Congratulations on the publication of your a course in miracles! It is the fruit of all your labor. The writing and rewriting process. The agonizing book publishing process that seemed to take forever. Now that your book, your baby, is published, what’s next?
Your book is your baby. Don’t expect anyone else to care for it. Don’t expect the publishing company to do all the publicity for it. This is especially true if this is your first book. You have to be the one to sell it. You have to identify yourself as a salesperson for your book and commit to marketing and promoting it.
The Internet opens the possibilities for communicating about your book to potential readers around the world. It gives you the only continuously operating method for marketing your book 24 hours a day. The Internet is an inexpensive, measurable way to build relationships with readers and generate book sales.
Getting published is no guarantee your book is on the bookstore shelf. Don’t despair. Do your homework. Bookstores are interested in promoting local authors. By developing a working relationship with store personnel you can not only get your book in stores but also promote it through book signings on and off site.
You have a large database of the target audience for your book within family and friends. They are your inner circle of contacts. They also have friends, co-workers, church members, and other contacts that make up an outer circle of contacts for you.
As the author, you have knowledge about the specific topic in your new book. Gaining greater visibility of your knowledge helps to establish your credibility and also promotes you and your book. A great way to gain that visibility and position yourself as an ‘expert’ is by writing articles and getting them published.
Don’t be surprised if your book hasn’t received a large allocation from your publisher’s marketing budget. However, you need to get a clear understanding of the initial book marketing efforts that are developed by your publisher. There are steps you can take to get the maximum benefit out of those efforts.
The cost of media advertising is very expensive and therefore out of reach for the books of new authors. However, there are inexpensive ways to get media exposure for your book. Seek news opportunities that will tie in with your book. Be available for television and radio interviews. Even local media interviews will bring you in front of thousands of people.
Identify the shopping habits, hobbies, and other characteristics of your target audience that could give you ideas of how to reach them with your book marketing efforts
Identify opportunities for partnering with organizations, institutions, and corporations that serve or target your potential readers. Seek sponsorships that will fund marketing activities in which you and your book will help the partner achieve its goals and objectives.
