A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: Can you really get free book promotion?

It is Tuesday. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side. 

Today's topic asks a plaintive question--one that i hear often from folks with a good book but no large economic means to promote it -- can they get promotion for free?

Yes -- see all these places where that is possible:

• Certainly, word of mouth is free. Talk up the book with people you meet, friends, families, colleagues, businesses, and other authors. And when you find out that word of mouth has been a part of promoting your book, thank the source.

• Reviews are generally free; the best ones are; the most trusted (by readers) are. Ask your readers to write reviews. (There are also some inexpensive reviews that are worth it; think $100 or less - US Review of Books and Literary Titan come to mind.)
  

  - Ask you readers to write reviews. 

  - Post your book on Goodreads and Library Thing. 

  - Offer it to the reviewer in your local or regional magazine or any other media that reviews books in your general geographic area.

  - Send it to Readers Favorite and MidWest Book Review (no guarantee that either will review it, but they cannot review it if you do not send copies. - 

  - Reach out to bloggers, especially Influencers and to bloggers who review books, and ask them to review your book. Sometimes, they ask nothing in return. Sometimes they will ask for you to post their blog post on your blog or other social media platforms where you have a presence. No cost, and it is very good promotion.

           

• Libraries. Libraries are always looking for speakers, storytellers, story readers, and workshop presenters. Help them out, and you help out your book as well. You do not have to overtly hawk it, but it will be a part of you and any presentation you make.

• Fairs. Think about your county fair. They often have tables that locals can rent to sell your books. In lieu of rent, offer with some aspect of the fair: set-up, tear down, spreading the word activities, and the like.

• Coffee shops and other businesses. See if they will (best case scenario) sell your book or display your book; bookmarks are not free, but they are inexpensive, and perhaps some local businesses, particularly bookstores, will hand them out to customers when they make a purchase. (You can get them printed up rather inexpensively at a copy shop. Laminate them or print on card stock.) 

• Blog posts, podcasts, writing columns -- any place on social media or in traditional media where you write about the topic of your book will promote your book naturally; your book is your credential for these activities.

• Seek out interviews on local radio and television, as well as on podcasts.

• Do not limit yourself to this list. If you are willing to sing for your supper, you can probably get quite a bit of free publicity.

And no.

• You generally have to pay for any print advertising, like full-page ads in major publications; not much work around there -- if you have empty pockets, you need other ways to promote your book.
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• You generally have to pay for inclusions in catalogues, e-blasts, bulk mailing -- and those costs can be high. Figure on some of the free alternatives.
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• Of course, if you have some skills to barter for traditional advertising, barter away!

Bottom line: Yes, it is possible to get free promotion. You have to be clever and imaginative. You have to work harder. You will need to make multiple attempts at promotion to cover the same amount of territory that a single ad will pay. 

Lesson for today's Tuesday talk: Having no money for promotion, does not mean you cannot promote your book. As they say, your currency can be either time or money. No money? Invest the time!

See more Publisher Conversations with authors HERE.

 Learn more about publishing from an acquisitions editor -- how to get your book proposal accepted, why proposals are turned down/accepted, and how to find the right publisher for your book. On special sale for $5 while inventory lasts at MSI Press webstore.

The Tuesday talks reflect real discussions between the management of MSI Press LLC and our own authors or those would-be authors who come through our doors but don't make the cut--yet. If you have a topic that you would like addressed, leave the question in the comment section. Chances are, in our 18 years of publishing first-time and experiences authors, we have had a conversation with one of our authors that we can share with you.

                             

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