I got an early copy of Finger Lickin’ Dead via UPS on Tuesday (the book releases June 7).
Since I’m now at less than a month until the launch, I’m getting in gear for promotion. I’ve been more active with appearances lately, and am starting to set up stops for a blog tour.
For me, the best approach has been a combination of making appearances after the book’s release and gently promoting the book via social media before the release and on the launch day.
I’ve tried different marketing approaches, and have found a lot of great resources online. On the Writer’s Knowledge Base, you can find 234 posts on promoting your release. Here are some particularly useful posts:
How to write a press release:
Authors: How to write a press release for your book—by Alexis Grant (Always good to take press release advice from a journalist.)
Book trailers:
How To Use Book Trailers Effectively—Joanna Penn’s interview with Darcy Pattison
Play nice:
Ten Commandments for Book Launch Day—by Randy Susan Meyers
5 Launch Day Lessons—by M.K. Hobson
Press kits for your website/blog:
Book Marketing Part III: More on press kits—by Lavinia Thompson
Launch party:
How to Throw an Awesome Book Launch: by Moonrat
How to Plan a Successful Debut Book Party—by Jody Hedlund
How to build an author page on Amazon and Goodreads:
How to build an Amazon author page and other information—by Cassander Carr
Using social media to launch your book:
HOW TO: Launch Any Product Using Social Media—by Guy Kawasaki
Promoting your book even before the sale:
27 things you can do to promote your book—Before you write it, before you launch it, and after you’ve published it—by Sue Collier
If you’ve released a book, what worked for you?
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Elizabeth, Your book is beautiful!!! I will keep this information for my day. :) It will come.
Elizabeth – Oh, how exciting that you got your early copy :-). I can’t wait to read Finger Lickin’ Dead when it comes out.
As for launching a book? I think you’ve got such terrific ideas, and thanks for those great links. Sometimes I think it’s hard for an author to get out there and “shout from the rooftops” about her or his new book. Most authors aren’t marketers by nature, and have to learn to do that kind of thing…
Elizabeth, congratulations on what I am sure will be another successful book launch for you. These are wonderful tips that I hope I get to use some day. I’d be happy to do something on my blog for your tour, if you think it would help.
Karen
Congrats on the upcoming release! I’m hoping you’ll come visit my blog on your tour!
Those advance copies are fantastic, aren’t they? I left mine in the (open) box in the living room so I could see them every time I walked through the house.
As for all the marketing stuff–great advice if your publisher actually distributes to bookstores. Mine only pushes library sales.
Terry
Terry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
I still need a Goodreads profile…
And I’d be happy to host you on your tour!
Great list of links. I’d already read several of them, and I clicked through to read several more. My next book is scheduled for release next year, and I’m already gearing up for the launch. Congrats on your new book! Love the title.
I’m bookmarking your post, Elizabeth, just in case I ever need it ;)
Congrats! I sent you a couple of twitter DMs w/ideas about your blog tour.
Excellent tips and links!
I’m bookmarking this post with hope in my heart. Thanks, Elizabeth.
Congratulations! Thanks for the helpful links!
Teresa–Thanks! And…your day will definitely come. :)
Margot–It’s really tough to market, isn’t it? We’re definitely not naturals at it, but I think we get better the more promo we do.
Alex–I’ll take you up on that. :)
K.B.–Thanks so much! I’m sure you’ll be needing it before you know it. :)
Diane–Thanks!
Karen–Thanks so much! Let me know what you’d like me to write about–elizabethspanncraig (at) gmail(dot) com.
Alan–Of course I will! I need to shoot you an email.
Anna–Thanks so much! Hope these help.
Terry–It sure does make it harder not to have either bookstore distribution or digital distribution. But doesn’t 5 Star have digital now?
Katie–I hope you’ll consider guest posting for me when your next book releases. :)
Elspeth–No hope needed! I’m very confident you’ll be using the links before long (or writing your own posts about book launching so I can add to my list.) :)
Congratulations on the new book. The cover is beautiful!
And thanks for all the links.
Thanks, Elisabeth. Every bit of information to help promote our books is critical. The world of publishing is changing so rapidly — and marketing through social media, thinking of ebook publication as a viable option — all makes this kind of information invaluable.
Elizabeth – What a helpful set of ideas! I think for me, what helped the most when I launched B-Very Flat was the online blogging community of which I’m glad you’rea part.
Thanks so much, y’all! Hope it helps. :)
Wow, I’m bookmarking this page for when the time comes! Congratulations on the book :D