Abouts Books

By Doug Bremner

OK, you've got a contract with a major publisher, written your book, your publication date is coming up, and now you're going to sit back and watch those sales numbers burst through the roof, right? Your publisher will take charge of marketing your book. Or maybe you self-published your book, and it is such a fascinating topic and since you have a web site for the book you are sure that readers will gravitate towards it, nooo?

Well, not so fast. Your publisher may be shipping out your book to a million journalists, but they get literally stacks of books every week and don't have time to even glimpse at them all. The truth is that the best person to sell your book is YOU. Here are a few simple tips to getting your book published.

1. Get an agent in New York City. Sure you can self publish your book, but the simple fact is that if you have an agent in NYC who sells your book to an editor in NYC, you will be better off. They all have lunch together, network, spread the word, you know what I mean. Write 20 query letters to agents that fit your book that you find from Writer's Market. Read a book like How To Get Your Nonfiction Book Published to figure out what to do. But just because you went this route, it doesn't mean you should assume anything other than...

2. You can't count on your NYC based publisher to sell your book. There is so much noise in publishing, tens of thousands of books coming out every year, that people tune it out. That is why you need to understand that...

3. You are the best publicist for your own work. You are the author. You know the content and can best get people excited about it. If you contact someone you know they will feel a personal obligation to pay attention to what you say. You can do little things like...

4. Give away copies of your book. People like getting freebies/presents and then they will feel obligated to read it, and if they like it they will spread the word. You can get your publisher to send freebies as 'review' copies to anyone you know, which reminds me that you should...

5. Get in the habit of keeping a running tally of journalists/contacts. Your book may be based on research that journalists have contacted you for over the years. When your book comes out, get your publisher to send them a copy, and then send them a personal note. You are a contact for them, and they will want to pay back the favor.

6. Contact the alumni magazines for the college you graduated from (or where you currently teach) and tell them about your book. They like to write articles about alumni, and it is free publicity.

7. Send an email to everyone in your address book announcing your book publication.

8. Print out flyers announcing your book and leave them on counters (with a copy of your book that people can leaf through) outside of places you give lectures. And...

9. Don't be worried if people steal the sample copy. Just think that giving away your book is the best publicity.

10. Develop a profile on amazon.com and announce your book. Write book reviews about related books. Use the 'real name' feature so people can click on your name and learn about your book which you describe in your profile. Comment on discussion groups with themes related to your book using your real name.

11. Follow your book ranking using a site like www.rankforest.com. You can follow your book rankings (how your book is doing relative to others in terms of sales) on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com on a day by day basis. This will give you feedback on what is helping your book.

12. Register a website with your book name. Register your name with links to the book website. You can use yahoo small business web sites and read books like 'Learn HTML in a Weekend'..

13. Write a blog that provides fresh content related to the theme of your book. Use the name of your book for the url. Write about things you seen in the news so that the content is fresh. Make it so you can also buy the book if you click on the link to..

14. Amazon associates. You should sign up for this so that people can click through your site and buy your book from Amazon.

15. Write articles on the web. Write for a site like www.Ezineartciles.com and provide your book title at the end of your website.

16. Post comments on web sites related to your book. For instance I post comments on www.pharmalot.com about current articles written on that site and if you click on my name it goes to my book's web site, the way they have it set up, it is a way to generate interest. And if you use your real name people will google your name and find your book if you have a web site.

17. Never lose the opportunity to promote your book. As I was lying in my dentist's chair I remembered that I had included her in the acknowledgments, so I didn't lose an opportunity to leave an autographed copy in her waiting room, with her blessing.

18. Write articles or put posts on you web site that are not related to your book but that get people's interest and direct them to your book. For instance, write an article like 'how to get your book sold...'

19. Have fun! Writing a book is more about meeting interesting people, getting new ideas, getting your viewpoint across, and having fun than making money, so look at your marketing efforts as a way to spread your special word and change the world instead of a dreary business plan that you shouldn't have to follow through on as a pipe-smoking literateur.

Doug Bremner MD, author of 'Before You Take That Pill: Why The Drug Industry May Be Bad For Your Health: Risks and Side Effects You Wont Find on the Label of Commonly Prescribed Drugs, Vitamins and Supplements'

http://www.beforeyoutakethatpill.com/index.html