You, as a self-published author, will need to accept a very important role in the successful promotion and, ultimately, the sale of your book. Consequently, it’s vitally important that you understand that authors must take an active role in the promotion and sale of their book. After all, isn’t that the reason you wrote the book in the first place—to get it in the hands of readers?
Zone Press will work diligently at supporting your title and will encourage and assist its authors in their efforts to promote and sell their book. However, the success of a self-published book is highly dependent on the willingness, eagerness and aggressiveness of the author to spread the word on his/her book.
There are numerous methods and avenues that authors can utilize to publicize and sell their work. These can range anywhere from book signing appearances at a bookstore to simply sending out emails. You can rely on Zone Press to provide tips and guidance to authors for taking advantage of every marketing tool available.
Once you’ve begun your marketing campaign, don’t be shy. Be persistent and don’t give up. Your book is important to you and now it’s time to make others aware of why it should be important to them. Remember, you’re selling yourself as well as your book. You’re now a published author, so be proud of yourself. Send emails, make calls and remember to follow up. Then follow up again. Take chances. Don’t fear rejection—accept it, then move on. You can’t expect buzz about your book to just happen; you’ve got to make it happen. It’s up to you to go out and do it!
As a published author, you’ve accomplished something that many people only dream about—writing a book. If you were confident and motivated enough to sit down and write a book, you should be equally driven to go out and promote it. Don’t get caught in the trap of thinking “I’m a writer, not a marketer.” The truth is, you’re going to have to become a marketer . . . of yourself and the fascinating book you’ve written. In your local community, you and your book are now “newsworthy.” Keep that in mind as you approach your local media (newspapers, magazines, etc.), area retail outlets, book clubs, civic organizations, etc. with news about your book. Your goal is to convince them that your book has value and is important, which in turn can result in valuable publicity and book-selling opportunities.
For authors utilizing the GOLD STAR publishing plan from Zone Press, it’s important to take advantage of the promotional tools that we provide our authors. These materials will include a Press Release and a Sell Sheet, which are valuable and essential items to provide to all media and retail outlets that are contacted about your book. Other promotional items include full-color business cards and bookmarks, which are easy handouts for potential buyers and readers. They will be designed specifically to promote you and your book with an image of the book’s cover, its title and how it can be purchased. Hand them out when you’re talking up your new book to friends, co-workers and anyone else who shows interest in the book—after all, you don’t want to miss out landing a potential buyer!