Promotion for the Pre-Published Author
Posted By Christina Arbini on December 18, 2009
- Christina Arbini, Author
by Christina Arbini
1st Turning Point Columnist
Copyright © 2009 Christina Arbini
If you don’t have a book to promote, you don’t need a website. Focus on the writing, not networking. Marketing doesn’t happen until the contract is signed. That might have been the mindset at one time, but times have changed. In the age of technology and social media, marketing has become a crucial tool for everyone from Fortune 100 corporations to the local author-published or not.
Marketing is all about creating a buzz. How often have you heard about a product or movie months before its release? Then, by the time it hits the shelves or the big screen, you are excited to experience it. Marketing for writers is the same. You want to create a buzz around yourself as a writer even before you have a book to sell. A lot more marketing is left up to authors nowadays, especially if they are new authors. And as I’ve often heard, you’re only as good as your last book sales. So, why wouldn’t you want to do all you can to help your sales well in advance? Marketing yourself as a writer is critical, but when you are still pre-published, in my opinion, it’s just as important.
While I’m still currently in the pre-published phase of my writing career, I’ve been making a concerted effort to market myself over the last several years. As a result, I’ve not only made a wealth of connections with other writers, I’ve introduced myself to potential readers, and generated name and face recognition with writers, agents and editors.
I know there are many people who believe a pre-published writer should only worry about writing the best book possible. Well, of course, that part is the highest priority. But it’s only smart to plan ahead for the business side of writing, namely the selling of that book you’re working so diligently to perfect. After all, in which scenario would you rather find yourself? 1) Writing a great book, selling that book, then hoping readers will somehow find you on the bookshelf; or 2) Writing a great book, selling that book, then knowing you already have a potential reader base set in place that knows who you are? With the market as tight as it is and more and more promotion left up to the author, why wouldn’t you want to give yourself as much of a head start as possible?
Having worked in my day job as a Public Relations Manager for the last 16 years for a global branding and design firm, I’m very familiar with how the creative side can’t survive without the business side. It’s the same with writing. If you want to make it a career, you have to balance the creative with the business.
So, how, you might ask, can you start getting yourself more exposure and connecting in an authentic way? Following are five things you can do now to start building your name recognition and gaining exposure:
- Create an author website (or have one built/designed for you). Make sure this is to promote your writing and not a blend of family updates, other side businesses, or non-writing related interests. It’s important to make it professional and reflective of your style of writing. While you aren’t yet published, you need to start portraying yourself in a professional manner. If you still aren’t quite ready to invest in this, at least reserve your URL now through a web hosting service such as GoDaddy.com.
- Start a blog. The beauty of having a blog is that you can do anything with it. Post articles that other writers or readers might find interesting. Share photos and overviews of writing events you’ve attended, such as book signings, book launch parties, or writing workshops. This is your promotional canvas. Create something unique out of it that will have readers returning on a regular basis.
- Enlist the use of social media tools, such as Facebook and Twitter. Today’s technology has made gaining exposure and building relationships easier and more sustainable than ever. Not only can you connect with other authors, you can reach countless potential readers. But don’t be a lurker. Make a point of developing a connection with people now, before you want to sell them something. Keep these relationships based on dialogue, not monologue.
- Promote your fellow published authors. You’ve heard the old adage; what goes around comes around. Call it Karma, or call it being supportive. Whether you post a blurb or review on your Facebook or Twitter page, host a contest on your blog to promote an author’s newest release, or leave comments on other people’s blogs, you are giving the same support you hope to get from others when you’re finally published.
- Keep an ongoing spreadsheet of contacts you gather from your social networking outlets, blog comments, contest entries, and from writers you meet at conferences to use for your future promotional needs.
If you follow these simple suggestions, when your fellow authors are wondering what their next steps will be to market themselves and their newly published books, you will be able to move seamlessly into the phase of promoting your book, while building on that momentum with each subsequent release.
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Christina Arbini has worked as a Public Relations Manager for 16 years in her day job, and is actively writing and seeking publication for her Women’s Fiction novels. You can connect with her via the following sources:
Christina Arbini’s Website
christina@christinaarbini.com
Blog: Single City Chick
Facebook
Twitter
Christina, great tips! I’ve been taking baby steps over the last year to accomplish many of the items you listed, but there is still lots to be done. I like the idea of a spreadsheet to track all the contacts we make for future reference. Right now, all the business cards I’ve collected are in a little holder, but a spreadsheet would make all their info much more accessible.
Writing that awesome book IS the most important thing, of course, but as you said, nowadays the promotion and name recognition building needs to happen before the sale. We might as well get busy doing both and get used to writing while handling the business aspects of being a published author. Once The Call is received, we’ll need to do it anyway. Starting early is good practice! And hopefully will result in bigger sales and continued publishing. Thanks for your insights!
All the best,
Chassily
Christina–”Yes. YES. YES!!” That’s what I kept saying as I read your affirming article. As another pre-published author, I have heard and read this same tune from books and other authors, and I’m doing my best to learn how to dance to it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and knowledge on promo for the pre-published. I look forward to watching you explode onto the scene after you get that Call. You’ll be an “overnight success,” but we’ll all know how hard you worked to make that success happen and enjoy celebrating with you. I look forward to reading more from you in the future.
By the way, you have an awesome website!
Ann Charles
WOW! Great article. You have provided very helpful and useful information even for those who are published and are waiting in the wings to launch a new book. Connections are all important.
Hi Christina:
Thanks for the valuable advice for pre-published and multi-published authors. Sounds like you’re ready to launch. Good luck with the next stage in your career–published author.
Great advice, Christina. I’m an author who didn’t have any networking in place when I sold. I’ve been trying to catch up ever since, so I hope all the writers still awaiting The Call take heed of what you say!
1. You have no competitor. If you acknowledge them as a competitor than your product becomes a commodity. Commodity wars are won on lowest price.2. What does your product do that no other product does? Why is this important to a buyer? Position around this.3. Become the expert. You must be the recognized leader in your industry. People will pay more for the items the expert/leader sells.4. Market, market, market!Good luck!
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