Health & Fitness
Self Promoting for the Self-Publishers?
How do you make a splash into the literary world when you self-publish and self-promote?
This weekend I've been working on a few books that will be published throughout 2012, which is very exciting to me. There are downfalls to self-publishing, and here is a huge one...how do I self-promote? I've looked into many, many options and hiring a promoter costs a fortune. So why can't I do my own advertising? I have an amazing team of people that help and support me in various stages of book writing.
I have my own website, I've bought advertising on Facebook, Google, and Bing. Bing is Microsoft's search engine, and the ads are displayed on both Bing and Yahoo. I'm on Twitter, and we've sent out press releases to dozens of news outlets and independent book stores. Last but not least, the Patch interviewed me, and we've done book give aways. Its not easy to find ways to market and advertise without having a huge budget.
So how do you do it? Many of the major online advertisers will give you free credit when you create an advertising account. Google is offering $100 in account credit when you create a new account, and Bing offers $50 in account credit. I have my free business cards through VistaPrint (at checkout you will be given a code for $15 in Google AdWords credit), and now I have five large (16X20) posters that I need to put out somewhere to get the book name out there. Anyone interested in putting up a poster and help me advertise gets a free book.
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Using these free advertising techniques is a great way to figure out what works for you, and to decide where to put your limited resources to get the best return on your investment. Above all, you have to be willing to stick your neck out and take some risks. Make new connections, do your research online, and ask other people that are also starting out on their own what has worked for them. This is true for self-published authors or small businesses looking to advertise.
Make a name for yourself. Set yourself apart from others, and make your name be known. It's easier said than done, but if you don't start, you won't get anywhere.
