Once your book is out, or even on the way to being out, you may find these checklists useful
Create a buzz list
Do this as
soon as you know the book is on its way. Once you have the cover and have a PDF
or mobi-file you can send for pre-release reviews.
·
Cover reveal
·
Invite for reviewers
·
Cyber launch
·
Freebies (grabbing email)
·
Limited offers
·
Prize
Post on:
·
Newsletter
·
Blog
·
Facebook pages
·
Linked-in
Post Production List
This is for if you've published your own book.
·
Register with Nielsen's. If you use Lightning
Source or Create Space, they will do this for you. However, you can give more exact information
about your book if you opt to do it yourself.
·
British library
·
Deposit libraries ALDL
·
Add books to web sites
·
Publication list - look at the checklists below.
Different types of text need slightly different treatment.
For longer works
PLR Public
Lending Right. Register your book for
PLR.
Even if you’ve only written a chapter, you
can get some PLR. Don’t forget to register for Irish PLR at the same time.
ALCS Author’s
Licensing and Collecting Agency Register
here. https://www.alcs.co.uk/ This can be
very lucrative as well for any articles you have had published.
Other web sites Are
you a member of a professional organisation such as the Society of Authors or
the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators? Are you attached to a
university and might they consider this research?
CV and
Publication list Update this every time as you get out get new
publications. It’s not a bad idea to keep your CV on Linked-in. Download a copy
every time you update.
Your own web
site Not got one yet? There are arguments that say you can have one before
you’re published. Certainly as soon as you’re published you should have one.
Weebly, One-Com, Blogger and WordPress offer cheap / free solutions. You really
want one that you can author yourself, though it’s a good idea to get advice from
an expert when you set up the template. And do get a proper domain name.
Set up a
Facebook page You might consider having one for you as an author and then a
separate one for each book. Keep it going forever. Have a call to action button
on the landing page i.e. a link to where visitors can buy the book.
Facebook reminds you if you haven’t been to your page for a
while.
Blog Consider
writing a blog if you don’t already. It might be about writing or it might be
about your book. You might keep a blog for posting excerpts of your work. You
might keep separate blogs for separate items – I do. You can also share posts
with other bloggers and go on blog tours.
Video Make a
book trailer for each publication. This is so easy with Windows Movie Maker or
Shot Cut. Post it on You Tube. Take care not to use copyright material. Free
pictures are available at:
https://pixabay.com/ and free music at:
Author central Register
with
Amazon
Associates
Postcards and
other merchandise. Book covers look so good on a post card. Vista Print:
Linked in Post
about it and add it to your profile.
Twitter List Schedule
some tweets about your book – don't just say "buy me, buy me". Make
it genuinely interesting for your followers.
For short stories
Much as above, with one or two steps missed out. I've
listed it all again for your convenience.
PLR Public
Lending Right Register your book for
PLR.
https://www.bl.uk/plr/ Even if you’ve only
written a chapter, you can get some PLR. Don’t forget to register for Irish PLR
at the same time. You will give a percentage here.
ALCS Author’s
Licensing and Collecting Agency Register
here.
https://www.alcs.co.uk/
This can be very lucrative as well for any articles you have had published.
Again, you will give a percentage here.
Other web sites Are
you a member of a professional organisation such as the Society of Authors or
the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Are you attached to a
university and might they consider this research?
CV and
Publication list Update this every time as you get out get new
publications. It’s not a bad idea to keep your CV on Linked-in. Download a copy
every time you update.
Your own web
site Not got one yet? There are arguments that say you can have one before
you’re published. Certainly as soon as you’re published you should have one.
Weebly, one-com, Blogger and WordPress offer cheap / free solutions. You really
want one that you can author yourself, though it’s a good idea to get advice
form an expert when you set up the template. And do get a proper domain
name.
Set up a
Facebook page You might consider having one for you as an author and then a
separate one for short stories. Keep it going forever. Have a call to action
button on the landing page i.e. a link to where visitors can access the story. .
Facebook reminds you if you haven’t been to your page for a
while.
Blog Consider
writing a blog if you don’t already. It might be about writing or it might be
about your book. You might keep a blog for posting excerpts of your work. You
might keep separate blogs for separate items – I do. You can also share posts
with other bloggers and go on blog tours.
Author central Register
with
Linked in Post
about it and add it to your profile.
Twitter List Schedule
some tweets about your story – don't just say "buy me, buy me". Make
it genuinely interesting for your followers.
Good reads
For an edited book
This is for if you’ve edited the book. Maybe you’ve put together
an anthology of short stories by other people for example.
PLR Public
Lending Right Register your book for
PLR.
https://www.bl.uk/plr/ Even if you’ve only
written a chapter, you can get some PLR. Don’t forget to register for Irish PLR
at the same time. You can only register as an editor if you are mentioned on
the title page.
ALCS Author’s
Licensing and Collecting Agency Register
here.
https://www.alcs.co.uk/ .
You can only register as an editor if
you are mentioned on the title page.
Other web sites Are
you a member of a professional organisation such as the Society of Authors or
the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators?. Are you attached to a
university and might they consider this research?
CV and
Publication list Update this every time as you get out get new
publications. It’s not a bad idea to keep your CV on Linked-in. Download a copy
every time you update.
Your own web
site Not got one yet? There are arguments that say you can have one before
you’re published. Certainly as soon as you’re published you should have one.
Weebly, One-Com, Blogger and WordPress offer cheap / free solutions. You really
want one that you can author yourself, though it’s a good idea to get advice
form an expert when you set up the template. And do get a proper domain
name.
Set up a
Facebook page You might consider having one for you as an author and then a
separate one for each book. Keep it going forever. Have a call to action button
on the landing page i.e. a link to where visitors can buy the book.
Facebook reminds you if you haven’t been to your page for a
while.
Blog Consider
writing a blog if you don’t already. It might be about writing or it might be
about your book. You might keep a blog for posting excerpts of your work. You
might keep separate blogs for separate items – I do. You can also share posts
with other bloggers and go on blog tours.
Video Make a
book trailer for each publication. This is so easy with Windows Movie Maker.
Post it on You Tube.
Take care not to
use copyright material. Free pictures are available at:
https://pixabay.com/ and
free music at:
Author central Register
with
https://authorcentral.amazon.co.uk/
This is on Amazon and allows Amazon readers to find you. You may have to have a
discussion with Amazon to get this on to your author page. If you're publishing
the book yourself, be sure to get your name on the title page.
Amazon
Associates
Linked in Post
about it and add it to your profile.
Twitter List Schedule
some tweets about your book – don't just say "buy me, buy me". Make
it genuinely interesting for your followers.
For articles and papers in journals
ALCS Author’s
Licensing and Collecting Agency Register here:
https://www.alcs.co.uk/
This can be very lucrative as well for any articles you have had
published.
CV and
Publication list Update this every time as you get out get new
publications. It’s not a bad idea to keep your CV on Linked-in. Download a copy
every time you update.
Your own web
site Not got one yet? There are arguments that say you can have one before
you’re published. Certainly as soon as you’re published you should have one.
Weebly, One-Com, Blogger and WordPress offer cheap / free solutions. You really
want one that you can author yourself, though it’s a good idea to get advice
form an expert when you set up the template. And do get a proper domain
name.
Set up a
Facebook page You might consider having one for you as an author and then a
separate one for each publication. Keep it going forever. Have a call to action
button on the landing page i.e. a link to where visitors can buy the book.
Facebook reminds you if you haven’t been to your page for a
while.
Blog Consider
writing a blog if you don’t already. It might be about writing or it might be
about your book. You might keep a blog for posting excerpts of your work. You
might keep separate blogs for separate items – I do. You can also share posts
with other bloggers and go on blog tours.
Linked in Post
about it and add it to your profile.
Twitter List Schedule
some tweets about your article – don't just say "read me, read me".
Make it genuinely interesting for your followers.
Phew
Indeed. How do you keep up with all of that, keep an
effective writing habit, hold down a day job and look after a family?
Time management: an easy thing to say, but not necessarily
an easy thing to do.
How much of your time should you devote to this? It varies
from person to person. Some say 80% of their time should be spent on creative
work and 20% on marketing. Some go for a 50/50 spilt. But isn't marketing quite
creative as well? It can be.
It's probably wise to find which is the best time of day for
your creative work and which is the best for other work.
I personally try to write for four hours before lunch. After lunch I spend between half an hour and
an hour on e-mails and then I alternate days for my personal marketing projects
and for projects that help other people.
All of this is punctuated by water-cooler moments on social
media. And I try to get out once a day – be it to the gym, a choir practice or
coffee with a friend.
So, you don't have to do all of this but gradually, if you
secure more time for your writing life, try three or four things you find easy
and add in a couple of others that you know will stretch you. Try to evaluate
how effective each strategy is but also bear in mind that the effectiveness
isn't always immediately visible.
Happy marketing!
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