We shouldn't make Christmas the season of gifts, but our joy reflects the season, yes? If you are a gift-giver who has yet to give, the Internet can help. Gift certificates to your giftee's favorite on line retailer is always a great plan, and readily accessible. What else can you do for your favorite authors or other business people that doesn't involve money? Here are a few examples. Please share your own as well.
There are book reviewers, there are promotion team members, there are posse and tribe members and cheerleaders for authors…but how does it work? What should they do for and with you to help you promote your work? Here are some examples; few of which you need to be a writer to do.
AN
INFLUENCER WILL do many or all of these activities:
Recommend
the book as club selection to your book club; visit the author's interviews and
leave comments.
Mention
the book when you visit online book club or chat sites.
Offer
the author a guest spot on your blog or web site.
Regularly
contribute to an online book review site, and online retailers to post a review.
Offer
to write a book review for your local newspaper. Offer to write (or use one
from the author) an article or press release.
Add
the book to your list of favorites on social networking sites such as Facebook,
Shoutlife, Author's Den, and Goodreads, and post about the book to your
friends.
Ask
your public library to order a copy of the book for their shelves. If your
church has a library, ask the librarian to add it to the acquisitions list or offer
to donate a copy.
When
you shop at a bookstore see if they are carrying the book. If not, ask if
they'll order a few copies.
If
you belong to a writer's group with a newsletter, ask if you can contribute a
book review or give some other plug.
Help
create a buzz about the book by mentioning it in any groups you might belong
to: small group studies, women's ministry groups, health club, MOPS, civic
organizations, Scouts, PTA, etc.
Tell
friends, family, other people in your social circles about the book and the
author.
Hand
out author cards, bookmarks, or other promotional materials.
Always
remember: Word-of-mouth recommendation is still the number one reason book
buyers buy specific books.
