Tywebbin.com

It’s About That Time

It’s About That Time
by Tyora Moody

I’ve been working with authors for about ten years. It’s amazing to me how many authors seek me for design and marketing services right before or after their book has been released. The days of getting by without an online presence has clearly been over for several years now.  The last minute rush highlights not only a poor or nonexistant marketing plan, BUT a time management issue.

Now I don’t know too many authors who have a tremendous amount of free time to devote to marketing. Most of us don’t live as hermits. Some may still work nine to five jobs. Even if you do have the opportunity to write full-time, I’ve noticed many authors supplement their income by providing services like editing, teaching or design work. Plus there are even more important priorities such as taking care of your family. You also may have obligations to church or volunteer work. Managing your time is essential.

Whether you are a published author or an aspiring writer, let’s pretend the ink is dry on your contract and you have received word of your book release date. In nine months, your baby is going to be placed on bookshelves nationwide. Should you sit around and daydream about your bestseller? Not! Now is the time to get down to business to increase your odds of selling your book well in the marketplace.

What is this Going to Cost?

DO NOT think for one minute your book will sell itself. Do your research. Research should technically start while you’re writing the book. This will help alleviate some pain and disappointment later.

As you make note of costs, start a notebook or a spreadsheet for your budget. Whether you received an advance from a traditional publisher or you have saved money for self-publishing, you need to set aside money. Money talks and you need to know what you have to work with for marketing.

Some services you may need to research as far as costs are:

a. Publicists/PR Service – A lot of PR legwork is DIY (Do-It-Yourself) these days, but if you don’t know where to start, a professional can help guide you and save a bit of time. Ask around for references and don’t be afraid to ask hard questions about services provided.

b. Website – Without a doubt you need a Website. I urge you to secure the domain name you desire as early as possible. It’s also a smart idea to pay a few years in advance. You will save time by not having to worry about “annoying” renewal notices. If you want to hire a professional to design your site, you should plan to have your site online at least 6-9 months or more before your book is released. This will allow you time to promote the site and generate a mailing list for interested readers.

c. Online Ads/Eblasts – You will want to research the costs of placing banner ads and/or sending eblasts through book promotion companies. Before you plop down your money, make sure to ask if you can get any statistical data like the number of hits or banner clicks. This will help you plan better for your next book campaign.

It’s also probably a good idea to plan to use these services three times. The number three seems to be the charm with people picking up on your advertisement. So, if you choose banner ad placement on a literary site, plan for at least three months.

Don’t be scared to look for ad placement on websites other than literary or book sites. If domestic violence is in your book, remember October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. See if you can get your ad on a specialty site or included as a feature. Think ahead on how to get the most from your online ad campaigns. Don’t just blindly throw your money away.

d. Handouts/Mailings (Postcards, Flyers) – Print promotion is stil important, so I definitely want to be sure to mention it. Look for unique ways to spend your money. Most readers can always use a bookmark. Be sure your print and web design branding match.

What Can I Do for Free?

Okay, by now your head may be spinning with how much you are going to have to budget for marketing. Well, there’s a ton of stuff you can do online with social networking for FREE. The keywords are time, engagement, participation… why not check out this video. It’s more fun to watch.

You are probably already familiar with several types of social networks.

• Facebook.com
• Twitter.com
• Shelfari.com (for bookworms)
• GoodReads.com (for bookworms)
• LinkedIn.com
• YouTube.com (Video-based)

Relationship Marketing

You can easily sign-up for a ton of social networks and never really use them effectively. My recommendation. Choose two (2) and spend quality time within each social network. For an author, I would highly recommend Facebook.com be one of those two.

This may mean spending 15 minutes  each day or an hour on Saturday morning. However you can fit it into your schedule, make time.   That means don’t just drop into say, “Hey, I have a book coming out. Buy it now!” Most people might call that spam.

Remember find at least two (2) social networks you are most comfortable with and spent time developing relationships. Share your experiences with people you may never meet in person, but who may read your book. These are your potential INFLUENCERS. Remember the number one form of advertisement of all time (and it’s free) is word of mouth.

I hope have given you some food for thought as you put together your book marketing plan. Take advantage of the huge opportunities online, but be sure to do it efficiently and most of all have fun.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tyora Moody is an author, graphic designer and entrepreneur. Her debut novel, When Rain Falls, will be released March 2012 (Urban Christian/Kensington). She owns and operates TywebbinCreations.com, a design and marketing company. Her company’s niche is assisting authors with branding and developing an online presence. Visit her online at TyoraMoody.com.

Updated 9/4/2011
Originally Published for SORMAG