No-Cost Marketing Strategies

Marketing is one of the most neglected aspects of book production. That's a fact. Whether you self-publish your book or go the traditional route, marketing is the do or die aspect of the entire process. If people don't know that your book exists, what it's about, and how they can benefit from its contents, they won't buy it. So your job as a published author is to get the word out about your book. That's marketing: everything you do to let people know that your book exists.

What stops most authors in their tracks is time and money. Yes, it takes time to get out there and talk about your book, to show up at events and share your message, to develop materials (an ad, a website, or a video) that tell of your book's value, and to prepare for media interviews. And yes, marketing your book can also require a substantial investment of dollars if you want to see results. But it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. In fact, there are dozens, dare I say hundreds, of free ways to market your book. Here are just a few:

Ezine Articles: Expert authors and writers post their articles to be featured in numerous ezines. The searchable database of hundreds of thousands of quality original articles allows email publishers hungry for fresh content to find articles they can use for inclusion in their next newsletter. This benefits you as an author by providing free advertising (your bio helps promote your book and your platform); viral marketing (RSS feeds help you gain website traffic); and sales leads (article readers are now interested in buying your book because you have positioned yourself as a knowledgeable resource).

BlogTalkRadio: This provider of thousands of Internet talk radio shows is an excellent way to reach thousands of potential book buyers. You can either host a show or pitch yourself as a guest on an existing show. Both ways allow you greater visibility. (http://www.blogtalkradio.com)

Networking: This is simply the concept of interacting with people. You meet people at business, personal, and civic gatherings, collect their contact information, share about your book, and in the process build interested buyers and advocates for your book. So get from behind your desk and away from your laptop and experience the valuable face time of networking.

Trade Associations: Connecting with trade associations can help build visibility for your book and awareness of your brand and your platform. You could present yourself as a speaker for annual conventions, professional development sessions, webinars, and other meetings and events. You could also offer you book as a training manual or industry guide to further establish yourself as an expert.

Help A Reporter Out (HARO): Having firsthand knowledge of the types of stories, guests, and experts that television, radio, and print reporters seek is of tremendous value to you as an author, and HARO provides just that. Sign up for the free emails and promptly respond to inquiries related to your expertise and the content of your book.

Be creative with your book marketing, develop a clear message around your book, and consistently communicate that message in a variety of ways. Remember, marketing your book doesn't have to cost a fortune. You'll find 101 free ways to market your book in my new book, How to Market Your Book Free. ________________________

Anita Paul, known as The Author's Midwife, coaches aspiring authors to write a phenomenal book and helps current authors use their existing books to leverage their business. She is the author of the-book Write Your Life: Create Your Ideal Life and The Book You've Been Wanting to Write, and is the creator of the Write Your Life program, through which she has created a dynamic system to Write Your Book in 90 Days or Less. She has owned The Write Image for 15 years, and has had her freelance articles featured in over 25 publications in the U.S. and Canada. Anita is also the host of "Book Your Success".
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