A Few Tips On How To Market And Sell Your Self Published Books
By Helen
If you've written a 'how to' book you'll find people are always seeking 'how to' information making your book easy to sell; in fact the most sought after items on the Internet are information products. Authors, self publishers and book publishers can be very unhappy when they see boxes of books delivered from the printer, loaded onto pallets in their garage and not have any idea on how they're going to sell them; don't let this happen to you -- be prepared. Ensuring the success of any book is something even the biggest publishers have never been able to guarantee, but with a good book, a little or a lot of money, and just plain hard work the odds are in your favor; many have done it.

Your book press release should not be written as you would a sales letter or flier, it should be written for the editor and tell about your book in a factual way, no opinion or glowing remarks. When picked up by wire services, a press release can easily end up generating hundreds of mentions for your book. Make sure you have at least one good press release, written in AP style that you can send out for the lifetime of your book.

Send out at least 10 press releases to the print and broadcast media in your area every month. Don't underestimate the value of a good press release for making book sales. Make sure your press release spells out the 'who, what, where, when, and why.'

Press releases can generate thousands of dollars in sales when picked up by national trade or print media. Mail a press release to at least 1000 print and broadcast contacts just prior to publishing your title and again and again after you publish; you can never send too many.

I've not found that book signings sell many books for publishers and are often a waste of time; better to spend it elsewhere. I've seen publishers lose a lot of money paying for expensive display ads, so beware if you do this; I don't advise it in the beginning -- get your feet wet first so you know what you're doing. Find a non-exclusive distributor with a good reputation to carry your book for the book store trade, as well as for other retailers.

Print and online publications provide longevity to your marketing campaign in terms of having something tangible for people to reference ongoing. It's important to publish a website that focuses on your title; you'll be able to refer editors and customers


The PC in those Mac ads, the Daily Show's "resident expert" — yes, him. After a star turn in our recent State by State film, John Hodgman returns to Powell's with More Information Than You Require, his second volume of complete(ly made-up) world knowledge. At the Burnside Street store, during a break from Wordstock, he talked about mole-men and hobos, of course, but also Battlestar Galactica, Mall of America food stands, and life as a famous minor television personality.]]>

Graphic designer extraordinaire Chip Kidd presents Bat-Manga!, the first collection of Japanese Batman comics anywhere in the world! Originally published in 1966, at the height of the first worldwide Batman craze, and written and illustrated by manga legend Jiro Kuwata, these adventures were never collected in Japan, and had never been translated into English. We spoke with Kidd about his lifelong Batman obsession, the process of hunting down and collecting these incredibly rare issues, and why these 40-year-old comics are some of the most entertaining Batman stories ever made! ]]>

Thirty years after its initial publication, the new edition of Art Spiegelman's Breakdowns is bookended by a brand new, career-spanning, illustrated comic and a prose postscript supplemented by yet more classic drawings. Together, the three sections offer a grand, unifying vision of a master's career. In conversation, Spiegelman covered just as much ground, from the seminal early strips in Breakdowns to Maus (winner of a Pulitzer Prize in 1992) to In the Shadow of No Towers, even his much-loved commercial work. (Remember Wacky Packages and Garbage Pail Kids?)]]>

Iain Banks first published The Crow Road in the UK in 1992, and it is one of his best-loved books. Time Out called it "Riveting...exhilarating...its pace, development, intensity and, above all, its hip and sexy humour never allow it to flag." The Crow Road is a philosophical saga and a romantic coming-of-age story, a mystery and a comedy, and a raucous, moving, and deeply human look at relationships and family. As Publishers Weekly says, "Readers unfamiliar with Banks's prodigious output have a great starting point here." ]]>

Neal Stephenson has been a staple name in science fiction ever since his incandescent opus Snow Crash appeared. What separated Snow Crash from the other cyberpunk novels of the world was, first, Stephenson's knowledge of computers and programming and, second, his wealth of research on topics as obscure as Sumerian mythology. This theme of in-depth research has continued through his other books, especially Cryptonomicon and The Baroque Cycle. Before his reading, Stephenson discussed the mathematical philosophy and quantum mechanics in his newest novel, Anathem, as well as why he still writes by hand.]]>



Inspired by a WPA state guide series from the 1930s and 40s, State by State will surely rank among 2008's most notable literary achievements. Fifty writers on fifty states: Anthony Bourdain on New Jersey, Susan Orlean on Ohio, Sarah Vowell on Montana, S.E. Hinton on Oklahoma, Dave Eggers on Illinois... the list goes on and on. Weeks before publication, editors Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey discuss working with the authors, noteworthy contributions, pleasing surprises, and the new Out of the Book film, which stars 19 of the collection's contributors.]]>

Annie Barrows's creative process for co-authoring The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was, by her own admission, unusual. It's not often that your adored librarian aunt hands you a rough manuscript to finish. And allowing for the fact that we are prejudiced towards the novel's pure expression of love for booksellers, we found it to be absolutely delightful. Barrows takes the time to explain her experience of co-writing Guernsey, what it means to be a community of readers, and why we hunger for charm in these modern times. ]]>

As David Carr tells it, "The dude was addicted to coke, got off the coke, obtained custody of his kids, a single parent, got off welfare, survived cancer, married well. But that's not what is resonating with people. It's much more the pathology." The dude being Carr, himself. Kurt Andersen attests, The Night of the Gun is "a breathtakingly candid, laugh-out-loud funny, heroically rigorous, consistently riveting, and deeply moving account of a nightmarish descent and amazing redemption." Carr discusses coke and cancer, fact and fiction, parenthood, new media, hope, and his new remarkable book.]]>

Why do Americans spend more than $10 billion a year on bottled water? "The facile answer is marketing, marketing and more marketing," supposes the New York Times Book Review, "but Elizabeth Royte goes much deeper into the drink, streaming trends cultural, economic, political and hydrological into an engaging investigation of an unexpectedly murky substance." The Boston Globe calls Bottlemania, "Ingenious. Amiably, without haranguing or hyperventilating, this veteran environmental writer has produced what could be, assuming enough people read it, one of the year's most influential books."]]>

City of Thieves, the newest novel by David Benioff, author of The 25th Hour and When the Nines Roll Over, has been hailed by critics as "a smart crowd-pleaser" (Publishers Weekly, starred review), a "gut-churning thriller [that] will sweep you along" (Kirkus, starred review), and "a funny, sad, and thrilling novel" (Entertainment Weekly). Set during the Germans' brutal siege of Leningrad in World War II, the novel follows the captivating odyssey of two young men trying to survive against desperate odds on an impossible mission through unimaginable depravity. Surprisingly, it's also thrilling, absorbing, and very funny. In this interview, Benioff discusses why it took so long to finish the first chapter, the difficulty of trying to capture the voice of a 17-year-old Russian boy during World War II, and more.]]>

Kirkus calls America America, Ethan Canin's first novel in seven years, "[a] novel of character [that] is powerful and haunting, a major work." It is a sweeping, epic story that more fully explores themes Canin has written about previously — class, politics, fatherhood, wealth, and power — in a seamless and beautiful multigenerational American saga. America America is both an important work and a page-turning summer read. Especially in this election year, it is a powerful reminder about what is great, and what is broken, within our country. In this interview, Canin discusses his new book, the politics of generosity, class-jumping, and method acting for writing.]]>

It's rare that you have the opportunity to interview someone as notorious as James Frey. Whether you were a fan or reader of A Million Little Pieces, you couldn't escape the news of the Oprah endorsement or the subsequent drubbing Frey received on her program when it was revealed that parts of his memoir were embellished. After reading an early advance copy of his new novel Bright Shiny Morning, we couldn't wait to talk with him about it. It's a compelling book about hope and firmly establishes James Frey as the comeback kid of 2008. Kudos aside, our interview with Frey made for one of the most interesting conversations we have had in recent memory.]]>



Two predictions: The Outlander will win at least one major award. And The Story of Edgar Sawtelle will find a home on bestseller lists. When we discovered these two remarkable debut novels and decided to feature them together in Indiespensable, Powell's subscription club, someone on staff proposed a joint interview with the authors. Their books share more than you might imagine: runaways, ghostly visions, improvised outdoor survival, scenes rendered so powerfully you may forget you're reading fiction (you may forget you're reading, altogether), and characters that linger long after you close the book.]]>


and all interested parties to your book information with the click of a mouse. When you get a nice write up or feature about you and/or your book, have it laminated and set it up on an easel at trade shows.

Build a web site that provides another avenue for ordering, a virtual online press kit and link exchanges with sites that relate to your topic. Be your own publicist and send a press release along with a review copy of your book to publications in your book's genre and to book review magazines. Make sure to promote and market your book each and every day, both online and offline.

Local radio shows and television appearances are good but are often forgotten within hours of the broadcast; make sure to make or get a copy of any television broadcast for future promotions. If your book fits a specialty market, find a store that fits the genre and offer to leave books on consignment; many publishers have sold thousands of books this way. Create an online contest and list it in online contest directories to drive traffic to your website.

Make sure your sales letter or flier is first class; this is your formal presentation of your title to the prospective buyer. Every day it's important to focus on a variety of marketing approaches.

Market your book to your number one market first, and then go after the secondary markets. Contact any companies, corporations or organizations that might use your book for promotions; offer significant discounts for volume orders or for thousands of copies offer a specified amount above book production costs.

One of the biggest problems self publishers and book publishers tell me about is the hundreds of books they have in inventory they haven't set up a marketing plan for; don't let this happen to you -- get prepared now. Now promote, promote, and promote your book some more! Make sure do some serious marketing and promotion every single day, no excuses.


Here are some more self publishing articles...

If the world is flat, as the prophets of globalization proclaim, then what happens on the underside? Alex Perry answers with Falling Off the Edge, his eye-opening journey through the planet's most dangerous hotspots. "Perry, to his great credit, is on the beat, scratching under surfaces and helping to clear away the obfuscation around this important issue," says Kirkus Reviews. ]]>

Number one New York Times-bestselling author and two-time Oprah's Book Club pick Wally Lamb delivers his first novel in over a decade — an extraordinary work of prodigious scope and ambition that explores the consequences of violent events, and the chaos that ensues. "[A] tour de force," proclaims Entertainment Weekly. "The Hour I First Believed is his best yet (Grade: A)." ]]>

From the bestselling, award-winning author of A Conspiracy of Paper comes his most powerful historical mystery yet. Set in post-Revolutionary War America, The Whiskey Rebels is a superb rendering of a vivid and perilous age. "A raucous mix of historical fiction and action-adventure thriller," hails Booklist. ]]>

For Things the Grandchildren Should Know, Mark Oliver Everett draws upon the relentless tragedies in his life (that also inspire his highly acclaimed music with the indie rock group the Eels) to pen a memoir that is a rich and poignant narrative on coming of age, love, death, and the creative vision. Kirkus Reviews calls it "refreshing and bracing. A great big grin of a book, winced out through gritted teeth."]]>

The eagerly awaited third book in Gregory Maguire's beloved Wicked trilogy has arrived! At once a portrait of a would-be survivor and a panoramic glimpse of a world gone shrill with war fever, A Lion Among Men is written with the sympathy and power that have made his books contemporary classics. "An absolute must-read for fans of this ever-evolving dark fairy tale," cheers Booklist. ]]>

Winner of the Washington Writers' Publishing House fiction prize, the stories in David Taylor's Success probe the lives of people caught in an increasingly intertwined world, close to home and abroad. Exploring a human calculus of love, betrayal, and fantasy, this moving collection makes those dramas vivid. ]]>

Second Helpings of Roast Chicken is the sequel to the phenomenally successful Roast Chicken and Other Stories, which was voted as the most useful cookbook of all time by Waitrose Food Illustrated. This new book takes 47 of Simon Hopkinson's favorite ingredients as a starting point and provides new inspiration to Hopkinson's many fans. ]]>

In A People's History of Sports in the United States, sportswriter Dave Zirin offers a rollicking, rebellious, myth-busting history of sports in America that puts politics in the ring with pop culture. Booklist calls it a "thought-provoking, contrarian take on American sport." In this INK Q&A, Zirin describes his literary pilgrimage to Powell's, explains why writers are better liars than other people (maybe), and more! ]]>

The New York Times-bestselling author of Reading Like a Writer returns with Goldengrove, an emotionally powerful novel about love and loss filled with echoes of the classics Vertigo and Pygmalion. In this INK Q&A, Francine Prose shares the most interesting letter she's gotten from a reader, the best book she's ever read, and more!]]>

A masterpiece of narrative history that vividly brings to life the original crime of the century, American Lightning shows the lasting impact the 1910 bombing of the Los Angeles Times offices had on three remarkable individuals and, through them, the country itself. In this INK Q&A, Blum shares the excitement of writing for the Village Voice in the '70s, five books he's given to girlfriends, and more!]]>

David Boling's debut novel Guernica is an extraordinary epic of love, family, and war set in the Basque town of Guernica before, during, and after its destruction by the German Luftwaffe during the Spanish Civil War. In this INK Q&A, Boling reveals the strangest jobs he's ever had, shares the question that compels him to write, and more!]]>

Paul Auster's Man in the Dark is the story of 72-year-old August Brill, who is recovering from a car accident in his daughter's house in Vermont. In this INK Q&A, Auster tells us about his literary pilgrimages, how he relaxes, and more!]]>

An astonishingly wise, ambitious, and riveting first novel set in the American community in Cuba during the years leading to Castro's revolution, Telex from Cuba is a masterful debut that will put Rachel Kushner on the map of American fiction. In this INK Q&A, Kushner shares the joys of a paper route, reveals her strangest interaction with a reader, and more!]]>

Angel's Tip is a harrowing stand-alone thriller from former Portland deputy D.A. Alafair Burke, author of the bestselling Samantha Kincaid series. In this INK Q&A, Burke shares which fictional action hero she'd like to date, the origin of her name, and more!]]>

Eminent pollster John Zogby offers The Way We'll Be, an illuminating, fact-filled look at the changing nature of the American Dream and how this is influencing everything — from the politicians people vote for to the goods and services they buy. In this INK Q&A, Zogby shares the favorite breakfast he can't eat anymore, what his favorite historical figures have in common with Larry the Cable Guy, and more!]]>