The secret of all victory lies in the organization of the non-obvious.? Marcus Aurelius
You?ve written a book. You got it published.
You thought that was hard?
Honey, you ain?t seen nothing yet.
Did you know a best seller takes more than good writing?
It takes about a solid year of pre-promotion, PR planning and platform building.?
Not sure what to do first or when?
Here?s a list that we give our clients to keep them on track:
One year to six months before the book is out
- Establish a board of directors and list of prayer partners
- Build website & blog
- Join and be active in your Writers Group
- Look into attending ICRS/CBA, National Black Book Festival or Book Expo
- Create a marketing plan on how you plan to sell the books
- Write book synopsis/description
- Write fact information sheet/ compile media list for book galleys
- Solicit endorsements for other authors, experts and ?celebs?
- Have professional PR photo taken
- Secure a distributor/fulfillment plan
- Collect samples of other authors? PR pieces or do online research
- Take another author to coffee to pick their brain about PR ideas
- Check on upcoming conferences, fairs, conventions for booth space
- Begin your aggressive online strategy: Tumblr, Facebook, Blog, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.
?Three months before the book is out
- Compile media list for press releases (see rtir.com)
- Compile direct mail list of friends, relatives, associates, etc.
- Update author bio
- Compile list to receive review books (get the Christian Writers Market Guide on Amazon)
- Design author/speaker/new book flier and/or brochure
- Write press release & media alert
- Decide about hiring a publicist or PR coach
- Write and submit magazine articles
- Send galley copies if your publishing house is not going to do it
- Mail review copies to those you know can help get the job done
- Network (0nline & offline) to create book signing opportunities
- Find tie-in opportunities: homeschoolers, retirement communities, conventions. church events
- Work on news and feature write-ups for press
- Establish relationships with other speakers for co-op selling? (you sell their book and they sell yours at their back room table when they speak)
- Compile endorsement page and quote review page post on website/blogsite
Two months before the book is out
- Write cover letter to send with galleys for book reviews
- Plan launch party at book store or at a hotel/hall
- Create Book Trailer and load up on YouTube
- Secure speaking engagements
- Design & print extra PR materials: postcards, bookmarks, T-shirts, pens, etc.
- Contact local newspaper columnists and community newspapers / write columns
One month before the book is out
- Send pre-publication announcements to media, friends, organizations, libraries
- Schedule media interviews with local radio and TV stations (get list from publicist)
- Write several professional talks based on your book
- Develop key contacts with the influencers in your specialty field
3 weeks before the book is out
- Get the word out that you?re available to speak. Network.
- Brand like crazy online and off line ? network with others and get them excited about the book launch
- Create an e-newsletter for your fan club and interested friends
2 weeks before the book is out
- Call key contacts with the influencers in your specialty field & invite them to participate at your book signing/launch
- Hire a photographer and/or a psalmist for your event
- Get an ?award? ready for the person who has been most instrumental with you getting your book out (your mom)
1 week before the book is out
- Confirm details of book launch
- Personally invite media (again)
- Make appointments for personal grooming (hair, nails, make up, wardrobe)
Continually
- Pray a lot. Keep pushing on doors. Relentless promotion for a book is the key to success and sales.
?
This whole process can be overwhelming if you?re not organized and don?t have a team or some friends and other authors to support you.
Need help with your launch or ?re-launch??
See www.LaunchlikeaSuperstar.com and get caught up.
You can do this!
Pam Perry is a PR coach and social media strategist. She is co-founder of Perry + Williamson and CEO of Ministry Marketing Solutions.? See all about her at: http://www.about.me/pamperry
(Oh, she loves comments and folks who ask a lot questions about book publicity and pronotion)
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