Map the Dragon
Sage
Ok...aside from what our publishers can do for us, what can new authors do for self marketing? (this also of course would apply to the self-published author.)
This would be a great thread to post individual strategies that may work, be working, or could work for you in the process of self-marketing and selling copies of our novels.
Here are some of mine; I'll think of more later and post those as well:
Website: Invest in a web presence. My site frank-lavoie.com did cost me some money, but it is a tax deduction...so that helps some. There are things on my site (like my flipbooks) that I could not have created on my own. You can then use your website in any number of manners - blogs, links, sending out to publishers and others, etc.
Business Cards: I got on a cheap website and got business cards made for my novel. The front is a cover of my book and the rear has some info like my website, where to buy, etc. Now, when I have converastion with people and my book comes up (tends to come up a lot now but what the heck), I have something to give them. They don't have to remember my name, the novel's name, or anything else. Physical connection to the product as a reminder. I know for a fact this has led to one sale, so my costs are almost covered. I spent like $15 to get the cards made and sent (quantity of 500).
TShirt: This is acutallly just a funny one, but my buddy bought me a shirt for my bday that said "Ask me about my book?" I wear it to goofy things, like when I worked my yardsale recently, or to a car show. I've had five people ask so far!
Links: Anywhere and everywhere, try to link to your website or the site that sells your novel (amazon, other, ALL). I'm kinda anit-Facebook/Myspace, but have plenty of other places online where I have found it appropriate to post my links.
Libraries: Get ALL of the people who know and support you to call local libraries and reserve a copy of your book. The libraries will then buy copies based on numbers of reservations (usually one copy for every at-large reservation).
I have to go to a meeting now, but I have a few more...add your own to help the thread!!!
This would be a great thread to post individual strategies that may work, be working, or could work for you in the process of self-marketing and selling copies of our novels.
Here are some of mine; I'll think of more later and post those as well:
Website: Invest in a web presence. My site frank-lavoie.com did cost me some money, but it is a tax deduction...so that helps some. There are things on my site (like my flipbooks) that I could not have created on my own. You can then use your website in any number of manners - blogs, links, sending out to publishers and others, etc.
Business Cards: I got on a cheap website and got business cards made for my novel. The front is a cover of my book and the rear has some info like my website, where to buy, etc. Now, when I have converastion with people and my book comes up (tends to come up a lot now but what the heck), I have something to give them. They don't have to remember my name, the novel's name, or anything else. Physical connection to the product as a reminder. I know for a fact this has led to one sale, so my costs are almost covered. I spent like $15 to get the cards made and sent (quantity of 500).
TShirt: This is acutallly just a funny one, but my buddy bought me a shirt for my bday that said "Ask me about my book?" I wear it to goofy things, like when I worked my yardsale recently, or to a car show. I've had five people ask so far!
Links: Anywhere and everywhere, try to link to your website or the site that sells your novel (amazon, other, ALL). I'm kinda anit-Facebook/Myspace, but have plenty of other places online where I have found it appropriate to post my links.
Libraries: Get ALL of the people who know and support you to call local libraries and reserve a copy of your book. The libraries will then buy copies based on numbers of reservations (usually one copy for every at-large reservation).
I have to go to a meeting now, but I have a few more...add your own to help the thread!!!