Promotion can be carried out on several levels, and it’s well worth considering which of those levels is going to be the most effective when you have a book to promote.
If you meet someone in a supermarket queue and get chatting, there’s a chance they might ask you what you do for a living. If you tell them you’re a writer, there's then the chance that they might subsequently buy your book. There’s also a chance that you will irritate them quite wholeheartedly if you are too pushy: I read an account a few weeks ago of a vanity-published writer who was thrown out of a restaurant for attempting to sell copies of his book from table to table between courses.
If you give talks, there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to sell copies of your book at the end of the event—just remember that if your talk isn’t particularly informative or amusing then you’re unlikely to sell many copies as your audience will assume that it is as dull as you are.
The very best form of promotion, though, is when you recruit people to act as your books advocate. How? By finding groups of people who have some connection with you, or your book’s theme; by giving them a witty, empathetic, and informative talk and engaging them in conversation in some way, so that they feel involved in the event and connected directly to you; and by making them realise how grateful you offer the opportunity they’ve given you.
4 comments:
I give talks about my books and my writing and always sell a few books but I look on it as a means of getting the titles (and the name) out there. I try to be lighthearted, interesting and - as I usually talk to people who have no experience of writing - I try to give them a glimpse of the peculiar muddle of a writer's mind! You have to put on a performance, in a sense (though not over the top, I hope) because you are selling yourself and your books and I'm always surprised when I see a speaker (any topic, not writing) who hasn't bothered to dress smartly and make an effort. I like to give them their money's worth, even if I'm not getting paid. It's common sense and it's only polite and the effort pays off in more invitations by word of mouth.
And - something that surprised me the first time - it's really good fun!
I agree, Nicky, it IS good fun. And I agree about the dressing smartly too (well, as smart as I ever manage). I think if the audience have bothered to turn out to see me, the least I can do is look nice for them.
Nicky, if I had to book anyone to give a talk I'd book you in an instant. You're fabulous: approachable, funny and informative in equal measures. The only problem you pose is with the bar bill afterwards, but now I've got the hang of peeling your fingers off the gin-bottle that's not such a dreadful problem.
Well, Jan and I did once speak at a function together. She was very good and I had been out to a very posh & lavish lunch so I just concentrated on sitting on the table to do my talk, and not fall off. And don't worry, Jane, my nearest and dearest will be making wine from his grapevine soon, that'll keep the bar bills down. I'll bring my own...
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