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Wednesday, June 01, 2011

You Can Make She Makes It Look Easy A Success


Today is launch day for She Makes It Look Easy!! For the rest of this week I am going to be talking about my new novel. And then I promise I will stop the full-court press. But marketing your book is part of the publishing package, so I have to take some time to let you guys know a few things about it and try my best to convince you to buy it. And maybe you'll be like my friend Christy and buy 3 additional copies for your friends. :)

A few weeks ago, I ran a hat-in-hand post asking you all to buy the book. This post is taking that a step further. As my friends here on the blog, you share my daily life. You know me. So you're the best people to share the book within your circle of influence. This might mean your work, your neighborhood, your friends, your mother's group, your church... wherever you know people who might be interested in reading.

What can you do, you're wondering? Here's a list:

There are so many ways to help spread the word and start a "buzz" about a new book and you'll never know how much the author appreciates readers who do that!

Not everyone will feel comfortable or have the means to drop leaflets while parachuting from an airplane, but on the list below, you’ll find at least one thing that will be a perfect fit with the ways God has gifted you.

•Write a review for the book on online bookstores such as:
http://www.amazon.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com
http://www.christianbook.com

•Write a review at one of the many online book review sites, including:
http://www.acfw.com/bookreviews.shtml
http://www.faithfulreader.com/wom/wom.asp
http://www.epinions.com

•As soon as you start reading the book, post a comment and/or link to your facebook profile page, or send a tweet on Twitter letting friends and followers know you're reading (and enjoying!) the book.

•At http://www.christianbook.com you can recommend books via an e-mail link that will take your friends right to the page of the book you’re promoting.

•Recommend the book as a featured title for an area book discussion group (or start your own bookclub!). This is especially appropriate if the book has discussion questions in the back.

•Start a discussion about the book on your blog or on e-mail loops you’re a part of.

•If you have a website or write a newsletter, consider featuring novels you’ve read and enjoyed.

•Add the book to your list of favorites on myspace, facebook, shoutlife, or other online communities.

•After reading and reviewing the book, give it away as a prize in a drawing on your website or blog.

•If you have a unique perspective—for instance, personal experience with the book’s topic, a man offering a male perspective for a women’s fiction book, etc.—offer your insights in venues that might not ordinarily hear about the book.

•Donate your influencer copy to your public library or church library when you’re finished reading it. Better yet, share your copy in other ways and buy a second copy for the library.

•Print out a review you’ve written, or other reviews of the book and give them to your public or church librarians for consideration.

•Offer to distribute bookmarks and/or postcards for the author or publisher. Public libraries, church libraries, bookstores and gift shops are usually happy to have giveaways on their counters.

•Ask your church if you could tuck postcards or bookmarks in the morning service bulletin some Sunday.

•Place bookmarks or postcards about the book at each place setting as favors for a luncheon or banquet.

•Hang out in your local bookstore and “hand sell” the book by talking it up to customers shopping in the fiction department.

•Talk to the clerks in any bookstores and libraries you visit and ask if they carry the book. If not give them a short book report and recommend they order a few copies.

•When visiting bookstores, do a little creative rearranging to turn the book face out on the shelves. Use good judgment and don’t hide one book to promote another. Also keep in mind that in some stores front-table space is paid for by the publisher, so don’t “steal.”

•Offer to write a book review for your church newsletter, neighborhood newspaper or any other printed source that might reach readers.

•At your next women’s retreat, volunteer to organize a book table, where you will feature the book.

•Offer to organize a blog tour for the author, setting up a week when numerous blogs will feature the book and interviews with the author.

•When you’re finished with the book, tuck it into a gift basket for someone who is ill or in the hospital; or take it to your next dinner party as a hostess gift.

•Leave the book in a waiting room where someone with a few extra minutes might start reading it.

•Prison ministries are always looking for wholesome books to distribute. Check out groups like Prison Book Project.

•Word-of-mouth is still probably the number one way books hit bestseller lists, so simply start conversations about the book. Tell your friends and family what you’ve been reading and why you enjoyed it so much.

•Drop leaflets as you parachute out of a plane.

(Note: This list was written by Deborah Raney, who is a novelist herself. A big thank you to her for creating this list!)
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10 comments:

The Calm of His Presence said...

I read The Mailbox last year at the beach and loved it. I can't wait to sit on the beach this year and read She Makes It Look Easy! - Mary

Anonymous said...

this sounds like a good read. I will get and post a review on Amazon.

Leanne said...

I just wanted to let you know I've already read the book! I pre-ordered it through Amazon and it came early! I got it on Saturday and started reading on Monday. If I could have I would have read it all day Monday and nothing else! Instead I had to wait until babies were in bed and the house was in order. I finished last night and wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed it. I don't have a huge network on my blog, but I plan to post a review there and on several of the other sites you mentioned. Thanks again for inspiring this aspiring writer! You most certainly have a way with words!

Zibilee said...

I plan on doing quite a few of these things when I get my copy. Can't wait!

She Will Move Mountains said...

I've talked about you and your books quite a bit at our Family Christian Store (where I work at), and I even managed to stock your books "face out" on our Fiction shelves. I can't wait to get a copy of the book for myself!

-Sarah

Connie Hughey said...

I pre-ordered your book on Amazon for my Kindle, and was so excited to find it uploaded when I woke up this morning. I will be happy to write a review on Amazon once I am finished reading it!

bp said...

I look forward to reading it!

Donna Earnhardt said...

Ooooh! I'm excited about this book! I just blogged about it over on the Write2igniteblog. I am blogging about it on my blog, too. Hope it helps get the word out!

Joellen said...

Looks like a good read at the beach or anywhere you can squeeze some time in for the luxury of reading...

Teresa Luce said...

what's on my mind? your book She Makes it LookEasy and the article Coming Attractions from June 6 you wrote on Provebers 31 Ministry email June 6. I was looking for something about not having enough time and I thought this was wonderful and God placed it before me just on the right day. I will read Sunday for church. Thank you for sharing this and I am adding to my daily journaling things that I stop to see that God has sent to me.