Your book has been published, now what?

How do you let everyone who you think needs a copy know about it and convince them that they need to buy it?

With all the new technology out there, this is easier than ever.

1.  Once you join some groups and/or associations online and offline you will have started a mailing list.  You may already have a list of folks who have purchased your book to add to that list.

2.  Come up with some great copy that will grab your readers attention and get some postcards made up (I use Vista Print) then print some labels.

3.  You want to make a plan for sending out your postcards and sending out emails to anyone on your mailing list, this included your local press.

4.  Ask a question that you know would be answered yes for the headline of your email or postcard.  For example, when I was trying to sell my book about collecting money to business owners my headline read:  “Do customers owe you money? Do you want it?” this grabbed my target audiences attention and they wanted to read more and learn how to do this.

5.  Stagger your direct mailing of your postcards so that you send an email about a week later.  Answer a question for your target audience and they will see that you know what you are talking about and they may visit your website, or purchase a book. If you
write romance for example, you can ask “Want to escape with a hot hunk this summer?” With the introduction of social media added into the mix, this is an easy way for people to share your information and to get more people talking about your book.

Networking online and off line is so important to an authors success.  When you join your local chamber of commerce or any group or association, you will get a membership list with contact information, which is a benefit of joining groups and associations.  Some
people join just to get those lists.

1.  This is your first mailing list, send everyone on the list a letter with your postcard and/or business card introducing yourself, and your books and tell them you are a new member of this group and look forward to getting to know everyone.

2.  Attend functions they put on, some may be online and some may be in person – make it a point to attend and get to know the other  members.  They are there for the same reason you are – to get to know the other members and learn about what they do.

3.  Attend online webinars (many are free!) and tele-seminars and make sure you follow up with the presenter, and maybe post about the event on your blog.

4.  If you belong to any social media sites make sure to tweet or update your network about the event and that you are attending.  This can lead to some important viral marketing that will help spread the word about you and your book reaching a wider audience you would otherwise never have found.

I really stepped up my social marketing in January of 2010 to see if it would help me to sell more books. I can now (in July) answer that with a YES!  Some of the things that have happened for me due to using social networks as a marketing tool:

There are more but these are the top things that have happened due to my participating in and learning how to utilize social media in my marketing plan for my books.

I had the privilege of being asked to review a new marketing book by Carolyn Howard Johnson.  I love her other books so didn’t hesitate.  I wanted to share my review of her newest book with you.

With Social Media dominating every aspect of business especially marketing, Carolyn Howard Johnson is sharing practical marketing practices using social media that anyone can use.  While businesses everywhere cut their marketing budget due to the economy, the handful that keep marketing and using Carolyn’s books to help them be successful will be the last ones standing.  It is obvious Carolyn loves what she does and is good at it, lucky for us she is willing to share her tips and techniques in “How to Tweak your Tweets and Integrate your Online Presence” so that we can share in that success.  If you know nothing about Twitter but want to learn how you to can use it as a successful marketing tool – pick up this book – it is the only book on Twitter marketing that you will need.

I have had the honor of being asked by Atlantic Publishing Company to write the foreword of a book that I contributed to for them.  I spent yesterday and this morning perfecting my foreword and have sent it off to them.

I just finished writing up some talking points to send off to “The Business Advantage Radio Show – Get Your Edge” and will be taping four 11 minute segments next Friday for upcoming shows.

I also followed up with another company that has asked me to participate in a Business Experts Panel on the topic of small business financial management – I will be on the show on august 9th at 9am EST.

I have also responded to requests for review copies of Mosquito Marketing for Authors and am sending those out so I can get some reviews listed for my book.

I am now working on information for three (Yes! 3!) seminars I have been asked to teach about using social media. I am sending The RossDale Group, Lorman and Avante Resources my power point presentation, handouts and bullet points for my presentations.

These opportunities came about because of my ongoing marketing – it comes in ebbs and flows but as you can see, it is worth it!

It’s already Wednesday and though I accomplished quite a bit yesterday, I have been up since 5am thinking about all I have to do today.  I am editing a new book on Social Media and also have to write a book proposal for Wiley Publishing today.  I met the folks at Wiley when I attended the Book Expo of America last month and they are keen on my book idea – but need a proposal now to move forward.

I have also been asked to write the foreword for a book being published by Atlantic Publishing, this is for a book I contributed to and I am very excited.  I have never been asked to write a foreword before!

Today to market my book, I am writing this blog post, writing two columns for my local newspapers and answering questions on LinkedIn – in between editing and writing my proposal and foreword! I also have to try to fit in errands,  gardening, making dinner and laundry!

I have had many emails and comments from you about my book marks so I wanted to elaborate a little bit about them.  I normally have them made a little bit over-sized, I have the books logo on tem, and the benefits of my my book listed along with my URL.

On the backside I have my URL and my “Top 14 Tips for a Successful E-mail Blast”

I include them in every book I send out, I leave a pile at my local chamber of commerce office and at local book stores.  I think it is something people keep long after reading your book, especially if it has some helpful information on it.

Today I am packaging up my citronella mosquito soap with stickers I had made up at Vista Print and sending them with a promotional postcard to everyone I sent a review copy of my book to.  Keeping the buzz going and hopefully making them laugh – which will make me and my book stand out.

As I sit here packaging up copies of my Mosquito Marketing for Authors book to send out to contributors, colleagues and the media I was thinking that it would be a good idea to post something to my blog each time I do some marketing for my book.   This way, as I am working on my marketing plan and taking actions I can keep you updated on each step I take, what happens if anything and how much work it is to really market a book.

When I was doing research for Mosquito Marketing for Authors, I kept a diary of everything I did to market my “Starting a Collection Agency” book and shared that with you in Mosquito Marketing so you could see what I had planned, when and what I did and what the results of those actions were.

So be sure to check back here often as I keep my “online diary” here on my blog of everything I am doing to market Mosquito Marketing for Authors.
Today I am printing letters to send to the folks on my media list with my press kit, a copy of my book, a promotional postcard and a book mark with my Top 14 Tips for a Successful Email Blast printed on the back.  I am customizing each letter and including my business card.  I send these out in a flat rate priority envelope.  I know that is can be cheaper in a plain padded envelope but I want my book to arrive in style.  Fast priority mail shipping in a free cardboard envelope that is red, white and blue is stylin’.  It also goes to the top of the mail pile when it is received.

It has taken me years and it is still slow sometimes but then suddenly something like this CNN interview comes along and it seems worthwhile.I have been being asked how I landed these stories and I want to share with you what I did to get interviewed for stories like this one and others in the Wall Street Journal or other publications:

I made a list of what I wanted to accomplish, getting to be a regular contributor to the WSJ and getting on TV are two examples.   Then I made a “sublist” for each of those goals, what I would do to accomplish each one.

My sublist for getting on TV was to do more public speaking and teaching, learn more about being on TV and how to do well at it, such as learning how not to talk with my hands, always smiling, listening, being clear and concise, learning what clothes and makeup were best on TV to appear professional. Then I started out by pitching myself to cable television shows locally and in my surrounding states, NH, MA, CT. I landed many spots and was always asked back. Once I taped these shows I would get a DVD copy of the shows and I had them all put onto one DVD that I could then send out to the national television networks showing I had experience.

My sublist for getting national print publicity, such as the WSJ, CNN, or Forbes  was to provide helpful content that focused on their stories. To do this I had to get a subscription to the WSJ so I could read it and know the journalists, what they wrote about, what was up and coming, just to familiarize myself with their publication. I did this for every publication I was going to try to get quoted in.

I would write letters to the editors about stories that pertained to what I know and my books, I started including them on my medial list to receive my press releases. I also joined HARO which is run by Peter Shankman, Help a Reporter Out, it is free and you get an email each day with listings from journalists on what stories they are working on and what information they need. You can pitch them and if they are interested, they email you or call you.

I hope this helps you to gain more publicity!  If you want more tips or information on how I have gained worldwide media attention you can also check out my newest book “Mosquito Marketing for Authors” it will tell you how I self published an award winning book that is a consistent best seller in its category as well as how you can get worldwide media attention for yourself and your books or business.

Author and columnist, Michelle Dunn has just released the first book in her “Mosquito Marketing Series” titled “Mosquito Marketing for Authors, create and maintain a buzz that cannot be repelled!” Dunn has over 10 years experience in marketing and wants to share what she has learned along the way with other authors who are trying to get the word out about their book.

“I have had some success marketing my businesses and books and people are always asking me how I self-published an award winning book that is a consistent best seller in its category, so I decided to write a book about it”, says Dunn.  “The different between publicity and marketing is that your publicity is the result of your marketing and publicity is free as opposed to advertising which you pay for.” states Dunn.  This book will help authors market, promote and create success for themselves and their book.  The book has contributions by top marketing experts such as Dan Poynter, John Kremer and many more.

“Mosquito Marketing for Authors, Create and Maintain a Buzz that cannot be repelled!” is available online and at bookstores everywhere.