My Marketing Plan for Whenever

With many authors self publishing, publishing company cut-backs and Literary agent closures many novelists are finding themselves learning the art and craft of marketing their own books. With this in mind I decided to look at my own future plans and map out my marketing path. I cannot say I will do all on this list but I will certainly try!

Not good for public advertising but works wonders on the family!

1.     Start a blog. This is one of the best forms of making friends and contacts on-line. Check.

2.     Follow other blogs. Again platform building is the aim of the game. Plus enjoying reading the thoughts and ideas of others.  Blog tours and interviews  are a good way to connect with readers. Check.

3.     Join social networking groups and reading groups. WritersNet (some of you might not be aware of this site. It is more of a directory rather than social but interaction happens. The main sites to join are Twitter. Facebook.Tumblr. Google+. Goodreads. Here it is considered a waste of writing time. However think again if that is your view. Contacts and support are found in large quantities at these places. Spend your time wisely and you will have built another firm foundation for your platform. Check.

4.     Add Entrecard to your blog. Some spread the word that they have picked up viruses from EC. However all good anti-virus programmes will protect you from any sites that try to interfere with yours. I have used them for three years now and have no problems. In EC there is a Books and also a Literature/writing selection. I click and advertise through these groups. My Blogger stats show this is the highest source of visitors to this blog. A big surprise I can tell you. I drop to blogs as and when I can and it makes no difference to my traffic flow. I cannot do it daily but no-one appears to mind. I have found new resources and had new followers via EC. All potential readers. Check.

5.     Get a website purely for your book/s. To be done when published.

6.     StumbleUpon. There are many reading and poetry groups on this site. It is a great way to promote yourself and others. If you only concentrate on your links and not others you can fall foul of being blocked. However a small amount of self promotion is allowed. Again another source of novel advertising and resource finding. Check.

7.     Adding a link to the bottom of emails you send. All free advertising. Check for links to here and books to be done when published.

8.     Using Vistaprint for cheap items to share. Bookmarks, business cards, pens and so forth. They are so cheap. Free in some cases. You just pay for postage (even to Cyprus it is postage only for business cards). Leave them lying around in bookstores, supermarkets just about anywhere you can. I intend to leave bookmarks at the many hotels in our main coastal town. They all have books for visitors on shelves, some like to use bookmarks and not like me turn corners. Who knows they might be interested in purchasing my book while on holiday or when they return home. To be done when published.

9.     Have magnetic panels of my book made via Vistaprintfor the car doors is another idea for when I visit town. All cheap and easy advertising. My daughter has used them for years and has gained clients for her beauty business just by parking. She had a T-shirt with her business name and number printed on the back. Again she had a client tell her they got her number through standing behind her at the checkout of the local supermarket. I am going to have one done with the cover of my book and Amazon links printed. It might be fun. To be done when published.

10. If possible when published do have one or two book signings. While you might not sell any copies you will have been ‘seen’. Give away some of your vistaprint items. Some folk like to brag they have met the star or author at dinner parties and gatherings. It is word of mouth. To be done when published.

11. Give a gift voucher for someone to purchase a copy just before Christmas. It might inspire them to buy more for presents. To be done when published.

12.  Contact the local papers or radio if you are brave enough. I have a contact expat in the village. She runs a popular free paper. Also I am going to contact my old local newspaper in the UK. I will share my life here in Cyprus and the info of my book. I know a retired reporter there and she will read. She was my old neighbour so sure to buy a copy. A little email will be sent. To be done when published.

13.  Our local postman is a friend. He will be approached to put fliers into the expat post boxes. I am also going to have a small print made of the book cover with purchase link, have it laminated and stuck onto our box. There are 36 boxes to be opened on a regular basis. If only half are nosey and look at what mine has stuck on it, that will be 18 views. Word of mouth and curiosity will spread it around the villages. As he and his wife speak and read English I will give him a signed copy in return. One of our local shops is run by South African Cypriots. They are friends and will have a copy or two on their counter. As will one or two book stores in town. To be done when published.

14.  I make greetings cards to sell for charity. On the back I stamp my initial. It is my aim to make small, discreet stickers of my book/s and put them on the back of the cards. I will add the purchase link and shrink down the image of the book and glue them to the back.  Greetings cards go all over the world. Who knows where someone might purchase a copy! To be done when published.

15.  I aim to give an airhostess a copy on a flight to the UK (and Canada when the day arrives). I will sign it and use some English flannel. ‘Thank you so much for looking after us so well. Here is a signed copy of  my latest novel as a thank you gift.’ Flattery is bound to spread my name! I will also leave a few bookmarks in the complimentary brochures they have in the seats. Three seats to a row in some flights. They may sit there for a few flights back and forth. To be done when published.

16.  I intend to leave links on comments upon the village sites mentioned in my novels. Plus genealogy sites with my surname will get the odd visit and my links will be attached. Sneaky promotional tactics.To be done when published.

There you have it, my idea of how I will try and promote my books when they are published. Feel free to add your tips and ideas.