FREE Evaluation of Your Manuscript
Promotion and Marketing
You will need a press kit (electronic and printed) to market and promote your book. Depending upon your strategies, you may not need all of these items and through your own research you may find things you will want to add. Also, you need not wait until your book is published to start working on your campaign. In fact, you should keep these things in mind as you write.
World Wide Web
The very first thing you need is a web site. Taylor-Dth provides you with a web page on our web site. The image of your book on the our Book Store page will link to your web page. You will also be able to access the page by the url. It will look something like this:
http://www.taylor-dth.com/authors/NameOfYourBook.html.
This web page resembles a 'sell sheet' (discussed below) in that it provides the same information you will want on your sell sheet in your press kit. A link to Amazon.com will facilitate the purchase of your book.
We strongly urge you to get your own web site with the name of your book as the url. There are thousands of places to obtain your domain name and prices range from $5.00 up. We recommend PairNic.com. They are not the cheapest, but we have no problems whatsoever with them and their service is excellent.
Next you will have to have someplace to put your web site; you will need a host. Again, there are thousands of them out there for various prices. We use Pair.com and we are extremely satisfied with them.
Now the fun part; designing (making) the web site! There are many programs available allowing you to design a web site with little or no knowledge of html. And don't forget to optimize your site for the search engines. After all, you do want to be found, don't you?
Eyes glassing over?
Stomach lurching?
Have you already gone to the next item?
STOP!!!!
There is help! Go to AmericanAuthor.com . These wonderful people will help you create an exciting web site, and you will enjoy doing it! Lars Clausen will set you up with what you want. You can add other items as you need them. They have tons of support, so you won't be alone.
You'll thank us for this!
Note: You might want to check the internet for other author sites to get an idea what other authors are doing. Also, the folks at American Author can help.
Press Kit
Your Printed Press Kit (PPK) is, obviously, printed material you will use to promote your book. The Electronic Press Kit (EPK) is the same information (mostly) in electronic form on your web site or on a CD. It is advisable for all files to be in PDF format.
Every piece of paper should have your contact information on it - every one! Include name, phone number, email address and web site at the bottom of the page.
All this information should be placed in a two pocket folder (9.25" x 11.75") with your book cover on the front. A CD with the EPK may be included as well. If you need to create PDFs, you can do so online. 
Let's look at the basics:
Photograph
Spend the money and get a professional 8"x10" digital version. The picture of you standing in front of the lovely picture hanging on your living room wall won't do - especially the red eye thing. You can take the CD (digital version) to any photo kiosk and have prints made. Ask for help to get the highest quality possible.
Biography
It should be one page or less in length and touch on the things in your life that have enabled you to write this book - things that make you an expert. You really don't need to start at birth, unless your birth has something to do with your book. If your book is about baking or a murder mystery set in a bake shop, then the fact that you come from a long line of bakers is relevant. If the book is about trains, then your baking family has little to do with it, even though you may be a professional baker.
I suggest starting with the long version, listing all schools, awards, marriages, kids - all of it. Then go thru and cut it down. Don't forget any societies of which you are/were a member.
Sell sheet
This information will be on your Taylor-Dth web page. It should include a small picture of the front cover, title, author, ISBN, publication date, price, page count, publisher & publisher contact info.
The first paragraph is a short description of the book followed by a short biography. The final paragraph contains any engagements you may have done or are available for. Here is where you'll want to mention your 'expertise' - what makes you an expert in this field.
As with all media material, keep it short, meaningful and one page.
If you are the author of several books, you may want to put the sales information for your other titles on the reverse of this page. Do not include the book description or biography. This is simply to let others know you have additional titles.
Full Cover
Ask the publisher for any cover overruns or get the digital file to make your own prints. It is a good idea to have a full cover in your press kit as well as the front cover image on the PPK folder cover.
First Chapter
The first chapter with a small image of the book cover on the first page should be included. It will allow the media person to sample your writing style. If you have poetry or short stories, choose your best story or several poems that show your range.
Business Cards
Business cards in standard 2" x 3.5" size are a necessity. Include a front cover image plus name, mailing address, phone number/fax, email and web site. The publisher's contact information (email, phone and/or web site) should be there for large orders.
If your web site is www.MyGreatBook.com, your email address should be something like 'AuthorRMe@MyGreatBook.com'. Please use your web site address as it is so much more professional than hotmail, gmail or aol addresses.
Bookmarks
Standard book marks (2" x 6.75") are a good way to spread the word. A cover image and a short description is all you really need. However, you can utilize the 'back' for a short biography, other titles, url, email address, and of course, 'Available at Amazon.com' !
Postcards & Posters
These are valuable for book signings at bookstores or elsewhere.
The post card (4"x6", 5.5"x8.5" or 6"x8") can be the cover of your book with the address and information of your event of the other side. These could be used for other occasions as well. A holiday greeting can turn into a reminder to buy your book. Make sure the 'where to buy' information is plainly stated. Check with the post office for correct postage for each.
Posters (11"x17", 18"x24" or 24"x36") should be professionally designed as you will want more than just the cover image. I suggest you check out book stores to see what book posters include. This is a rather expensive venture, so make sure it is worth it.
Press Release
You may want to hire a professional copywriter. Writing a press release is an art not easily learned. However, here are some tips.
- One page only.
- Send the release to the correct person - do some research to find out who would be most likely to use your information. Do your homework!
- Make it newsworthy and current. Each press release should be different to fit the occasion for the release.
- The 'Hook'. The first line should make the reader want to go on and read the next paragraph or you have lost them.
What benefits or services are you offering? Don't forget; you are not selling your book. You are selling the benefit or service your book will bring. How can your book make my life better, happier etc. What's in it for me, the buyer?
_______________
The amount of information available on promotion and marketing is astronomical. This is a brief overview. I urge you to use the resources listed below; join newsletters and discussion groups. Learn to think outside the box!
Be sure to check our blog Taylor-Dth Book Promotion. Articles relating to marketing are posted on a mostly monthly basis. It comes out about the same time as our newsletter. You can peruse past posts, and we welcome any helpful comments or experiences.
Contact us for more information about our press kit design services.
If you have questions or problems, you can email me and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Good Luck!
Nancy Cardinali
Promotion & Marketing web sites
AMarketingExpert.com
PublishingGold.com
PublicityHound.com
RickFrishman.com
PlannedTVArts.com
GuerrillaPublicity.com
PromisingPromotion.com
BookMarketing.com
RTIR.com
PressRelease.com
PRweb.com
PenStripes.com
Web Hosting and Design
Reviewers
Please check the requirements and follow them exactly.
BookAnnouncements.comBookReview.com
GetBookReviews.com
MidwestBookReview.com
NewPages.com Guide to Review Sources
You can send your book to Amazon.com for review as long as it is listed on their web site. Most Taylor-Dth authors fall into that category. If the book is reviewed, it will appear on your book's page under 'Reviews'. Please remember how many people are sending in a book. It may take awhile.
Amazon.com Advantage Review Books
705 5th Ave South
Seattle, WA 98104-4425
One more thing; take advantage of the 'Review this book' feature on your Amazon.com web page. Have anyone who has read your book write a review. Do not write your own reviews under another name. Amazon does not approve, and you could find yourself booted from Amazon.