| Publicity is crucial to book sales. Unfortunately, many | | | | educators/speakers, but smaller churches may |
| publishers are cutting back on marketing. Your book | | | | welcome a free speaker. Offer to speak at book |
| may be the best thing since sliced bread, but I | | | | clubs, luncheon meetings, and study groups.SEND OUT |
| guarantee that sliced bread will get more publicity. | | | | A MEDIA RELEASE. Write a concise release and |
| What can you do if you don't have the money to hire | | | | send it to the Book Editor and Lifestyle Editor of your |
| a marking firm? Here are some ideas to get your | | | | local newspaper. Enclose a copy of your book and |
| book and name noticed.GO THE COLLEGE | | | | any favorable reviews your book has received.WRITE |
| UNIVERSITY ROUTE. Colleges and universities are | | | | SMALL NEWSPAPERS. Small town newspapers are |
| always looking for speakers. It there is a college or | | | | always looking for stories. Look on the internet for a |
| university in your town contact the Library Director and | | | | list of newspapers in your state. This list contains the |
| offer to speak. Follow-up by delivering an information | | | | names of the newspapers, the towns they serve, and |
| packet about your book to the library.CONTACT THE | | | | the circulation. Choose selected newspapers, such as |
| PUBLIC LIBRARY. Public libraries offer free | | | | those with a circulation of 5,000-20,000, and send them |
| presentations and seminars to the public. Call the | | | | a letter. Enclose a media release with your |
| Program Director and offer to speak about your book. | | | | letter.PARTICIPATE IN BLOGS. Surf the internet and |
| Be precise. "I will speak for a half hour, answer | | | | you will find a variety of blogs. Choose a few blogs |
| questions, and provide handouts." The library schedule | | | | and email a few short paragraphs about your book to |
| may already be full and, if this is the case, ask the | | | | them. Blog postings will get your name and book |
| library to put your name on next year's list.TAP | | | | circulating on the internet.Keep track of your marketing |
| SERVICE CLUBS. Every community has service | | | | and publicity efforts, especially the dates. Six months |
| groups and you should find a list of them in the phone | | | | from now recontact these organizations and groups. |
| book. Select a few groups, contact them, and offer to | | | | One well-received talk can spark sales and lead to |
| speak at early morning, noon time, and evening | | | | word-of-mouth publicity - the best publicity for any |
| meetings. Before you call, make sure your presentation | | | | author. Good luck!Copyright 2006 by Harriet Hodgson |
| has a snappy title and broad appeal.THINK | | | | Hodgson has been a freelance nonfiction writer for |
| SEASONAL. Most communities have seasonal events, | | | | 28 years. She is a member of the Association of |
| starting with Thanksgiving and continuing through | | | | Health Care Jounrlists and the Association for Death |
| Christmas. Ask around and you may be able to get | | | | Education and Counseling. Her 24th book, "Smiling |
| early information about these events. There may be a | | | | Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," written with |
| Calendar of Events in your phone book. Contact the | | | | Lois Krahn, MD, is available from A five-star review of |
| event chairperson and ask if you can speak at the | | | | the book is posted on Amazon. Another review is |
| event and autograph books.CONTACT LOCAL | | | | posted on the American Hospice Foundation website |
| CHURCHES. You will find a list of churches in the | | | | under the "School Corner" heading. |
| phone book. Large churches tend to have their own | | | | |