Ideas for Places to Market Your Books

Writers are creative people, and sometimes, you need to think outside the box when you’re trying to find ways to market your book. Make a list of the themes in your book and look for places that share your interest.

• If your book has a theme related to a museum or historic site, approach the gift shop manager about carrying your book.

• Look for local gift, craft, or other stores that would be willing to showcase your book. We did a book signing outside of a Hallmark store one Saturday before Mother’s Day, and we sold a lot of books that were perfect for gifts.

• For our wine and cocktail-themed anthologies, we did a lot of signings at local wineries.

• Many campgrounds and state parks have stores and gift shops.

• Look for book clubs that will feature you and let you visit.

• Research organizations and clubs with interests covered in your story. They may be willing to feature you in a newsletter or ask you to speak at an event.

• Don’t forget the organizations that you belong to (e.g. clubs, houses of worship, alumni groups). Let them know about your book. Many have news and announcements for their members.

The Color of... - Tips for Authors

What’s in a color? What does it evoke? What are the associations? We all have our favorites. I absolutely loved my giant box of Crayolas. Oh, the options.

When my first short story was published, I decided to update my website. I matched my backgrounds, fonts, and graphics to the anthology cover that was in black, red, and white. It highlighted the book, and the colors were eye-catching. A few years later when my first novel came out, I was talking to a publicist about my marketing materials, and she remarked that my website was too dark for my writing style. She reminded me that I write humous cozy mysteries, and that I should use pastels instead of colors that remind readers of noir or slasher stories.

Here are some ideas of ways color that can help you with your marketing materials and writing.

• Google images of a color wheel. There are hundreds out there. When you select a color, this diagram shows you what compliments it. Colors directly across from your selection go well together. This helps when you’re selecting colors for headlines, subheadlines, and backgrounds.

• There are lots of articles and studies out there about the meaning of color and how color is used. These can also be helpful in your writing if you’re trying to show instead of tell the reader something about your character/scene. This one in Smashing magazine has a lot of good information. This site has some great memes that summarize each color.

• If you have input into your cover designs, make sure the color choices match the theme of your book. The use of dark or light should match the tone of your work.

• All of your social media sites should have the same “look and feel.” The pictures and graphics should have the same color scheme. Readers need to be able to identify you and your site.

• Words about colors (or lack of color) are key to your writing, too. This post from Writers Write has a good list of words to describe color.

Book Signing Basics - Tips for Authors

I am so excited that we’re getting back to prepandemic things like book signings and in-person events. Here are some reminders of things you may need to make your event successful.

Pens, Pens, and More Pens - Always have a stash of your favorite writing instruments. Look for ones with quick-drying ink to keep your line moving.

Office Supplies - Pack a small box of office essentials. You never know when you’ll need tape, paperclips, scissors, or rubber bands. Mine also has sunscreen, lotion, and hand sanitizer in it.

Give-aways - Make sure to have plenty of your give-away items like pens, bookmarks, and postcards.

Tablecloth - I keep a clean (and pressed) tablecloth in my bag. Sometimes, there is no table covering. And I always use it to hide my boxes and bags under the table.

Business Cards - Keep your business cards nearby for those looking to contact you.

Passwords - I don’t use my credit card reader very often. So I always make sure I remember the password and that the device is working before I leave the house.

Change - If you’re selling your own books, make sure you have enough change. If you have multiple books, it’s nice to have a sign with all the available titles and prices.

Drinks/Snacks - I have been at all-day events where there is no break for meals. I usually pack a small cooler with snacks and drinks.

Dress for All Kinds of Weather - Make sure you layer. You never know when it’s going to be too hot or too cold in a room.

Invest in a Cart - If you’re hauling supplies and books, invest in a durable cart. Books are heavy.

Extra Books - Always have a box or two of books in your car even if there is a book seller. Orders have been delayed and events sell out. It’s good to be prepared.

Best wishes for your book signing!

Putting Together Your Team - Tips for Writers

Whether your traditionally published, an indie, or somewhere in between, you’ll need to put together a team to help you produce and market your books. Here are some tips that can help you as you find the right resources.

• Writing is a business, and you need to treat it that way. Make sure you have a contract or statement of work before someone starts the job.

• Make sure you have clearly explained your requirements up front for the task.

• Understand the fee structure and payment before the work starts. Is it a one-time cost? If it’s ongoing, how much and how often are you charged?

• Know exactly what you’re getting for your money.

• Get the person’s contact information at the beginning. You may have a need to reach them other than through a website contact.

• Ask other writers for references.

• Check out samples of the person’s work.

• Understand the timeline (theirs and yours).

• Keep a list of your contacts. You may need to reach out to them in the future.

• A lot of the tasks (e.g. website maintenance, graphics, book trailers) you can do yourself with a little training. Google and YouTube are your friend. There are a lot of tutorials out there that will teach you how to use the software.

• Make a budget and determine what you have the time/interest to do yourself and what you need to hire others for.

You’ll receive lots of offers from people and companies to help market you and your books. Make sure you know what you’re buying. Do your homework and find the right resources for your brand.

Discussion Questions for Your Books

Book clubs, whether in-person or virtual, are great ways for authors to reach readers. It’s a good idea to provide discussion questions on your website. Many authors and publishers also include them at the back of the book. Here are some ideas that can help as you think about your book from a reader’s perspective.

• It’s good to provide readers with 6-10 discussion questions about your book and its characters.

• Try to avoid spoilers as you craft your discussion points.

• These are to spur discussion and thought, so avoid ones that can be answered with a yes, no, or quick fact.

• Look for themes in your book that you can highlight for readers.

• Make a list of pop culture and other references in your book. These can be incorporated into discussion items.

• Google '“book club questions.” There are lots of sites with generic questions that you can sprinkle in your list.

• If you have different books in the series, make sure that your questions vary and aren’t the same for each book.

• Create a page on your website for book clubs with the discussion questions.

• Think like an English teacher as you compose your questions. Look for items to compare, contrast, or explain.

Make a List to Help You Market Your Book

As you start to market your book, it’s a good idea to have ideas for blogs, podcasts, interviews, and author talks. Here are some things that have worked for me through the years.

• For every new book, make a list of the themes and references in the story. You will find things that interest readers outside of your genre. Highlight these in your book promotions. For my Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, my list includes: vintage trailers, tiny houses, the Blue Ridge Mountains, glamping, cybersecurity, bluetooth devices, and Jack Russell Terriers. These are subjects that you can use as you promote your book.

• Look for online and local groups that share these interests and approach them about doing a guest post or a talk.

• Also make a list of your interests and areas where you have expertise. These can be used for blogs, workshop topics, and marketing ideas. It is much easier to pitch a workshop topic if you have expertise to share.

• When I create handouts and slide shows for classes that I teach, I always make sure that they are branded with my website and include my contact information.

• Libraries and other groups are always looking for speakers for programs. I keep a list of topics for readers, mystery lovers, and writers. I have a synopsis of each in a file that I can pitch to possible event sponsors.

• Look for other groups in your area that offer classes. There are many active senior communities, clubs, and learning centers that look for guest speakers. Many of these also have book clubs that host meet-the-author events.

• When you do guest blogs, many times, it will be up to you to come up with the topic. You’ll have more success if it’s entertaining or informative instead of 800 words about “buy my book.” The idea is to introduce yourself and your writing to a new group of readers. You want your headline and post to catch the reader’s attention.

• When you do interviews, podcasts, and author panels, make sure your anecdotes are fresh. Don’t tell the same story at every event or interview.

Bookmarks - An Inexpensive Marketing Tool for Authors

Everybody likes give-aways. Make sure that you have bookmarks to hand out at your events. I always give them out to everyone I talk with. Many times, I’ve seen a spike in ebooks after the event.

Here are some things I've learned over the years.

1. Pick a size that works for you and fits the size of your book.

2. Order enough to be economical (printing and shipping costs), but not so you have thousands to store.

3. Make the cover, your name, your story's title, and website large enough to read.

4. Use matching or complimentary colors. There are plenty of free color wheels online that will help you see what works with the colors you choose.

5. If you add pull quotes or story summaries, make them short enough to be readable. Eight-point type is too small. Less is better when you're working in a small space.

6. Use the back to promote your other books. That way, visitors know what else you write.

7. If this is your first publication, use the back to promote your blog and social media sites.

8. Make sure the any pictures (including the book cover) you add to the bookmark are in proportion. The book cover should be a rectangle. Use a high-resolution graphic. Most graphic design programs will let you hold down the shift key as you resize a graphic go keep it proportional.

9. If you include an author picture, make sure it’s recent and professional. Selfies may not have the resolution that you want when the bookmarks are printed.

10. I use NextDayFlyers because they have sizes that work for me. There are lots of companies out there. Shop around and look for discount codes.

11. I add bookmarks to any give-aways that I happen to do. A little book swag is always a nice surprise.

12. Many of your independent bookstores or libraries will give away your bookmarks. Ask if you can leave a few when you visit.

What else would you add to my list? Happy reading!

How to Make a Writer's Day - Inexpensive Things Readers Can Do

It’s the holiday season, and here is my list of things readers can do to make their favorite author’s day…

1. Write a review. It doesn’t have to be a book report. It can be one or two sentences. Reviews on Amazon, BookBub, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, and other sites help writers.

2. Recommend a book you like to your library for purchase.

3. Recommend an author or book to your book club.

4. Buy books as gifts for your family and friends.

5. Post on a social media site when you have a book recommendation. (Don’t forget to tag the author.)

6. Follow the author on social media. Subscribe to his/her newsletter to keep up with what’s new.

7. Follow the author on Amazon and Goodreads.

8. Take pictures of the book and post to your social media. Instagram and #Bookstagram are great places to highlight your favorite books and authors.