When researching how to market a book in today's environment, including high-quality blogs in your plan is a must. Each year, the number of blogs and their readership increases. It's part of a trend away from traditional media and toward online resources. Writers and journalists whose work years ago might have only been found in a newspaper today can be bloggers. Reaching one's audience...

  More people than ever are self-publishing books, and many are finding success. But if you're a writer going it on your own, many areas like book promotion that a publisher would handle now fall to you. In some ways, it's an opportunity as much as a responsibility because you can steer your publicity toward target readers in the way you feel best. It's also important to remember...

The most successful book publicity programs make it easy for the media to cover a book, whether mentioning it in articles or interviewing you as its author. Publicists have long understood that creative pitches about popular topics are more likely to succeed. They have a variety of methods at their disposal, and finding the right ones for your book will help it succeed. Timing also matters, and...

Today nearly all forms of communication lead back to the internet, and for authors, it means their websites anchor book promotion activities. Even if you pitch the media for coverage using snail mail, the people who read your letter and press release will eventually go online to check a website. Therefore, your author's site must be well developed (not overdone). It needs to provide information...

Many authors who publish their work independently have editing, cover design, and book publicity services top of mind. But excellent book design is also crucial to a professional presentation of your work. When readers pick up a book and consider buying it, or when a reviewer reads it, an interior layout that's neat and easy to read is essential. Self-published titles compete against...

Each year, video increases its value as a promotional tool, and books are among the beneficiaries. Producing video and distributing it via online sharing sites, author's websites, and attachments to social media posts are a tool book publicists use to call attention to new books. They're referred to as book trailers in the publishing industry, borrowing their name from movie trailers....

If you're an established writer aspiring to become a successful author, keep book marketing needs in mind as you publish your work. It's essential to consider what makes a successful book (all the things publishing houses handle) when you're a self-publisher. The good news is that if you're wise in your decision and planning, you can produce a quality book that competes well with titles from...

If you're a self-published author shopping around for book marketing services, you can find various options for hiring a publicist. They range from advisory to hands-on and what's best for you depends on your book and your budget. If you're a first-time author planning to promote your book DIY, it's wise to at least go for a consulting arrangement. Unless you're a trained PR professional of a...

Today's bookselling marketing place is legendarily competitive, but on the upside, there are more ways to promote a book than ever before. Every good book publicist has a range of proven successful tactics, and podcasts are one of them. Unlike mentions in articles or brief TV interviews, podcast interviews are generally long-form and conversational with an audience of highly...

There was a time when authors and publishers avoided summer book launches, but those rules have gone out the window. Today's news cycle (and the internet) operate 24/7, 365 days a year. It's brought ad adjustment in book marketing services, and summer is a good time to launch books in various genres. If you do, some season-specific approaches can improve your chances of success. One is to keep...