Q&A: How can I promote my book with a press release?

QUESTION: I'd like to alert the media to my book using a press release, but am unsure who should write it. I may be an expert on my book's subject, but not on writing press releases.

I've heard that you get one chance to make an impression with the media, and if the press release is not written just so, they will trash it and not read anything from you again.

ANSWER: You're absolutely right, it's crucial to have a professionally prepared news release for your book launch. I think it's possible for you to do it yourself, or at least to guide whoever writes the release with ideas you've generated.

Your major challenge is demonstrating how your book is compelling to its target audience. What current issue does your book address? What problem does it solve? Almost every press release announcing a new book is dreadfully dull, saying simply "Author X" or "Publisher X" releases a new book titled "XXX" and it's wonderful read, blah blah blah... These materials go straight into the trash cans of writers and reviewers.

Don't sell your book. Sell its benefits. Find a hook or gimmick to get people's attention, THEN mention the book. Want to see some great examples of this? Here's a link to a great little (free) booklet on writing "Trash-proof" news releases. The book is a few years old but the principles are valid as ever. I think the book would be very helpful for you to read -- whether you end up doing the release yourself, or as a guide to evaluating the work if you hire a publicist to write the news releases.

You might also contact the author of the book for a quote on writing your release, Paul Krupin. He's one of the folks recommended by Dan Poynter in the "Self Publishing Manual." I've read many of Paul's postings on discussion boards and it's pretty evident that he's a very experienced and hardworking publicist.

So yes, you *could* do your own release, but should definitely have it reviewed by someone (or a few people) without a personal interest in the book. You could have a publicist do it, or someone who's an avid reader. The one big advantage of having a publicist do your release is that it will be on a letterhead of a publicity firm, which might add some credibility in the eyes of some people.

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Seth Godin: Authors should build their own Web page

Interesting post on Seth Godin's blog today. He's warning authors that publicizing your book on a Web page owned by your publisher is a waste of time:

Publishers, like many organizations, want to control the conversation, want to own the web page, want to be sure that people come to them, as opposed to going where people are.

Seth's solution? Authors should build their page on Seth's Web site, Squidwho.

Take a quick look around Squidwho and you'll see biographies such as this one on Paul McCartney. But if you look closely, you'll realize that the bio has actually been pulled from Wikipedia.

For do-it-yourself authors, the difference between Squidwho and Wikipedia is that Squidwho has no prohibitions against vanity profiles, so authors are perfectly free to write their own page. On the other hand, authors must surrender part of their affiliate commissions made on book sales.

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Getting readers involved with your new book

After looking at some of his publisher's paperwork for his upcoming second novel, author Josh Kilmer-Purcell realized that two slightly different titles were being used:

Candy Everyone Wants, and

Candy Everybody Wants

Which one should it be?

Kilmer-Purcell decided to let his MySpace friends decide by voting on his blog.

Vote below, and then add your best literary argument for your decision in the comments section. i know most of you (like me) were English majors in college cause you couldn't settle on a real vocation. so here's your chance to pull out your best bullshit deconstructionismaries ...

The winner gets a mention in the book's acknowledgments and a free advance copy.
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Amazon widgets help plug your book on blogs, social networks

Every day of the week, I look over dozens of author MySpace profiles and blogs. And every day, I'm appalled at how many don't show off the author's book with a cover image or link to Amazon.

Often the site will say simply, "Check out my book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble."

Well, if you really want people to check out your book, make it drop-dead easy. Provide a hyperlink to your book's page on Amazon, BN.com, or your own direct-sales page.

And if you're HTML-challenged, Amazon is making it easier than ever for you to place smart-looking widgets for your book on your blog or Web site. Here's a rundown on all the available Amazon widgets.

And while you're at it, join the affiliate program, Amazon Associates, so you'll earn a commission on each of the sales.

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Amazon permits video book reviews

It had to happen sooner or later: Amazon is allowing customers to upload video book reviews. So far I've been able to find three video reviews for toys and gadgets (apparently all submitted by Amazon employees) but none for books.

It will be interesting to see how closely Amazon polices copyright violations, which have been rampant on video sites such as YouTube. This Amazon video review, for example, posted by an Amazon employee, includes footage from a motion picture without permission. According to a discussion board posting, the reviewer believes the use of the movie clip falls under the "fair use" exemption of copyright law.

According to Amazon's video review guidelines, reviewers must "hold all intellectual property rights" to the video or have the permission from the copyright holder. Reviewers also grant Amazon a "nonexclusive, royalty-free, perpetual right and license" to distribute the material.

Here's a couple more video reviews from a user in Seattle.

The maximum length of reviews is 10 minutes and the maximum file size is 100 megabytes.

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Q&A: Why isn't my book's cover image on Amazon?

QUESTION: How long does it take for a book's cover image to show up on Amazon.com? I'm having trouble getting it to appear, and am wondering about resolutions, fixes, etc.

ANSWER: One way to get a cover image on your book's detail page immediately is to upload an Amazon "customer image." You'll see a link for "share your own customer images" on the left of your book's detail page, just below the box where your cover image should appear. Click the link and follow the instructions to upload a cover image. You can also upload an image of the back cover here. (Theoretically you could upload your table of contents too, but the image quality displayed won't be good enough to make the text legible.)

After you do that, contact your publisher and let them know your cover image isn't being displayed properly and you had to substitute a "customer image." Complain once a week to your publisher until they get it fixed. The image provided directly from your publisher will appear much sharper on Amazon's page. When it appears you can delete your "customer image."

Another consideration is Amazon's "Search Inside the Book" program. If you participate in Search Inside, the cover image you submit through this program will ultimately be the one that is displayed on your book's Amazon detail page.

Until last year, Amazon required publishers to mail a physical copy of your book to be scanned for inclusion to Search Inside. It was supposed to take "four to six weeks" but usually took much longer before the book was processed. Now, however, publishers can upload a PDF of your book and cover. This process goes much faster because it's automated. The last time I uploaded a book a few months ago, it was up and running within three weeks.

Sign up for Search Inside here and complete the agreement. Once you're accepted you'll receive an Amazon "Seller Central" account, and that's where you'll upload your PDF.
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10 Tips For Marketing Your Book Online

By Jennifer Turner

1) ALWAYS have a link to where your book can be purchased in your signature line. Never send an email without it. You can link to a website, your blog, newsletter, etc. as well. Keep the number of lines between two and four - it's considered good 'netiquette' especially when posting to regulated groups or forums.

2) Request to do a chat in every available online spot you can. Offer to send a freebie as a 'door prize' but DON'T offer your current release. This could slow sales as prospective chatters might wait to find out if they win one for free. Book thongs, markers (very cheap to mail,) older releases, and other related promotional items work well . You can also offer a critique if the chat is writer-related. Get creative.

3) Target websites and blogs that are in the genre you write and offer to do a Q&A or an interview on the site or blog. (See above for possible prizes you might offer.)

4) Get your own website. This is important because no matter how much advertising or promotion you do, it'll be hard to generate Internet interest without a web presence. Even if it's a smaller, free site, it's better than not having one at all. Check into some of the more prominent websites that cater to authors and look into their specially discounted hosting/design packages.

5) Create a newsletter. Try to make it fun and interactive for both writers and readers. In my newsletter I include chocolate recipes and a family-friendly joke section. Depending on the genre you write in, you can even gear it toward your target audience. If you write YA, you can make it more teen-friendly.

6) Start blogging. Write as often as you can on your blog, even if it's just a few paragraphs every other day or so. When you blog, try to include links to other places (even if it's just to your own website) so that you'll generate more 'hits' from searches to your blog, and hence to your title(s). Don't forget that you can comment on other people's blogs as well, leaving again, a link back to you.

7) Join groups and use them wisely. If you're on MySpace, send bulletins out when you blog (which can be cross-posted between your MySpace blog and your personal blog.) Visit your 'friends'--try to aim for at least five a week, for just a moment, to drop them a note. Keep it casual and friendly. Join other groups on the net that are for readers (like book club groups) and post occasionally--where your signature line will be seen by everyone. Aim for groups with large memberships.

8) Once you have your website, do "link" or "banner" exchanges with friendly authors or others that you know. Cross-promotion is fabulous for getting your links in front of new Internet users.

9) Enter your title into Internet contests, usually for free, but you may consider a nominal fee. Whether it's a cover-art contest, or just a contest decided by voters and even if you don't win, your title will be listed on the Internet in yet another place.

10) Write press releases, articles, and reviews and post them in the appropriate places. If you set up a "virtual tour", if you have a new release, if you win a contest, you can write a press release. Write articles and submit them to free-to-use article places where content seekers can grab your article (with the source box including your links) and use it on their site or in their newsletter. Every time you finish reading a book, write a review for it and submit it everywhere you can--like online booksellers such as Amazon.com. (If you alter it a bit, you can even send it out as an article.) Of course, with a link back to you.

Make friends everywhere you go. Be helpful to others. Volunteer your time. Offer congrats and commiserations when someone else needs a friend. Most of all, be sincere. This is more valuable than any of the above because it not only makes your Internet existence bearable, but you'll get help, inspire others to promote you, and have a host of opportunities already in place when your next release comes out.

J.R. Turner is the author of the award-winning novel, My Biker Bodyguard and the Knight Inc. adventure series. Visit http://www.jennifer-turner.com to find out more. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Turner

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Q&A: Where can I have advance reading copies of my book printed?

QUESTION: I know it's important to send advance copies of my book to the media and book reviewers. But when I printed the first offset run of 1000 finished books, I received just one galley, which I had to return to the printer.

If I send finished books to reviewers, I'm afraid they won't read it because they'll assume the book was already released. But my printer wants astronomical prices to print 200 galleys.

ANSWER: Print your review copies using a "digital" or "Print on Demand" company, and this should keep your costs reasonably low -- under $3 a copy for an average trade paperback.

Your review copies should be "ARCs", which look like your finished book but have a band across the front cover saying, "Advance Reading Copy - Not for Sale."

Sometimes authors or publishers take a shortcut here, and just ink-stamp a regular book with the words "Advance Reading Copy." Perhaps this works sometimes, but I would not take a chance on it because some reviewers may think it's unprofessional.

So, where can you have your ARCs printed promptly without expensive setup fees? Many authors and publishers use Lulu.com. You can just upload your file there and order prints.

Here's one more option for getting ARCs when you're in a big hurry: Have them done at a Kinko's. The advantage is the turnaround time is usually 24 hours. However, you have to find a Kinko's that has a "perfect binding" machine, and only the biggest stores have them. And it's expensive getting this job done at Kinko's -- they charge around $15 to $20 for each trade-sized paperback of about 200 pages.

With all these suggestions, I'm assuming you have access to the electronic file of your cover, and have the technical knowhow to add the band saying "Advance Reading Copy." But if you don't, you could go with a plain white cover made in Microsoft Word giving your title and other bibliographic info.

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Q&A: When should I send my book to Amazon reviewers?

QUESTION: I'm soliciting Amazon customer reviews for my novel. When offering a review copy, how far in advance should I approach potential reviewers? Is four months before publication too soon? Should I send a finished copy or an advance readers edition?

ANSWER: For Amazon reviewers, wait until just a week or so before your publication date. Most frequent Amazon reviewers read review copies soon after receipt and post reviews immediately. Sending your book close to the publication date is an insurance policy against the reviewer misplacing it, setting it aside for six months, reading it but forgetting to post a review, etc.

On the other hand, some of the Top Reviewers on Amazon are backlogged with huge piles of books, and you'll be placed at the bottom of their stack. I've received reviews more than a year later from some Amazon reviewers. So if an Amazon reviewer mentions that they're really backed up, you might as well send your book immediately and take your place in the pile.

I send ARCs to Amazon reviewers but I don't think it makes much difference.

Of course when it comes to getting traditional reviews at trade journals such as Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, etc., you'll want to send ARCs four months in advance.
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Q&A: How can I blog about my book on Amazon.com?

QUESTION: How can I contact Amazon to get permission to post an author's blog on my book's product page? Can I control which of my books the blog posts will appear?

ANSWER: It's fairly easy to enroll in Amazon's blogging program, Amazon Connect, but it might take a couple of weeks before you're ready to blog.

First, go to your Amazon profile. Scroll about halfway down the page to the section called "Your Bibliography." Click the link at the top, "edit this list."

Here you can search for your titles by name, title or ISBN. When you find the desired title, click on the "Add" button, and it will move to the "Your Titles" column. You'll see a button for "specify verifier." They're asking for a contact at your publisher to verify that you're indeed the author of the book. Self-publishers can identify themselves as the "verifier."

It can take several days for the title to get approved. For my most recent title, I had to e-mail a reminder to Amazon (at connect-help@amazon.com) after they neglected to send the verifier e-mail after 10 days.

Once you've got book(s) enrolled in Connect, when you send a blog post you can specify which book(s) the post should appear with.

Here's more background info on Amazon Connect (see the last section on the page).

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Q&A: Is Amazon's BookSurge or CreateSpace a good deal for authors

QUESTION: Last year, Amazon purchased a print-on-demand (POD) company, BookSurge. And this year, Amazon launched a user-friendly service called CreateSpace, where authors can self-publish a book.

Are either of these services a good deal for authors? If authors use them, can they expect more favorable treatment (and perhaps better sales) from Amazon?

ANSWER: No. Both offer terrible terms for authors, and they offer no special marketing advantages compared to traditional publishing or self-publishing.

Booksurge and CreateSpace are convenient for people who want to get a book printed and listed on Amazon fairly easily. You can buy a different packages that include various services. These are the details self-publishers need to arrange themselves, such as hiring a cover designer and buying ISBNs from ISBN.org.

The big problem with BookSurge, CreateSpace, Lulu and most other similar "author services" company is they skim an obscenely large portion of revenue. For example, I make about $10 on the sale of each of my books, but if I'd published it through BookSurge, I'd earn closer to $2 per book. Where did the other $8 go?

So for authors who are not planning to sell many books and are willing to pay for the convenience, I suppose BookSurge and CreateSpace are good deals. But if you've spent a year or two working on a book, shouldn't you invest a few more hours doing some simple math, and figure out how to publish as profitably as possible?
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