scavenger Hunt each year. It’s a blast to play and gets lots of readers to all the participating authors’ sites! people who love books and really appreciate and enjoy meeting authors.

• Talk it up: Talk to folks about your books whenever and wherever you can. Some argue chatting to other authors about your books isn’t very productive, but I would disagree. Many authors are often avid readers as well. I know I am!

REMEMBER…don’t try to do this all at once. A little effort for even ten minutes each day will go a long way to establishing your on and off line presence. Get your name and your titles out there in front of folks and see what happens. I feel it’s most definitely worth the effort.

Feel free to ask me questions in this forum, and I’ll do my best to answer them. What promotional efforts do you employ as a writer, or which ones do you readers enjoy most?

Thanks for having me at Cigars. I appreciate the opportunity!

Eden Robins, storyteller, promo goddess and part time fairy.