As an author, and one that thinks all the time about the best way to promote your book, you now know we are a tribe of authors who love to promote on the Internet and with Social Media. Online book promotion is the fastest, cheapest way to grow a really big audience. But once you get that audience, what do you do with it? Today's tip is all about getting into your local bookstore, starting with your local chain stores:
1. With a big online following, you improve your chances of getting into bookstores, even if you have to do it one store at a time.
2. The key is local events. Send out press releases to local daily and weekly papers. Contact local radio and TV stations. Offer to do readings at local libraries, and then hit the bookstores.
3. The average author brings in 5 people to a book signing. Show your local bookstore owner you can bring in 50. Get creative. Offer free food.
4. Show the local bookstore owner how you promote your book and that you will be telling your audience your book is available at this particular bookstore.
5. Once you are in the store, track all receipts. The more you sell, the more likely it is that someone at head office will see a 'trend' and give you a call, as the publisher of record, to find out what the appeal is, and get your books throughout the region, or even the country. Online promotion is great, but it is really the foundation of all your book selling activities. At some point, you have to hit the streets, but when you do, everything you do offline will feed back into your online promotion. The key word is synergy.
1. With a big online following, you improve your chances of getting into bookstores, even if you have to do it one store at a time.
2. The key is local events. Send out press releases to local daily and weekly papers. Contact local radio and TV stations. Offer to do readings at local libraries, and then hit the bookstores.
3. The average author brings in 5 people to a book signing. Show your local bookstore owner you can bring in 50. Get creative. Offer free food.
4. Show the local bookstore owner how you promote your book and that you will be telling your audience your book is available at this particular bookstore.
5. Once you are in the store, track all receipts. The more you sell, the more likely it is that someone at head office will see a 'trend' and give you a call, as the publisher of record, to find out what the appeal is, and get your books throughout the region, or even the country. Online promotion is great, but it is really the foundation of all your book selling activities. At some point, you have to hit the streets, but when you do, everything you do offline will feed back into your online promotion. The key word is synergy.
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