Book marketing tip: Hold on to your contacts

While I have a traditional book deal now, I began my career as a self-published author. As you indie authors out there know all too well, that meant that in addition to everything else, I had to do all the marketing on my own.

As part of my strategy, I reached out to both book clubs and bloggers early on. For clubs near me, I offered to come to their meetings if they chose my novel. For book bloggers, I offered to send them a copy in hopes that they would enjoy it and write favorably about it. (They also could have hated it, but that's the risk you take when you write a novel.)

One of the many book clubs I attended to promote my first novel

The first book club organizer to say yes to me was Jennifer van der Kleut. I attended her club, had a great time, and kept in touch. One of the early bloggers to agree to review my book was a woman named Tonya Plank. After that, I stayed in touch with her as well. I kept both women updated on the progress I was making with my book, including the eventual exciting news that I'd landed a contract.

It's a good thing I did.

Jennifer started freelancing for AOL's Patch network, and Tonya began writing for The Huffington Post. Both were impressed by the success I'd had with my self-published book, and the following articles resulted:

Jennifer's Patch.com article

Tonya's Huffington Post article

Jennifer has become such a fan that she also attended the launch party for my most recent novel. This time she recorded a video.

Click here to watch the Patch.com video.

As the above examples demonstrate, things rarely happen overnight in marketing. It's a process that builds on itself, so hold on to the contacts you make along the way.

-Maria

Maria Murnane is the best-selling author of the romantic comedies Perfect on Paper, It's a Waverly Life, and Honey on Your Mind. She also provides consulting services on book publishing and marketing. Learn more at www.mariamurnane.com.

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Comment by Rachel Simeone on January 22, 2013 at 9:06pm: Thank you, Maria for sharing a dark secret of self publishing... it takes a long time and a lot of work to get from your first book group to a publishing contract. The silver lining is the wonderful, supportive people that become friends along the way!

I wanted to share this wonderful article from Penny Sansevieri The Silent Treatment. As a book marketer, I have seen my clients struggle to maintain hope and keep promoting themselves against the deafening sound of indifference. I hope that all new writers will realize that they are not alone.

Rachel Simeone

Book Marketing Coach

Zetablue Book Marketing

Comment by Kelly Hayes-Raitt on January 22, 2013 at 5:12pm: Best advice, Maria! Congratulations on your continued success.

Kelly Hayes-Raitt

www.LivingLargeInLimbo.com