marketing my first book

I am searching for good marketing ideas both on the web and in the bookshops
for my first time novel that I have self published.The subject covers true story
of abuse harassment and stalking. I am searching for other newsgroups that cover
similar topics. All help greatly appreciated.

214.280.5844
"Lyn Cooper" <Lyn_member@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:cnur7301gj9@enews2.newsguy.com...
>
> I am searching for good marketing ideas both on the web and in the
> bookshops
> for my first time novel that I have self published.The subject covers true
> story
> of abuse harassment and stalking. I am searching for other newsgroups that
> cover
> similar topics. All help greatly appreciated.
>
>
Try alt.publish.books

George

"Lyn Cooper" <Lyn_member@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:cnur7301gj9@enews2.newsguy.com...
>
> I am searching for good marketing ideas both on the web and in the
> bookshops
> for my first time novel that I have self published.The subject covers true
> story
> of abuse harassment and stalking. I am searching for other newsgroups that
> cover
> similar topics. All help greatly appreciated.
>

Lyn, do you have a website for the book? It might be helpful for us to know
a little more about how you're marketing it. Who is your audience? What have
you tried doing so far to get your product out on the market? -- Mike

Lyn, that is a very newsworthy subject. I would use a good press release
bureau to hit as many media outlets as possible -- primarily radio, but
don't think TV won't be interested. You should get some response from some
radio stations, providing you have a well written release. Hire a
professional to write it.Set up as many telephone interviews as you can. Not
sure what time zone you're in, but most interviews take place in the early
AM. Some are live, some are recorded for later play, or even multiple plays.
News outlets look for interesting stories to fill and ad variety, and don't
mind giving a free plug for the content.

Write a 1-page article and submit it to magazines where it would be of
interest. Again, magazines look for fill content. Put the usual tag at the
bottom about you and your book adn where to get more information. Don't
leave anything for the magazine to write or the article won't get in. They
want the article ready to roll. You can even include a weblink to download a
text file or provide it on disk with the article hard copy.

Are you selling the book on Amazon? They have a fairly good program for
independent publishers and the existing traffic alone can drive good sales.

Booksignings are great PR events. Good for you and the bookstore. Send a
press release to local (Womens? You don't mention gender relationship of the
stalking) organizations with details of the book and signing. For that
matter, arrange to be a guest speaker at these organizations. Give people a
hook and they will buy.

Good luck.

"Lyn Cooper" <Lyn_member@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:cnur7301gj9@enews2.newsguy.com...
>
> I am searching for good marketing ideas both on the web and in the
> bookshops
> for my first time novel that I have self published.The subject covers true
> story
> of abuse harassment and stalking. I am searching for other newsgroups that
> cover
> similar topics. All help greatly appreciated.
>
>
>

In article <co56tp0ti9@enews4.newsguy.com>, Mike Turco says...

>Lyn, do you have a website for the book? It might be helpful for us to know
>a little more about how you're marketing it. Who is your audience? What have
>you tried doing so far to get your product out on the market? -- Mike
>
Mike,

In answer to your questions:

1) Yes we have a website www.pawspublishing.co.uk (Currently under major
reconstruction and not all functional). In addition the webpage is not listed
yet on the major search engines.

2)Intended audience would be probably mainly women who have had similar
experiences with harassment and stalking. Please go to site for further
description on book.

This is our publicity campaign so far.

a) We have made contact with local papers and national newspapers
b) We are still contacting local radio/papers/TV with success from local papers
and radio. This resulted with airbites publicising the book that went out on
STAR FM the early part of October.
c) We have networked by post all Lyn's previous associates and friends asking
them to buy copies of the book. This is slowly working
d) We have sent all of the relevant bookstores throughout GB a promotion pack ,
requesting (of course) they place orders so the public can see it on their
shelves.
e)The book is currently available through high street shops : Waterstone's, W.H.
Smiths and Virgin Books. On the Net it is available through Amazon Books (which
is linked to both Borders and Waterstone's) Virgin Books, W.H. Smiths online and
of course ourselves through our website www.pawspublishing.co.uk
f) We have made direct contact with the producer of 'Factual Programs' for
Yorkshire TV (Whom incidentally was a contact that Lyn had been given 4 years
previous to her fleeing the country). This resulted with the producer requesting
a copy of the book to read - which of course is now on its way. Of course a slot
on the TV would be an incredible advantage. Therefore we are working hard in
this area to make it happen.
g) Next on the list is direct mailing to houses of surrounding areas that are
relevant to the above mentioned shops.
h) We have sent the book to a well known author requesting his feedback which
was fairly positive.

Hope this gives you the info you need.

Kind regards
Lyn Cooper

Sounds like you have things well covered. Keep it up. It's only a matter of
time before it pays off. Good luck!


"Lyn Cooper" <Lyn_member@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:cognui02kmp@enews4.newsguy.com...
>
> In article <co56tp0ti9@enews4.newsguy.com>, Mike Turco says...
>
>>Lyn, do you have a website for the book? It might be helpful for us to
>>know
>>a little more about how you're marketing it. Who is your audience? What
>>have
>>you tried doing so far to get your product out on the market? -- Mike
>>
> Mike,
>
> In answer to your questions:
>
> 1) Yes we have a website www.pawspublishing.co.uk (Currently under major
> reconstruction and not all functional). In addition the webpage is not
> listed
> yet on the major search engines.
>
> 2)Intended audience would be probably mainly women who have had similar
> experiences with harassment and stalking. Please go to site for further
> description on book.
>
> This is our publicity campaign so far.
>
> a) We have made contact with local papers and national newspapers
> b) We are still contacting local radio/papers/TV with success from local
> papers
> and radio. This resulted with airbites publicising the book that went out
> on
> STAR FM the early part of October.
> c) We have networked by post all Lyn's previous associates and friends
> asking
> them to buy copies of the book. This is slowly working
> d) We have sent all of the relevant bookstores throughout GB a promotion
> pack ,
> requesting (of course) they place orders so the public can see it on their
> shelves.
> e)The book is currently available through high street shops :
> Waterstone's, W.H.
> Smiths and Virgin Books. On the Net it is available through Amazon Books
> (which
> is linked to both Borders and Waterstone's) Virgin Books, W.H. Smiths
> online and
> of course ourselves through our website www.pawspublishing.co.uk
> f) We have made direct contact with the producer of 'Factual Programs' for
> Yorkshire TV (Whom incidentally was a contact that Lyn had been given 4
> years
> previous to her fleeing the country). This resulted with the producer
> requesting
> a copy of the book to read - which of course is now on its way. Of course
> a slot
> on the TV would be an incredible advantage. Therefore we are working hard
> in
> this area to make it happen.
> g) Next on the list is direct mailing to houses of surrounding areas that
> are
> relevant to the above mentioned shops.
> h) We have sent the book to a well known author requesting his feedback
> which
> was fairly positive.
>
> Hope this gives you the info you need.
>
> Kind regards
> Lyn Cooper
>
>
>

In article <coai1j01mjc@enews2.newsguy.com>, GSBatchelor says...
>
>
>Lyn, that is a very newsworthy subject. I would use a good press release
>bureau to hit as many media outlets as possible -- primarily radio, but
>don't think TV won't be interested. You should get some response from some
>radio stations, providing you have a well written release. Hire a
>professional to write it.Set up as many telephone interviews as you can. Not
>sure what time zone you're in, but most interviews take place in the early
>AM. Some are live, some are recorded for later play, or even multiple plays.
>News outlets look for interesting stories to fill and ad variety, and don't
>mind giving a free plug for the content.
>
>Write a 1-page article and submit it to magazines where it would be of
>interest. Again, magazines look for fill content. Put the usual tag at the
>bottom about you and your book adn where to get more information. Don't
>leave anything for the magazine to write or the article won't get in. They
>want the article ready to roll. You can even include a weblink to download a
>text file or provide it on disk with the article hard copy.
>
>Are you selling the book on Amazon? They have a fairly good program for
>independent publishers and the existing traffic alone can drive good sales.
>
>Booksignings are great PR events. Good for you and the bookstore. Send a
>press release to local (Womens? You don't mention gender relationship of the
>stalking) organizations with details of the book and signing. For that
>matter, arrange to be a guest speaker at these organizations. Give people a
>hook and they will buy.
>
>Good luck.
>
>"Lyn Cooper" <Lyn_member@newsguy.com> wrote in message
>news:cnur7301gj9@enews2.newsguy.com...
>>
>> I am searching for good marketing ideas both on the web and in the
>> bookshops
>> for my first time novel that I have self published.The subject covers true
>> story
>> of abuse harassment and stalking. I am searching for other newsgroups that
>> cover
>> similar topics. All help greatly appreciated.
>>

Thank you very much for that info. It would appear that you have already read my
response to Mike Turco and consider that we are already doing all the right
things. However, the right things are not working! We have taken on board what
you have said in your original response and would like to know if you know of a
good press release bureau or point us in the right direction to find one on the
web. We are in the UK. How much do these things normally cost?

Our mistake was to send the magazines a copy of the book, expect them to read it
and then make an article of it. From what you say it would be better for us to
write the ready made article that promotes the book within it.

Kind Regards
Lyn Cooper

"Lyn Cooper" <Lyn_member@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:cnur7301gj9@enews2.newsguy.com...
>
> I am searching for good marketing ideas both on the web and in the
> bookshops
> for my first time novel that I have self published.The subject covers true
> story
> of abuse harassment and stalking. I am searching for other newsgroups that
> cover
> similar topics. All help greatly appreciated.


I'd recommend having some abuse counselors and women's shelters review your
book, incorporate any good recommendations they have, then get a mailing
list of counselors, and do a direct mail marketing to those people.
That's the first thing I'd do . . .
Then, I'd find where abuse victims go, what they read, and then advertise in
those places and publications.
Then there are the standard press releases, publicity stunts, etc, etc.
But of course, the people who put out "Writer's Digest" also publish a
variety of helpful books on self-publishing. They also publish a list of
companies you could peddle your manuscript to . . .

-Tock

Lyn,

I'm in the US, so I can't speak from personal experience, but in the UK I
know some who are very happy with www.pressbox.co.uk . Don't ignore the US
market either. It is VERY important that you hire a professional to write
the release. The headline is vital. It must grab the attention of the editor
and set your release apart from thousands of others. Then, the first few
lines must hold the editor's attention or it will be passed over.
Fortunately, Pressbox offers copywriting services.

You say things are not working. A big question is, how long have you been
marketing? Marketing is an investment that doesn't usually have an immediate
payoff. It takes time to create an identity, position yourself, and build
that identity into credibility. One thing you must do is position yourself
in the market. Your book isn't the first on stalking. You need to identify
how your story is different from others, then build on that to position your
book in the market. You don't have the budget of a major publisher, so it
will take time and determination to get noticed. But it takes just one good
hook to start a snowball of publicity. If you can get noticed by one major
TV or radio show, others will flock to have you as well.

Personally, I say don't sell the book. I think you need to make yourself the
product. The book is supplimental. Sell yourself. You're a survivor. Let
women identify with you. Tell a few of the most dramatic events to hook
them. Then follow up with the book. You're not selling a book. You're
selling your personal diary on part of your life. And your not selling it to
make money, you're selling it to help other women in similar situations.

One thing that you didn't mention is women's organizations. This is a very
important connection to make. Contact as many as you can. Try to become a
guest speaker at meetings or workshops. Also try exploring websites that are
on topic with your book. Often you will find that they are already Amazon
affiliates, referring their visitors to books on topic. Ask them to add your
book to their links. A small article is welcome content for websites and can
get good exposure as well.

Newspapers and magazines want articles ready to go. They need to fill space,
and they often need to fill it quickly when an advert fails to arrive, or an
article falls short. So yes, you must have one prewritten. The editor needs
to reach in a file and pull out an article that works. Again, you may want a
specialist to write the article. Include a photo. Include a word count. You
may even want a shorter article as well. About half a page. This may
actually find it's way in more often than a full page.

Best of luck!
Greg



> Thank you very much for that info. It would appear that you have already
> read my
> response to Mike Turco and consider that we are already doing all the
> right
> things. However, the right things are not working! We have taken on board
> what
> you have said in your original response and would like to know if you know
> of a
> good press release bureau or point us in the right direction to find one
> on the
> web. We are in the UK. How much do these things normally cost?
>
> Our mistake was to send the magazines a copy of the book, expect them to
> read it
> and then make an article of it. From what you say it would be better for
> us to
> write the ready made article that promotes the book within it.
>
> Kind Regards
> Lyn Cooper

Hi Lyn,

I'd say there are two things to look at. First, what kind of results have
you gotten from your current efforts? If you've been making a lot of sales
and meeting/beating your expectations, that's great. If not, why not? That
would be your first priority.

Second, I guess, is out-of-the-box kind of thinking. Finding new ways to
promote your book and so forth. Can you sell the book at Alanon or Coda
meetings? (Probably not a good tactic.) Check out the books on
gmarketing.com. Also, look at how things are creatively marketed in other
industries and think about how you can apply those solutions to your
situation.

Sorry that I don't have any specific suggestions for you, but you've already
done quite a lot.

Mike