marketing tips | Michelle Proulx

So yesterday afternoon I submitted my Rising Star Marketing Evaluation to iUniverse. Assuming they like my marketing plan, they’ll approve me for the Rising Star Award, which nets me a variety of benefits.

In the evaluation, they basically ask you how you plan to market your book. Easy enough, right? WRONG! I trawled the internet for hours, coming up with a list of marketing ideas that I’m now going to share with my awesome readers because that’s how much I love you guys.

Thus, my list of marketing ideas, in no particular order:

Create a book trailer
Hold a blog tour
Press release for local newspapers
Enter book into literary contests
Include link to your website on every article you post, every email you send, etc.
Connect with fellow self-published authors and ask for a book review exchange
Donate books to the library, accompanied by a book reading and a press release
Donate books to local middle and high schools, accompanied by a book reading or lecture on writing/self-publishing and a press release
Free book giveaways hosted through blog/Facebook/Twitter
Free bookplates (signed labels that you can paste into a book in lieu of an in-person author signature) for fans who’ve bought the book
Sell themed merchandise (bags, mugs, t-shirts, etc.) on Zazzle.com
Leave bookmarks and posters in key strategic locations – library, cafes, local stores, etc.
Connect with other local self-published authors and set up an author’s panel/publicity event
Set up an online newsletter to keep subscribers informed on upcoming events, special promotions, new releases, etc.
Write guest posts on other blogs to build your following
Create a “freebie” available exclusively on your website – e.g., a short story based on the book
Release excerpts and snippets of upcoming works to build interest on blog/Facebook/Twitter
Record an audio book version of the novel