Self-promotion when you’re broke

Last week I talked about the use of swag in promoting your book. Several of the commenters (and if you haven’t contacted me to get your swag please send me your email – everyone up to my last comment will get something) talked about cost wondering where they would find the money.

Someone please look at me.

Yup, swag costs money.

So how do you promote yourself if you don’t have any money? Relax, there’s still a lot you can do to get your name out there.

Press Releases

The best way is to use your God-given talents. Write a knock-down press release to get free publicity. But there’s a catch, you need to have a compelling story in order for that press release to even have a chance of being published.

Your story doesn’t have to necessarily be about your book, as much as it needs to be about YOU. The idea is to draw traffic to your site with the hope that those people will then see your book and become interested.

I’ve written about how to set up a press release, but now I’ll talk about the types of topics we journalists want to see. If you send me a release telling me that you’ve just sold your 10, 000th book, ho-hum, chances are I’ll hit the delete button on that one (and don’t even think about sending me a hard-copy press release.) But if you tell me that you’ve made a donation to a charity (Gina is going to be making a contribution to a food allergy site because her book hinges on an anaphylatic food allergy), well then you’ve got my interest.

Too strapped to even make a contribution? Do some volunteer work somewhere (do you have an animal story? Volunteer at a shelter and make sure you have a photo taken.) Donate an item to a local raffle with your name and website attached.

If you received an award (which is always good news for local newspapers) then write it up in ready to go drop-in format (Who, what, when, where, how, and short.) Include all photos with the people in the picture identified and chances are good, you’ll get those published.

And by the way, in your releases your identifying title should be Wendy Thomas, best selling author (what? someday it will be) or something that will link you with being a writer. The point is, you want to get your name out there connected with being an author.

Twitter

Twitter is free, and while it does take a little bit of time to learn the lay of the land, as it were, by spending just a few minutes a day tweeting, you can get noticed as an author and as an expert in your field.

At a minimum, you should:
Tweet about your most recent blog post
Answer any direct questions made of you
Scan your feed to either comment on or retweet a few tweets that got your attention

You don’t have to spend hours and hours (even though you might be tempted) but you do need to, just like in the press release, establish a presence as a writer.

Facebook

I know, Facebook can be such a time suck, what with the funny pictures and the videos that you “have to see”, but be strong. Facebook is not only a way to keep connected with your community but it is also an effective way to promote yourself.

First set a limit, about 10 minutes at the beginning of your day, mid, and end of day is perfect. At a minimum you should:

Update on your most recent blog post
Scan your feed to see if there is anything that should be shared
“Like” the photos or comments that appeal to you

And then (and this is important) get off of Facebook so that you can do your writing.

Other Blogs

If you are not following some blogs in your field, then start doing so – right now. Become a valued member of the community by making comments on at least 3 posts in others’ blogs each day. Be sure that your comments add value and arent’ just things like “great stuff here!”

If your comment is valuable or insightful enough, people will often follow your comment’s link back to your website – the home of your book or services.

And that’s what it’s all about here, getting your name established so that people can contact you.

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Photo credit: LizzyGrafik

Wendy Thomas is an award winning journalist, columnist, and blogger who believes that taking challenges in life will always lead to goodness. She is the mother of 6 funny and creative kids and it is her goal to teach them through stories and lessons.

Wendy’s current project involves writing about her family’s experiences with chickens (yes, chickens).

 And yup, I’m working on sending out a few press releases myself. 

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It’s all about the goodie-bags when it comes to marketing books

Self-marketing.

When most of us say the word, we say it with a certain amount of contempt. Why should I have to self-market, people should just know good writing when they see it. They should come seek me out.

Me market to the masses? Fooey.

Well here’s the real deal. If you are a writer and if you want any chance of having your name heard among the many millions being screamed out there, you need to start doing some shouting yourself (Lord knows, your publisher won’t have the time or money to do it.)

Times have changed. Book stores are fewer, and the internet is now how people find out information (just look at the viral success of the book 50 Shades of Grey!) It means you’re going to have to create Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin accounts and you’re going to have to use them not just create them and then wipe your hands and say you are done. (check out some of our earlier posts on using Social Media.)

It also means you need to think about swag, especially if you are published or are going to be published. Swag is those little items intended to be given away either at independent book stores, book signings, or sent to bloggers who can use them in blog contests (you know, those events where you leave a comment and a randomly picked person gets the prize?) If you can get in with the all-powerful bloggers, you have a foot in that oh-so-important internet door.

You have a chance of being heard. More importantly you have a chance at creating some BUZZ!

A friend of mine, Gina Rosati, who has a book coming out on August 7th (Auracle) tells me that between getting a website built, buying a new computer, buying books from those in her support group, and buying swag, she has spent most of her book’s advance. She sees it, however, as money well spent. If her name gets out there, she’s got a chance at getting another book deal. And more books deals are what it’s all about.

For the swag, she has bookmarks (on which she ties charms and crystals – quartz crystal and rainbow moonstone for positive energy), stickers, postcards, magnets, and silicone wristbands. Most of the items incorporate her book’s cover (that lovely dark blue waterfall with the ethereal girl) That image is becoming her brand image for this book. She wants people to see that picture and think of Auracle.

Gina Rosati Auracle Swag

Her plan is to, as her release date gets closer,  send the swag out to bloggers to be used in contests.

It’s a smart plan. Nothing draws attention like getting something for free (hey I won my Kindle Fire at an online book release party and because of it, I’ll forever buy Jonathan Fields’ books.) It’s a way to generate excitement and get people talking about your product.

And if you can create a product related to your publication that you can sell (t-shirts, coffee mugs, bags – see cafepress.com) – that will bring  in money, keeps the devoted fan base going, and (best of all) serve as free advertising (just take a look at the Twilight brand – someone is getting rich off of all those promotional items.)

When my book gets published, you can bet I’ll be having chicken-related products to both sell and give-away. I’d be a fool not to.

For now, even if you aren’t published, imagine you are or will be soon. What is it about your book that can be marketed? Is it a food book? Could you create measuring spoons with your book’s image? Is it about a trip to London? Could you use a crown in your promotions?

Take some time to think about what the image is you want people to see in their mind when they think about your book.

And then think of ways you can get that image out on the internet and into people’s hands and minds.

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Wendy Thomas is an award winning journalist, columnist, and blogger who believes that taking challenges in life will always lead to goodness. She is the mother of 6 funny and creative kids and it is her goal to teach them through stories and lessons.

Wendy’s current project involves writing about her family’s experiences with chickens (yes, chickens).

I got your swag right here. Gina has given me some swag to hand out (yeah, I know, whose da  blogger?) I have 4 sets of bracelets (one pink, one blue), 4 signed bookmarks, 4 signed postcards, 4 signed stickers, and 4 magnets. Leave a comment on this post and Friday afternoon, 20 random commenters (pretty good odds here) will be chosen to receive some of this great Auracle stuff. Ready? Go. 

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