Don't Wait to Start Your Marketing Strategy
by:
Jo Fulkerson
Your novel is finished, you’ve had it emended by a professional Editor, and you’ve done the rewrites. What? You haven’t had an editor edit your activity yet? This is a must. There are galore editors advertising in Writer’s Digest. I have used one in whom I have the utmost confidence – William Greenleaf. His website is http://www.williamgreenleaf.com email wgreenleaf@email.com Another redaction service I have contacted is A-1 Redaction Services – http://www.a1editing.com I have not used their services as yet, but they did do a 5-page critique and edit for me at no charge so that I could get an idea of their work. I am seriously considering them for my next novel.
Once you have had it emended and done the rewrites, you’re available to send it off to the publisher (or get it set up as an ebook), and . . . And then what? How are you going to promote and market your newest creation? Any Ideas? Let me powerfully
recommend a service which I used and with which I have been extremely satisfied. Publishersandagents@aol.com is an email query service headed by Gini Scott. She works up a solid query letter for you, emails it to film producers (for scripts) and agents, as well as book publishers (editors) and book agents. You wish be astonied at the response you wish get from her emails (they move directly to you from the contacts). This is by far better and easier than looking up the contacts yourself and contacting them each individually. Let me give you a word of warning: Be sure and have your response materials ready. Your script treatment, your manuscript, your bio, your outline – all of the materials that these contacts are likely to ask you to send should be prepared, corrected, and in your files available to send once
you begin receiving inquiries.
If you decide to self-publish your work, search all of the information you need to be able to decide wherever
to have the activity published. POD publishers, such as iUniverse – http://www.iuniverse.com – Eternity Publication – http://www.infinitypublishing.com or email: info@infinitypublishing.com – 1st Books – http://www.1stbooks.com Trafford Publication – http://www.trafford.com Book Locker – http://www.booklocker.com
All of these are sources I have contacted and find their information worth considering. (For “Sing Me No Sad Songs” I chose Trafford Publishing.)
Whether you find a regular publisher or self-publish your novel, or offer it as an ebook, you’re in for a big shock if you believe you won’t have to promote and market your book yourself. You wish have to do the activity yourself. And if you thought that acquiring your book finished and polished was a giant task, you’re going to find out that the activity you put into writing your novel was a walk in the park if you don’t get your ducks all in a row to begin your marketing strategy.
Among the various marketing strategies I uncovered and recently began exploitation (I told you that I didn’t plan ahead for my book promotion) are these: Book Crazy Radio has interviews with authors via computer network radio every Tuesday. http://www.bookcrazy.net for information Brian Jud has two book marketing services which are well worth considering. I am exploitation one of these right now.) He besides has an ezine for writers with galore promotion tips. Contact BrianJud@aol.com for details. BooksAndAuthors@aol.com has several nice book promotion ideas and services.
Other places to find great promotion information are these newsletters: authorgmooney@getresponse.com http://www.writersweekly.com http://www.bookcoaching.com email: Judy@bookcoaching.com http://www.digital-e.biz.com email: birgitt@digital-e.biz. Book Promotion News-sheet – contact franalive@optonline.net http://www:oncewritten.com
Use your search engine to locate another ezines for writers – they are an priceless source of promotion by exploitation your articles with your name at the end to direct folk to your book.
Don’t wait! At least by the time you send your manuscript to the publisher or get it available for an ebook, you should be checking ezines for information simply about marketing. You should gather all the information you can find relating to marketing – look up websites, contact them all and find out what kind of marketing tools are accessible to you and which ones you want to pursue.
Keep file folders, with all the information you gather, and find several way to support track of what each file folder contains. Then categorise your folders by subject – Marketing Information, Information on Publishing, Ezines for Promoting, Comments – Reviews – Press Releases, etc. You need to be able to find simply what you’re looking for without going through folder after folder looking for it.
The important thing to remember – Don’t wait until you are available to begin marketing your book to begin collection information. Be available to start marketing as shortly as your book is finished and available to be marketed.
In the case of articles, you should write several articles, polish each one to perfection, and then contact or send them to appropriate ezines and newsletters. Send your articles out every week or two and support causing them out as long as you develop new lists of ezines to submit to. Support writing new articles which help others to discover from your experiences and put your name at the end of each article. Your name, a promulgated article or book, website, etc. should be at the end of EVERY article you submit.
Copyright 2004 Jo Fulkerson
About the Author
Jo Fulkerson is a promulgated author, songwriter, poet.
Author of "Sing Me No Sad Songs" Accessible at http://www.desertmesa.net
"Secrets of a Publisher Author" accessible at http://www.writersline.net
I think I was born with a pen in my hand - I have been writing poetry, stories, etc., since grade school. Born in Illinois, now living in New Mexico. Wedded (just before graduating high school) 49 1/2 years. Promulgated 1st novel at age 69.
