An Author’s Guide to Promoting Your Book

A COLLECTION OF IDEAS AND TIPS FOR AUTHORS

Page Publishing, Inc. • www.pagepublishing.com • Toll Free: 866-315-2708 • Fax: 646-607-4560

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ...... 3 INTRODUCING YOURSELF AS A NEW AUTHOR IN STORES...... 4 SAMPLE SCRIPT ...... 4 PITCHING YOUR BOOK TO POTENTIAL BUYERS ...... 5 THE 10-SECOND AND 30-SECOND PITCH ...... 6 THE 60-SECOND PITCH ...... 7 REACHING OUT TO LOCAL MEDIA ...... 7 BOOK SIGNING PREPARATION ...... 8 BEFORE THE BOOK SIGNING ...... 8 THE DAY OF THE BOOK SIGNING...... 8 TIPS ON HOW TO AUTOGRAPH YOUR BOOKS ...... 9 EBOOK SIGNINGS USING AUTHORGRAPH ...... 9 VIRTUAL MARKETING ...... 10 SOCIAL MEDIA ...... 11 TIPS FOR POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA ...... 11 GOING LIVE ...... 12 BENEFITS OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA PACKAGE ...... 13 FACEBOOK PAGES ...... 13 BLOGS ...... 15 VLOGS ...... 16 THE GOODREADS AUTHOR PROGRAM ...... 17 THE BENEFITS ...... 17 HOW TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT ...... 17 AUTHOR’S DASHBOARD ...... 17 AMAZON’S AUTHOR CENTRAL ...... 18 MANAGING YOUR PROFILE ...... 19 WEBINARS AND CLASSES ...... 20 USING ZOOM FOR YOUR WEBINAR/CLASS ...... 21 SIGNING UP FOR A ZOOM ACCOUNT...... 21 PODCASTS ...... 22 PODCAST GUEST HOST ...... 22 LOCAL RADIO STATIONS ...... 24 ONLINE NEWSPAPERS/MAGAZINES ...... 25 CREATING YOUR OWN WORDPRESS WEBSITE ...... 25 SELLING DIRECTLY TO YOUR READERS ...... 26 ADDITIONAL MARKETING ASSISTANCE OFFERED ...... 28 FINAL THOUGHTS ...... 30

Page | 2 INTRODUCTION

Congratulations! If you are reading this, you are either a published author or are on your way to becoming one! There are several promotional packages available for purchase, but there are also free ways of promoting and marketing your book, which we'll discuss in this guide. With the rise of social distancing and safety guidelines, it can be difficult for new authors to host marketing events for their books (such as book signings, booth sales, bookfairs, and the like). To help our authors adapt to the recent physical restrictions, we wanted to provide a complete guide to marketing your book. While the method of hosting events may have changed, the core marketing mission has stayed the same – to get your work as much attention and exposure as possible so you can continue to build your brand. The book market is an incredibly vast and competitive market to break into as a new author. While some success is due to luck and current trends, we have noticed authors who approach marketing through several different platforms tend to be more successful. Page Publishing assists authors with the broader marketing techniques to cast the largest net possible. Authors who utilize their own marketing strategies tend to make a significant impact as well. Having a good number of your books on hand can be a vital tool in your marketing efforts. These copies could be offered for sale, used in a contest, or given to people who can expand your network. Take advantage of the Author Discount Program offered by Page Publishing to ensure you always have a copy on hand, because you never know when an opportunity may arise! This guide is a collection of tips and strategies we have gathered, not only from our own publishing experience, but also from our own bestselling authors. Since every book and author is different, we cannot guarantee these methods will bring more sales for every author, however we hope you find these methods and suggestions helpful. We always love hearing our authors’ feedback. If you have a tip or suggestion we did not include that was effective for you and your book, please share it with us at [email protected]! This guide is only meant to suggest helpful ways to assist your personal marketing and promotional campaigns. Page Publishing is not affiliated with many of the companies or services listed in this guide. All authors are encouraged to read and understand each service, their policies, and then decide if they are right for them. Again, congratulations and good luck! We sincerely hope you have enjoyed the publishing process and thank you for partnering with us to bring your book to life, while still fulfilling our mission. Page Publishing is a leader in the Publishing Industry that is focused on partnering with budding authors to assist them in realizing their dreams. We aim to be an internationally recognized publisher, known for impeccable service and professionalism, while remaining true to our founding principle that great pieces of literature can come from anywhere. We are happy you are a part of the Page Publishing family and wish you and your book the best of luck and success!

Page | 3 INTRODUCING YOURSELF AS A NEW AUTHOR IN STORES

Introducing yourself as a newly-published author can be difficult. Most people aren’t sure where to start. A great resource may be reaching out to some of your local bookstores. We highly encourage authors to hold book signings, events, and to ask local stores if they would be interested in stocking their book on shelves. Going to a store to talk about your book can be intimidating. There is always the fear of rejection that can hinder the process, but it is best to try not to worry about that. It is better to try and fail than to fail to try! It is often easier if you prepare what you want to say beforehand. Having something prepared when you go in will not only make you look more professional, but it will also help you to keep from stumbling to find the right words to say. Below we have provided a sample script that you’re welcome to use. This script applies specifically to holding a book signing at a local store. With a little variation, it can also apply to local clubs, churches, etc. You do not have to follow this script exactly. Feel free to make changes and variations as you see fit, but this will give you a good start!

Sample Script “Hi! My name is______and I am a newly-published, local author. I was wondering if there was a manager available that I could speak with regarding a potential book signing?”

“I have recently published my book with Page Publishing and I brought a copy along with me for you to look at. I wanted to know if your store would be interested in hosting a book signing for me?” (Provide the date that you were thinking of having your signing, if applicable.)

If the Manager/Sales Associate Says Yes: “Great! Would you be interested in ordering books for the signing or would you like for me to order them?”

If the Manager/Sales Associate says they will order the books: “Thank you! I would like to let you know that if you order books from my publisher’s distributor, Ingram, they are 100% returnable.”

If the Manager/Sales Associate wants you to order the books: “That is not a problem at all. I can have the books ordered for the book signing.”

Make sure to work out all the necessary details with them beforehand, as far as set-up goes, when they would like you to arrive, if they will have staff helping with the signing, the date and time, etc. Once you’ve worked out all the details and have signed any paperwork (if it is needed) you can thank them for their time and be on your way.

If the Manager/Sales Associate Says No: “Thank you, I appreciate your time and consideration. Would you mind if reach out to you for future opportunities?”

There is a possibility that you will face rejection. This can be common for newly-published authors. Why? Brick-and-mortar stores have limited shelf space. If they could carry every book on their shelves, they would. Unfortunately, that is not realistic. They want to carry what they know will sell. This guarantees to them that they will be bringing in sales and freeing up their limited shelf space, so they can bring in new stock. If this happens, it is a good idea to inquire if you can reach out to them again

Page | 4 once you have established yourself further as a published author. If yes, feel free to leave your contact information (business cards come in handy here). If you are facing a lot of rejection in the beginning, please do not get discouraged! It’s important to keep in mind that any author on a best seller list did not gain their success overnight. They had to work hard at getting their work noticed. It helps if there are people requesting your book in local stores. Talk to friends and family about going into your local stores to request copies of your book. If there are enough requests, there is a better chance that they will add it to their stock!

Things to Remember • Have a copy of the book with you. o It’s always good to have extra copies of your book on hand to provide to the store. This gives them a chance to flip through the book and have something to look at while they are getting to know you. o If you do not have copies of your book, make sure you have the book’s vital information such as: the ISBN number(s), book size, page count, retail price, etc. • Have a reason for them to stock your book on their shelves. o “Why do you think you should have your book in our stores?” This is a question you will be asked often. Describe what makes your book unique and why it should be on their shelves. “Because I’m a local author,” or, “I don’t know,” aren’t going to cut it when they ask this question. • Have an idea of how many people will be attending your event. o It doesn’t have to be an exact count, but it gives them a rough idea of expected attendance. It will also help them decide it they’d like to order the books for the event, or if they’d like you to do it. o Having promotional items helps you to appear professional. Available materials include: ▪ Sell sheets ▪ Bookmarks ▪ Posters ▪ Business cards ▪ Invitation cards ▪ Magnets

Pitching Your Book to Potential Buyers Building up an interest for your book can be tough when you are a new author. When you’re trying to get a local store to carry copies of your book on their shelves, you don’t want to lose their interest by telling them your entire story. You want to peak their interest, so it makes them want to read your book. If they want to read it, they are more likely to want to invest in carrying copies for their shelves. Brick- and-mortar stores have limited shelf space. They want to carry items that they know will sell! So, while having a proven track record of sales helps, it’s not the only thing you need. Having a pitch prepared when you walk into a meeting with a manager/buyer for a bookstore will make you look professional. It is easy to get lost and stumble over your words if you try to tell them why your book is a worthwhile investment if you don’t have anything prepared beforehand. This takes the sample script from above a little deeper. It’s meant to help develop your inquiry further, so you can be prepared when you’re ready to start reaching out to local companies and/or venues.

Page | 5 Do • Keep the pitch short. o Start with the 10-second pitch. If they’re interested, move on to the 30-second pitch. Still interested? Pull out that 60-second pitch! • Be clear. o Is the book fiction? A memoir? Tell them what your book is about without giving away the whole story. • Be original. o Tell them why your book stands out from all the rest. • Write a script. o You want to write a script and memorize it. It will make you seem more organized than trying to come up with something on the fly. Do Not • Tell them your life story. o It’s nice to have some information about the author behind the book, but unless the book is a memoir, they don’t want to hear about your pets, your entire work history, or what you had for lunch that day. o If you know you are a talker, make sure you stick to your time frames. Do not use a stopwatch, of course, but stick to your script so you can keep yourself on track. It is okay if you veer off course a little, but make sure to rein yourself in when needed. • Be too long-winded. • Compare yourself to another author.

The 10-Second and 30-Second Pitch When you are writing a query letter, the way to start is with the hook. The same goes for your 10- second pitch. You want to start with the hook – something that will really catch the interest of who you are promoting your book to. Typically, the hook is a one-sentence tagline for your book. Here are a few examples of pitches for some well-known novels:

“Into Thin Air” On assignment for Outside Magazine to report on the growing commercialization of the mountain, Krakauer, an accomplished climber, went to the Himalayas as a client of Rob Hall, the most respected high-altitude guide in the world, and barely made it back alive from the deadliest season in the history of Everest.

“The Perfect Storm” The true story of the meteorological conditions that created the "Storm of the Century" and the impact the Perfect Storm had on many of the people caught in its path; chiefly, among these are the six crew members of the swordfish boat the Andrea Gail, all of whom were lost 500 miles from home beneath rolling seas.

You have the buyer’s interest, now what? You pull out the 30-second pitch. What is the difference between this pitch and the 10-second pitch? This one should be two sentences instead of one. So, create a second hook that is a little bit longer. It may seem hard to come up with 1-2 sentences to describe your book. That’s okay! There are countless sources online where you can look up hooks written for novels that have been published. It always helps to look at examples. You don’t want to copy them word-for-word, of course, but looking at other successful pitches can help you come up with your own.

Page | 6 The 60-Second Pitch This is the pitch where you will take your entire book and condense it into one paragraph. Sounds hard, right? That’s because it is, but don’t let that scare you! The only way you will get a solid 60- second pitch is by practicing. Write it. Have someone read it. If they get confused, write it again. Do this as many times as you need to. It can be a frustrating process, but it is worthwhile in the end. The best part? The 60-second pitch can be your back cover summary (or blurb) for the book. The back cover summary requires you to chop your manuscript down into a 300-word synopsis. It is meant to inspire readers and convince them to buy your book. Use this to your advantage. Here are some examples from well-known novels:

“To Kill a Mockingbird” One of the best-loved stories of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than forty million copies worldwide, served as the basis for an enormously popular motion picture, and was voted one of the best novels of the twentieth century by librarians across the country. A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming-of-age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, as her father—a crusading local lawyer—risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime.

“The Shack” Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later, in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant The Shack wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book! Creating your pitch can be difficult, but it is important to remember to keep trying. Your first pitch may not be your best work. That’s okay! The more you write, the more you’ll improve. Keep trying until you perfect your pitches!

Reaching Out to Local Media Once you create your pitches, you will be able to do more with them than just reach out to local bookstores. They will also be a fantastic tool for you to use to reach out to your local media outlets. Local outlets you can reach out to include: Television, Radio, and Newspaper. More often than not, these local outlets are looking for a great story to fill time in a broadcast/column. What better way to do that than to interview a local author about their new book?! You can treat reaching out to them almost the same way you would when reaching out to a bookstore. You can even use the same script that is provided in this guide. With just a bit of tweaking, it will be perfect for reaching out to local media. Don’t forget: Page Publishing’s publicity staff writes a press release for your book. If you’re interested in using it when you reach out to your local media, feel free to do so!

Page | 7 BOOK SIGNING PREPARATION

Preparing for a successful book signing is a critical part of an author’s marketing campaign. Remember – “word of mouth” is still the king of advertising and the best tool you have to promote your book. The purpose of a book signing is not necessarily to sell books at the event (although you will), but rather to sell yourself and spread the word about your title. The following are recommended steps you can follow before, during, & after a signing.

Before the Book Signing • Prepare materials: Do you have extra books? Always be prepared and have a reasonable amount of “back-up” books in your trunk – you do not want to run out! Most bookstores will try to stock enough books to handle demand at the event, but these may sell out during the event. If this happens, it will be handy if you have extra stock somewhere close by. Be creative with your table set up. Bring a tablecloth to make your book and promotional items stand out. More importantly, have pens/Sharpies for signing. You can also add a bowl of candy/light refreshments for your readers to make the table more inviting. • Promote the event: Some stores will allow you to put up posters or flyers in the store for upcoming events, although you will also want to expand your efforts outside of the store as well. Try contacting your local media such as newspapers, radio/TV stations, etc. to promote the event. Social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter are also a great way to spread the word. The important thing is that you ask everyone you know to attend your event – the larger the crowd appears to be, the more interested other, uninvited customers at the store that day will be. You can also send invitation cards and post flyers on local community bulletin boards prior to your event. Promotional items such as bookmarks, posters, magnets, business cards, and sell sheets should be used to the greatest extent possible. You can have these materials produced locally or order them through Page Publishing for your convenience. • Study the material: Familiarize yourself with an excerpt you plan to read. Be prepared to not only answer questions, but to ask questions of your audience as well. An engaging author will build a following amongst new readers.

The Day of the Book Signing • Dress professionally: Dress accordingly for the chosen venue; usually business casual. • Bring a friend: Have a friend there to help. They can help you set up and hand out promo materials like bookmarks at the door to let people know about the event as they enter. • Arrive early: To give yourself adequate time to prepare, arrive 45 minutes to an hour early. This will give you plenty of time to check out the book signing area and set up the table accordingly. Ask staff if they will announce your signing on the intercom. If they agree to it, have a short statement prepared for them to read. • Guestbook: Place a guestbook/sign-in sheet on your table for your audience to write down their contact information. In addition to sending them thank you cards, this is a very effective way to send them special promotions/info about upcoming books/events. • Sell yourself: During the book signing, be yourself but remember you’re there to spread the word about your title! Don’t be afraid to approach people in a kind and professional way. Be polite and ready to answer questions–this will make you more approachable to your audience, thus resulting in a more successful event!

Page | 8 Tips on How to Autograph Your Books • Decide where to sign your book and be consistent with where you sign it. Common places to sign a book are: the title page, inside cover, and in some cases, the front cover of the book. • Make your message stand out and personalize it! Ask your readers if they would like it signed in any particular manner. If you have time, personalize your message and choose a signature phrase. Make sure that your name is legible and written as consistently as possible. Use a good pen. A black Sharpie is usually best!

What NOT to do • Do not just “sit” there. Take advantage of the store’s foot traffic. Approach people at venues who may not necessarily be interested in your book. They don’t know how great it is! • Do not argue with staff. Even if there is a legitimate disagreement, you do not want to give the wrong impression to your potential readers.

EBOOK SIGNINGS USING AUTHORGRAPH People love having autographed copies of books, right? Yes! They do! However, the world is becoming more digital every day. While there is still a huge market for printed books, many people have transitioned over to the digital age for their reading needs. The rapid growth of Kindle, Nook, and other e-Readers have certainly increased the demand for eBooks. Originally known as a Kindlegraph, Authorgraph is a nice and easy tool to use for people who come to your book signings but only have the eBook version of your book.

How to Start Go to www.authorgraph.com. They recommend having a Twitter account, so if you do have one, you can log in with that. If you don’t have an Twitter account, no worries – it’s easy to sign up for one! • If you have a Twitter account: You will be asked to authorize your account. • If you don’t have a Twitter account: In the corner of the authorization page, you will see “Sign up for Twitter.” Click this link to create a Twitter account.

Once you get through the initial step, it will ask you for a few things before activating your account: 1. Create a username. This should be personal to you and your book. 2. Add your mobile phone number. You can skip this step by clicking the small, blue “skip” button in the lower left-hand corner if you don’t feel comfortable providing this information. 3. Items of interest. You will be asked for some of the items that interest you, but you can always go back to that when you have free time.

After you have successfully signed in with a Twitter account, it is going to ask you for the ‘ASIN number’ for your book. This will be available on Amazon. • Go to your book on Amazon’s website. In the URL there is a 10-digit number after the letters /dp/10-digit number/ o For example, the URL for amazon is http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061977969. The ASIN number would be 0061977969. (Also located in the Details of a book’s listing.) Place that number that goes with your book into the textbox in authorgraph. If you need help finding this information, no worries! You can always contact your Publication Coordinator and they can provide you with your book’s ASIN number. Once you’ve added that information, your book will be added to Authorgraph!

Page | 9 VIRTUAL MARKETING

Virtual Marketing is simply using a variety of online platforms to promote yourself and your book without physically requiring you to be there. There is an overwhelming amount of services and platforms available online that can help you promote your book while still following all social distancing guidelines and staying safe. The internet is full of marketing offers, services, gimmicks, and trades. It can be very overwhelming at first. As you can imagine, some services are incredibly good while others may not be so good. If a fee is required, it is important to research the company to ensure it is a legitimate offer. Similar to physical marketing, it is vital to develop a network of friends, family, readers, fans, and anyone else that can help promote your book. The bigger your network is, the better the chances are of reaching your potential readers. Word of mouth can spread exponentially when shared with a large network of friends, family, etc. It is important to take your time and find a platform that works for you. In general, a platform should do two things:

1. Allow you and your book to gain visibility. 2. Allow you to spread your book’s message to an audience.

Consider the smaller and easily achievable goals at first before jumping too far ahead. While it is possible for a brand new and unknown author to impact the New York Times Best Sellers list, does not mean it is likely going to happen. It is best to start small and build upon the previous attempt or success. Once you feel comfortable with a particular virtual platform, then try moving on to another. It is important to consider multiple platforms while not trying to take on too much at once. While this does take some work and effort, it can also be just as rewarding and fun!

Here are a few broader platforms to consider and we will provide more information on each one:

Social Media eBook Signings Using Authorgraph Blogs Vlogs/YouTube Channel Goodreads Amazon’s Author Central Webinars via Zoom Creating a “Class” Podcasts – Create your own or be a guest Local Radio Stations Online Newspapers/Magazines

Page | 10 SOCIAL MEDIA

To reach potential readers, an important place to start is to build a community centered around your book. A cost-effective place to start is social media. Several of these websites offer basic services for no charge and have their own paid marketing and advertising offers, depending on your goals. Here are a few examples of social media sites that will allow you to create a page, post, and engage readers and followers:

Facebook Twitter Instagram Linked In TikTok Snapchat

If you’re unsure of setting up an account, the social media sites offer help options and tutorials.

Tips for Posting on Social Media 1. Be consistent – Some people like to do multiple posts a day, while others may do more thorough posts once a week. Whatever your posting preference is, it is important to be consistent. Many sites will adjust their search algorithm based on the number of posts created during the day and the number of interactions with your fanbase. 2. Focused messaging for the platform – Social media sites like Linked In will have a more professional approach, while Facebook, TikTok, and Snapchat may have a more casual approach to get people interested. Find your target audience for each platform and cater the posts to them, while still staying true to your book’s core message and goals. 3. What’s trending? Do some simple research to see what is currently trending within the platform. Images, videos, sound bites, etc. Many times, this is where you will see people using the “hashtag” (the pound symbol followed by the catch phrase that is trending). For example, #loverules, #votetoday, etc. When you add these hashtags at the end of your post, the social media site will group them together for added visibility. 4. Join groups or online communities – Groups are typically centered around specific topics of interest, location, items for sale, and almost any other categorization you can imagine. There are vast groups within social media that will allow you to join and offer advice in your genre, converse with other like-minded people, or even connect you with others who can be beneficial in promoting your book. You may even be interested in starting your own group! 5. Start conversations and interact with your audience – Active engagement with your friends and followers will create an interesting page that may entice your audience to come back. Asking questions, responding to questions, and continuing the conversation will help your followers pay attention to the information you have to offer. 6. Include visual elements on your posts – Posts with images are more likely to draw the attention of potential readers. Including your book’s cover image, illustrations, image of the author(s), a video trailer, or even a video of yourself will create a stopping point while people are scrolling. Reading paragraphs of text can seem like a daunting task, so having a visual will create intrigue and excitement. This also is another way you can be creative, so have fun!

Page | 11 7. Give your viewers a reason for ordering – The goal of creating the page and all this marketing work is to build your audience and increase the number of people who will order a copy of your book. So, give them some enticing information that can improve their lives or give insight into something that they could be experiencing. How can your book make their life better or how can you book provide them with entertainment, relief, or insight? 8. Offer giveaways – One way to get potential readers interested is to offer something that does not cost them anything, or a chance to win something. Create a post that gets them interacting and offer the chance to win a free autographed copy of your book. Not only will it build the interaction on your page, but it will encourage the potential readers who did not win to order a copy as well, while still sharing your post on their pages. 9. If you are selling your books directly, then offer discounts or free shipping – Once you purchase copies of your book from us (through the Author Discount Program), you are able to sell those copies for any price and profit you would like. So, offering copies at a discounted price, will help build readership and will still give you a comfortable profit for each copy sold. (Depending on the volume of books sold, be sure to follow any local, state, or federal laws regarding resale and sales/income tax).

Going Live • Going Live on Facebook and other social media sites is a great way to show there is a real person behind the screen. It will give you the opportunity to illustrate how dedicated you are to your book, its message, and the impact that it can have on your target audience. o Take the time to explain your book, the basic summary of what the readers can expect, and how it can impact, enrich, or even entertain their life. This will open the opportunity to answer any questions or provide more insight directly with your fans and followers. o Excerpt readings – Read from your own book! Give the viewers a chance to hear parts of your book before they purchase. This will not only build up anticipation, but give them a little piece of what they can expect. o Online Training Sessions – You can give firsthand knowledge of the reasonings behind why you wrote your book, and how it can better the life of the reader. Turn your book into a training tool and teach some important life lessons and inspirations!

Need Help Navigating? Starting a social media page and knowing how to navigate the logistics of what to post and when to post can be overwhelming – especially if you are unfamiliar with social media or looking to step out of your comfort zone and reach a new reader-base. If you’d rather have someone else set this up for you, Page Publishing teams directly with Snow Tree Media LLC, a trusted social media marketing firm. Snow Tree’s talented staff will partner with you to help with your online presence and growing your fan base!

The social media package would consist of: 1. Facebook page creation and setup 2. Instagram creation and setup 3. Uploading the author’s book cover art and a direct link to your Author’s web page. 4. Twelve initial posts: o Four engaging posts – This is to not only inform your followers, but to also drive interest in your book and increase the potential for a sale. o Four posts to direct sales traffic (Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, etc.) o Four informational posts – these could include a section about the book, a “Meet the Author,” video trailer, excerpts from your book, giveaways, etc.

Page | 12 Be sure to contact your Publication Coordinator or Author Support staff at Page Publishing to inquire about this great offer! The staff at Snow Tree will gladly take those first marketing steps with you and walk side-by-side in getting the word out about your book! Snow Tree Media also offers a wide range of online and social media marketing tools you may be interested in (their contact information is shared later in this guide).

Benefits of the Social Media Package When you are engaging and interacting with your followers on social media, they will become intrigued with the book you are offering and they will want to know how they can purchase a copy. You could send them to an online retailer or you could also offer them a copy you have on hand. When you can fulfill orders directly, it becomes more than just an order transaction. You are the one who is connecting with your reader, taking payment, and shipping out their book. So, it becomes a more personalized experience. You can upgrade the transaction by adding a personalized bookmark, business card, and/or an autograph in the book. Creating that personalized touch makes you memorable and will cause a greater impact than ordering a copy from a retailer. With the Author Discount Program at Page Publishing, you are able to purchase copies of your book at a discounted price for resale, and we can create additional promotional items for you so you are always stocked and ready to fulfill orders when they are requested. (Depending on the volume of books sold, be sure to follow any local, state, or federal laws regarding resale and sales and income tax). Snow Tree Media, LLC – Offering exclusive discounts for Page Publishing authors! Website: www.snowtreemedia.com/ Phone: 405-512-9300 Email: [email protected]

FACEBOOK PAGES Facebook is the largest and fastest growing social media website out there. It is one of the best tools you can use to market your newly-published book. Why? There are over a BILLION monthly active users on Facebook! Having a Facebook profile is a fantastic way to spread the word about your book to friends, family, and potential readers. It has the potential to reach farther than your immediate circles as well, but it is not always likely. That is where Facebook pages come into play.

The Difference Between Facebook Profiles and Facebook Pages A Facebook Profile gives other Facebook users access to any personal information about yourself that you’d like to reveal. It is the main account you create when you join Facebook and your profile will include information such as:

• Name • Birthday • Location • Occupation • Interests • Personal pictures • Status updates about you

Page | 13 The personal profile is what you typically want only friends and family to have access to. The Facebook Page is a business and marketing tool. The Facebook Page would be a page you create specifically for your book as a way to not only market, but also connect and interact with your audience. Your Facebook Page would include information such as: • Your book’s title • Story (back cover summary) • Photos of the book and other related events (i.e. book signings, speaking engagements, etc.) • Status updates about the book, events, etc. • Link to professional website • Author contact information

Your Facebook Page opens a whole new world for you as an author, because anyone can like a Facebook Page. You are also able to market your Facebook Page in a way that you can’t with your personal profile (which will be covered shortly).

How to Create a Facebook Page Log in to your personal Facebook account, then follow these four steps:

1. Go to facebook.com/pages/create 2. Click to choose a Page Category 3. Select a more specific category from the dropdown menu and fill out required information 4. Click Get Started and follow the on-screen instructions

Facebook guides you through everything you need to do to get your page up and running. Once you have a page for your book, you will be able to invite friends and family to “like” your page. The more “likes” you have, the more interaction you are likely to get on your page, so keep that in mind. Once you reach a certain number of likes, Facebook will open the option for you to view insights for your page. The insight tab is a nice tool for you to view how many likes per week you are getting, the level of interaction there is with your page, as well as some pointers on how you can reach a wider audience. If you are interested in using Facebook Pages to their full potential for marketing, however, your best resource will be Facebook Blueprint.

What is Facebook Blueprint? Facebook Blueprint is a global training and certification program that users can utilize to learn more about marketing on Facebook and Instagram. There are three types of training that you can utilize via Facebook Blueprint:

1. Blueprint eLearning 2. Blueprint Certification 3. Blueprint Live

Blueprint eLearning will be the focus of this guide for a few reasons; the first is that it is free. It has online courses that are all self-paced, so you can do them whenever you feel like it and there is no time limit for how long they take. All you need in order to do the courses is a Facebook account. The other two options, Blueprint Certification and Blueprint Live, are both more involved. Blueprint Certification is a program that measures your understanding of the advertising products and services Facebook uses. You earn the certificate by passing two required exams. Blueprint Live is an in-person training program that teaches you how to use Facebook and Instagram advertising products and services within your marketing plan.

Page | 14 Facebook Blueprint eLearning To begin using Facebook Blueprint, visit their website (www.facebookblueprint.com). From there, you will be prompted to log in to your Facebook account. After logging in, it will bring up a dashboard of many different online classes you can enroll in and take at your own leisure. Some of the classes include:

• Welcome to Marketing on Facebook • Introduction to Facebook Pages • Creating a Facebook Page • Connect and Engage with Your Audience Using Facebook Live • Targeting Core Audiences • Promote Your Business from Your Facebook Page, Ads Manager

The sky is the limit with what you can learn from Facebook Blueprint! Each course takes 15-20 minutes to complete. They’re interactive with mini-quizzes and information to keep you engaged while learning a lot about how Facebook can be used as a marketing tool. Once you complete a course, you’ll receive a printable certificate to show you’ve successfully completed it. However, that doesn’t limit you from taking the same training course multiple times. So, if you need a refresher on any course you’ve already completed, you can take them as many times as you want! Don’t have time to do the training all in one sitting? No problem! If you log out and log back in later to finish the training, Facebook Blueprint keeps your progress bookmarked so you don’t have to start from the beginning. You can also have multiple trainings in progress at one time, but it’s recommended that you focus on one at a time so you get the most out of each training. The best thing about Facebook Blueprint is that it was designed and created by the people who created Facebook. This means that they are constantly updating it as Facebook updates and changes. You don’t have to worry about getting information that is useless and obsolete, because they work very hard to make sure the site is kept up-to-date and has everything you need to know to use their tools for marketing your page. The creators of Facebook want their users to succeed and Facebook Blueprint is their way of giving their users to the tools to do so.

BLOGS What is a blog? A blog is an informational page with dynamic content, specific to one purpose or one theme. A blog can be updated daily, weekly, or monthly. The goal of any successful blog is to offer quality content on a consistent basis that entertains, entices, and engages its readers. You can base the themes on the subject matter of your book while expanding the content to keep it relative and current with the times. This is a great opportunity to flex your creative muscles!

Things to Consider When Starting a Blog • Who is my potential audience? Who do I want to reach? • Who would my work interest? Fiction, Nonfiction, Religious, Children, etc.? • What can I offer that would benefit the reader?

Keep in Mind • Readers can be distracted or overwhelmed with large amounts of information or large sections of text. It is better to keep it brief and to the point rather than drawn-out and lengthy. Try to be concise while still offering enough information to support your point of view.

Page | 15 • Readers will continue to read and return if the information is interesting, beneficial, or will entertain them. They are going to continue reading if the content is something they can relate to and use in their everyday lives. So, keep it directed toward the reader and remain focused on your goal. How can you tie everything back to selling copies of your book? • Be consistent with your posts. Keep your readers engaged and looking forward to the next post, whether you decide to do it daily, weekly, or monthly. • It can take time to build good content and results may come gradually, but in the end it will likely be worth it! Remember to track results, improve, and repeat!

VLOGS What is a vlog? A vlog is remarkably like a blog, however, instead of using text to promote your message and connect with readers, you would use videos for interaction. Vlogs follow the same format and idea as blogs: an informational and entertaining page specific to a purpose or theme. A vlog can be updated daily, weekly, or monthly. Vlogs allow you, the author, to share more of your own personality with the audience. It allows you to relate to the audience more than just text on a screen. YouTube is home to the some of the most popular vlogs on the internet. Recording your content and setting up an account with YouTube to share it can be rather easy and cost-effective. With YouTube, you can record videos of yourself and post them on your personal page or channel. Once the video is posted within YouTube, you can share it on your social media pages for your friends, family, and followers. You may also include it in your blog or other sites you have that allow for video uploads. Just remember, it will take time to build traction and gain the viewership you are looking for. Most modern cell phones take quality videos, so you would not have to worry about purchasing expensive equipment. There are several inexpensive and even free video editing software available that can help you elevate the quality of your videos. YouTube is also full of tutorials, tips, and instructions how to create and edit quality videos. Some of the most entertaining vlogs on the web do not have all the fancy bells and whistles of expensive equipment or editing. Just try it and have some fun! The things to consider for vlogs are the same as blogs. They are the universal questions to ask when you are promoting your book. Try not to limit your potential followers by focusing on one specific element, but offer dynamic content based on the themes of your work and interests. For your vlog or blog to see success, you want to encourage, educate, and entertain as many people as possible.

• Who is my potential audience? Who do I want to reach? • Who would my work interest? Fiction, Nonfiction, Religious, Children, etc.? • What can I give that would benefit the reader? • How would my topics relate to my book or entice readers to order?

Blogging and vlogging can seem daunting or time-consuming, but the potential to reach readers on a modern level can make all the difference. A vast majority of readers from all age groups spend countless hours of their time surfing the web and interacting virtually. Why not take a leap and reach them in a way that is still socially interactive and physically safe?

A benefit to blogs and vlogs, not only can you post your content for the day, but you can also offer copies of your book directly to your fans. Making sure you always have a stock of your books on hand is going to make the difference between a personal connection and just sending them to a basic retailer to purchase a copy.

Page | 16 THE GOODREADS AUTHOR PROGRAM

If you’ve never heard of Goodreads before, it may be worth considering! It can be one of your biggest assets in helping you promote your book. Goodreads is the world’s largest website for readers and book recommendations. Not only does it give you an outlet to connect with readers, but it also gives you the opportunity to help make more people aware of your book through the Goodreads Author Program. The Goodreads Author Program allows published authors to “claim” their profile page to promote their book. It also allows them to engage with their readers.

The Benefits There are many things you can do to help build interest in your book with Goodreads. To name a few, you can: • Run a giveaway for your book • Advertise your book • Take questions from your readers • Write reviews for other books

How to Create an Account Creating an author’s profile on Goodreads is simple! Just follow these steps: 1. Sign in to your existing Goodreads account, or create an account if you don’t have one. 2. Search for your book using the ISBN number or title. 3. When you find the book, click on the author name (your name). 4. At the bottom of the page, there will be a link to click that says, “Is this you? Let us know!” 5. After clicking that link, fill out and submit the form. That’s it! Once you’ve filled out their online form, you will receive an email within two business days letting you know your request has been approved. Once you have claimed your author’s profile, your profile will feature a stamp letting users know that you are an official Goodreads Author.

Author’s Dashboard Once you have established yourself as a Goodreads Author, you will have access to your Author’s Dashboard. This page will show you all the details of your account, including how many books you have written, your average rating, how many followers you have, etc. It will also give you the opportunity to manage your profile, manage who can send you questions, and write posts for your blog. There is also a form you can fill out if you’re interested in advertising your book. This, however, requires a budget. So if you aren’t interested in spending a little on advertising, don’t worry as much about this; there are many effective ways to promote your book, at no cost to you, through the site!

Hosting a Goodreads Giveaway Once you’ve created an author profile, you will be able to host giveaways for your book. This can help you reach a wider audience base because anyone with an account on the website can enter. Hosting a giveaway is simple! Goodreads has a form for you to fill out that details everything you need for setting up the giveaway. It includes information such as: the start and end dates for the giveaway, the countries that are eligible for the giveaway, the number of copies you will be giving away, etc. Once you fill out the necessary information for the form, Goodreads will review it and either approve or reject it. They also request contact information, just in case they have questions for you or need additional information about your giveaway. Once it has been approved, Goodreads takes care of everything to set up and run the giveaway. They even take care of selecting the winners! You will get an

Page | 17 email from Goodreads letting you know your giveaway has been approved. It will then appear directly on your Author’s Dashboard, so you can track the status of your giveaway and who has entered. The only other task you will need to do on your end is ship the books to the winners when the giveaway has ended and the winners have been selected.

Widgets If you have a website or a Facebook page for your books, Goodreads gives you the option to add widgets to external pages. This is a fantastic way to draw additional traffic to your Goodreads profile, but can also be an effective way to obtain more reviews for your book. To add a widget to your website, all you need to do is copy the html code they give you into your website’s html. If you aren’t html-savvy, it is much simpler to add your Goodreads profile to your Facebook page. On your Author’s Dashboard, all the way at the bottom of the page you will have the option to add a Goodreads tab to your Facebook page. Once you add the tab, you will then be able to manage the Goodreads tab right from Facebook. You can determine if you would like it to display your Goodreads author information, book information, and review information. These are the basics to get you started on creating and using your Author’s Profile on Goodreads! Want more information? Goodreads has an information page that is frequently updated with extra information about utilizing your Author’s Page and alerting the authors of any changes and updates: https://www.goodreads.com/authors-advertisers.

AMAZON’S AUTHOR CENTRAL Once your book has been listed on Amazon, you will be able to create an Amazon Author Central account. Having an Author Page on Amazon is a wonderful place to add information about yourself so your readers can get to know you. It is also a fantastic way to educate them about your book or future writings. You will use your Author Central account to customize what is displayed on the Author Page. After you create an account, Amazon displays essential information about the author on that page. This includes:

• Biographies • Bibliographies • Author photos • Feeds to blog posts

Creating an Author Central Account • Go to https://authorcentral.amazon.com/ and click “Join Now.” • Enter your email address and password and click Sign In. If you have an Amazon.com account, sign in with the email address and password you use for that account. o If you do not have an existing Amazon.com account, select “No, I am a new customer.” You will be prompted to enter the necessary information. Read Author Central’s Terms & Conditions, and then click “Agree” to accept them. o Enter the name your book is written under. Select any one of your books. If your book is not in the list, you can search for it by title or ISBN. The book you select must be available for purchase on Amazon.com. Selecting the book creates the account. o When you receive the confirmation email from Amazon, confirm your email and identity.

Page | 18 To finish the process, all you will have to do is wait to get a confirmation from Amazon that your account has been verified. The verification process can take up to 7 days, so, don’t be alarmed if you don’t get a response right away. Sometimes they need to contact your publisher to verify your identity first.

Managing Your Profile As soon as you sign up for Author Central, Amazon starts the creation process for your Author Page. It can take 3-5 days for the page to appear on the actual Amazon site, but you can immediately begin adding content to get your page ready. There are many ways to manage your profile including:

• Managing your biography • Uploading photos • Uploading videos • Managing events • Creating your page URL

By adding photos, videos, etc., you will give your readers the opportunity to get to know you better and give them the chance to connect with you outside of Amazon (such as your professional website, Facebook Page, etc.).

Other Features Having an Author Central account isn’t just about managing your profile and your bibliography. Author Central’s biggest asset is that you can track your Amazon sales. So, any time someone purchases your book in print or in Kindle format from Amazon’s website, the sales will be tracked directly on your account. Although it won’t include sales from other retailers, like the sales report from Page Publishing will, it will still give you a good idea of how well your book is selling without having to wait for the quarterly reports featuring all of the retailers. Amazon’s Author Central also features a tab on sales information that lists your ranking within their website. It is information that is updated hourly and can be a fun way to see how your book ranks against the other books listed on Amazon daily. This step is not vital to the success of your book, but is fun to track! Amazon’s Author Central offers many features and is constantly changing and growing. Having an account to maintain your Author Page will be a big asset to marketing your publication and worth the invested time. The best part? They offer all the resources you need directly on their site to help you utilize the account and use it as an effective marketing tool.

Page | 19 WEBINARS AND CLASSES What is a webinar? A webinar is an online seminar that turns a standard presentation (or discussion about your book and its message) into a real-time conversation with people from anywhere in the world. It allows those in attendance to engage in the discussion with access to audio, documents, or presentation slides of your choosing and creation. Creating the discussion will better allow you to understand your audience, their concerns, and topics that are most relevant to them. It is a great way to understand who your reader base is, what drives them to choose a book, and how you can use that to drive any future marketing plans and ideas. Webinars will take some extra time to set up, as it is not as easy as going “live” and having people join in. There are roles that will need to be fulfilled before you can successfully create and run a webinar. Each webinar will need: • An Organizer: This is a person that is going to set up the date, time, invite list, and promote your seminar. This person can be you, the author, or can be an outside source you choose. • The Presenter: This is one or more people hosting your webinar. Since you are the person most familiar with your work and its message, try not to shy away from hosting it yourself. • Attendees: These are the people that you want to include and invite to your webinar. You can invite, friends, family, community members, and your online following from social media (Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc.). Do not be afraid to start small with each webinar. Try the first few with just family and close friends, as you are going to gain experience with each one. Then expand into a bigger and wider audience. You will have the option to grow your base.

While webinars can be more tedious to create, there are some basic ideas to keep in mind as you are creating your webinar outline: 1. Set an objective a. What are you trying to accomplish? What goals do you want to reach before the end of the seminar? What goals do you have for the long term? 2. Understand your audience a. What are their concerns, what is going to encourage them to purchase a copy? 3. What can you discuss that is going to resonate with your readers? a. What information do you want to leave them with that will stick with them? What can they use once your teachings are over? What information from your book can you use? 4. Incorporate your book a. The underlying goal is to get readers to purchase copies of your book. Do not be afraid to promote your book during your webinar and offer some of the main points that your book contains without giving too much away. 5. Keep your webinar to 60 minutes or less a. A session that is too long may decrease participation and excitement. 6. Promote participation a. Ask questions, provide content that is thought-provoking or requires action. Keep your attendees thinking, asking, and commenting. 7. Try not to rush a. Make sure to leave time for questions and comments. Maintaining a steady pace will keep your attendees interacting and not feeling as though you are hurrying through. 8. Have fun a. Try not to get too bogged down with making it perfect and just have fun with it!

Page | 20 USING ZOOM FOR YOUR WEBINAR/CLASS What is Zoom? Zoom.com is an online communication website that allows for video and audio conferencing, chats, and webinars. It allows you to have a wide number of attendees and the option to bring in other experts or hosts in the field. You can offer smaller zoom meetings, webinars, and classes as well! You can tailor it to the size and scope of audience you wish to include. Other than scheduling, inviting, and holding your webinar, Zoom allows you to do some other options that can be beneficial, even after the session.

1. Record the webinar for a future use and distribution. 2. Make the session available on-demand. This allows attendees who were unable to attend to still watch and gain the information that you provided. 3. Zoom offers reports after the webinar is over to analyze the statistics. (Polls, Q&A, Attendee, Registrant and Performance.) You can use this data to help plan for the next event and make the appropriate changes.

SIGNING UP FOR A ZOOM ACCOUNT Zoom is free to join, but if you’d like to use their more advanced options, there is a small fee to do so.

To sign up, you will need to follow these simple steps: 1. Go to zoom.us/signup 2. You will be asked to enter your age for verification 3. Enter in your email address, or you can opt to sign up using your Google account, a Single Sign On account, or Facebook. Click “Create Account.”

That’s it for creating an account! You’ll be directed to the Zoom dashboard where you can schedule a meeting, view past meetings, or view templates. Once you have a meeting scheduled, it will show on your dashboard under “Meetings” and will provide the meeting ID needed for your attendees to join. The free version of Zoom is perfect for smaller, more intimate groups or classes of readers. If you would like to hold a full webinar with a larger group, you will need to purchase the add-on within Zoom to do so. This add-on will give you access to the extra items that were discussed earlier, and will allow you to connect with more people during each session. Planning online classes or webinars can be tricky at first. You may want to request your attendees purchase a copy of your book before the class so they have it to reference, or you may give them the option to order copies after the class is over. With either option, you have the ability to plan and control your class as you see fit. If you are requesting they have a copy in advance, you can add the option to the registration form they fill out, as well as any other fees that may be assessed. You will then have the option to mail them a copy of your book with their outline as well as any other receipts or documents. On the other hand, if you request they order their copy when the class is over, share the ordering link or webpage directly with them at the end of the class. You may want to offer a discount on the book, free shipping, or even a discount on the next class you teach. Having books on hand with the additional marketing items will show that you are serious about your book and want it to get into their hands as quickly as possible. Remember, you can order copies of your book directly from Page Publishing through the Author Discount Program. Not only will having books on hand help you be prepared for classes and webinars you may offer, but it will also give you a stock of books to sell directly to your expanding network of fans and connections.

Page | 21 PODCASTS What is a podcast? Podcasts are audio shows consisting of individual episodes that are designed to entertain, educate, and inform the listener. These are the modern talk-radio types of shows. Podcasts can be heard any time and any place by a listener. Creating a podcast or being a guest on a podcast is a great way to share your voice with the audience and pitch your book to potential readers. Creating a show might seem like an intimidating task, but with some determination and the right tools it might be the right fit for your marketing goals. With a few simple elements, you can record a podcast show and upload it to your platform of choice.

Creating a podcast and posting regularly can increase your exposure and lead to a larger fan base. Here are a few advantages to consider when planning a podcast: • Relationship – Since podcasts are typically on-demand, each listener is using their own device on their own time. This can make the experience a little more intimate, even though many people may be listening. You created an experience exclusively for them without even trying. You have managed to go from a “voice” to a person who has something important to say that will directly impact their life. • Convenience – Since podcasts are streamed on-demand, they have been the leading source for “on-the-go” content. People listen anywhere and any place. Instead of stopping to read a social media post or blog entry, they are able to listen while doing anything they choose. • Flexibility – Much like a blog or vlog, you have the opportunity to post as much as you would like and take the concerns, questions, and relevancy that they are currently experiencing and create content based on what is trending. You have the fluidity to move from topic to topic or idea to idea from episode to episode.

When creating a podcast, it is important to ask yourself some questions (these questions are the basis for your marketing efforts):

• Who is my potential audience? Who do I want to reach? • Who would my work interest? Fiction, Nonfiction, Religious, Children, etc.? • What can I give that would benefit the reader? What information can I discuss that would keep them interested and coming back? • How would my topics directly relate to my book or entice readers to order?

With the small investment of equipment and time, creating a podcast (and posting regularly) might be the niche that is needed to create a fan base and gain readers. Since podcasting has become so popular, there is a variety of inexpensive equipment and software available.

PODCAST GUEST HOST If creating a podcast does not interest you, the option to be a guest on one could be just as beneficial. With exploring what you and your book can offer to a show, you could potentially be a guest on an established show. If you would like to be a guest, you can either wait for a podcast host to contact you, or you can actively reach out to hosts, pitch yourself and your book, and inquire about being a guest on their show. Podcasters, like any media host, crave content ideas to keep their shows fresh and alive.

Page | 22 The podcast you reach out to should be a similar genre that aligns with you and your book’s point of view. You should ensure your talking points are ones that allow for a smooth transition and the host is able to connect to what you are saying. Your area of expertise is going to be related to your book. Remember, the main goal of guest-hosting is to persuade readers to look you up and see your book is available for purchase. You want to gain visibility within online searches. The more people that look for you, the more they are going to see you have a book available for purchase!

You are interested in being a guest on a podcast, now what? 1. Find your audience a. This is the driving force behind every marketing idea you want to implement. Without considering your target audience, there is no place to start. Know your audience, who your book would benefit the most, and what you want them to take away from reading your book. Life lessons, knowledge, entertainment, etc. 2. Find podcasts that are relevant to your target audience a. You can search any streaming service that has podcasts to see if there are any that have similar genres, ideas, and direction you want to take your book in. b. Create a list of podcasts you want to contact. This can be as small as five, or as many as twenty. The more podcasts you reach out to, the more opportunities you may have. You do not want to create a small pool of options and then get discouraged if they do not work out in your favor. This is a learning opportunity, so take every rejection in stride. Find the lesson and what you could do better, and move on to the next. c. Make sure to write down the podcast name, website URL or streaming service, and the topic of the podcast. This is going to come in handy when you are compiling your personal “pitch.” 3. Contact the Podcast Host a. Once you have created your list of potential podcasts, you are going to take the time and visit each website or podcast site they have. With most podcasts, there is a “Contact Us” feature, or a spot where you can contact them directly via email. This is going to be crucial for communication. Since we are in the digital age, sending physical letters in the mail is likely outdated and someone who runs a podcast would agree. Use the technology at your fingertips for quick communication and less waited time. b. Once you have the host’s email address, you are going to pitch yourself to them. Creating a well-worded (but not lengthy) email to the host is going to speak volumes to what you can offer their show. Remember to show the host your value as a writer, author, and human. ▪ What can you teach their audience? ▪ Any interesting stories that would be not only entertaining by helpful? ▪ What new information can you share? ▪ How does your expertise directly relate to their show? 4. Follow-up appropriately a. Be sure to follow up! Writing and marketing a book is not a sprint, it is more like a marathon. It will take time for you to receive responses. Do not bombard your potential hosts with numerous emails, and try to be patient before following up again. b. Send a polite follow-up email. Be sure to address the host and inquire about the status of your previous request. Continue to sell yourself and your attributes, and do not be afraid to “close the deal.” Ex. “I am very excited to work with you in the near future. Please let me know if there is anything you would like me to do before we schedule and confirm a topic.”

Page | 23 If a host is interested, they will reach out to you. If they do not, be courteous, persistent, and 100% professional. You never know what other podcasters he or she may have in their network, so it is important not to burn bridges due to a rejection.

You have been asked to join in on a podcast recording – Great! 1. Listen to some episodes of the podcast that you are a guest on. This will give you insight to the flow, direction, and host as they move through an interview. It will create a sense of familiarity and will allow you to get ideas of what worked or did not work with other guests. 2. Prepare your points of interest in advance. You are the expert with your book, so make sure you have a list of points available and ready for talking. This will create a smooth interview and will allow for easy transitions from one point to the next. 3. Create your success. Make sure that you are in a quiet place that is free from distractions. You want to ensure that you are 100% committed to the interview and ready for anything that the host might throw at you. Overall, it should be a fun experience that gives you more exposure while giving the host quality content.

LOCAL RADIO STATIONS Some of the best assets available to you are ones that are right within your own community! Local radio stations are a great asset if you are looking for something that has more of a “home” feel to it. Just like being a guest host on a podcast, you can reach out to local radio stations to see if they offer guest interview spots on their programming. Some may even offer a segment for community members; this would be a great place to start as many communities want to see their members excel in their personal endeavors.

Use the same basic outline as you would with reaching out to the podcast hosts 1. Compile your list of radio stations 2. Find their contact information online 3. Reach out, introduce yourself, and pitch what you have to offer their show. 4. Follow up appropriately.

Some may think that starting on a large scale is the way to go. However, word of mouth tends to be the greatest asset that you have. Why not start with the people that are close to you and want to see you succeed? If you would like to have an interview but would prefer to have some assistance, Page Publishing can certainly take the guess work out of scheduling and recording! For a fee, the Radio Interview Promotion gives you the opportunity to do a three-minute radio interview about your book. The interviews are recorded at a pre-arranged time that is convenient for you, edited down to the most compelling remarks about the book to catch the interest of the listeners, and will be aired on the Page Publishing Book Club show on WOR .710. It will also be aired on iHeartRadio.com. Once it has been aired, you will be provided with a link of the show to use for your own publicity efforts.

Page | 24 ONLINE NEWSPAPERS/MAGAZINES

Local Use the resources that are at your fingertips. Start small. Start local. Reach out to your local newspaper and see if they would be interested in an article of a local published author. “Local Author has book published!” Many local newspapers want to showcase local talent and their contributions to the world around them, so contacting them may open some doors for local sales or the possibility for other marketing articles or events. Try not to get discouraged if the article is online-only. This can be a great thing! In this digital age, everyone is looking something up, reading online, or accessing their local new stories through an app or website. Once your article or story is published, it is online for good. So even after the time has passed, if a potential reader searches for you or your book, the same article will likely generate for them.

Specialized Publications Do you have a specialized magazine or newspaper in mind that you want to submit to? Maybe an alumni newsletter, reading group newsletter, or a platform that is directly related to your genre? Do it! Reach out to potential contacts and let them know that you have written a book and would be honored if they would be interested in showcasing it within their publication. If you can find a connection to their subscribers (whether it is you or your book) you have already completed step one. Now is the time to persuade the deciding party how they could benefit from doing a write-up. What is your personal pitch? How will your book positively impact their readers?

While some publications may request an article about you, your book, the reason behind writing, experience, etc. some may only have the space or be interested in publishing/posting an ad for your book. That is quite okay! You are able to market your book just as efficiently as a full article, just with less words and a great visual. With the additional promotional items that Page Publishing can create for you, you would have access to not only the final cover design formatted for marketing, but also the important information all in one spot. Items like bookmarks, business cards, and sell sheets would include the important information all in one neat package with very little hassle. We would do the design work for you ahead of time! You would then submit a physical or digital copy for publishing!

CREATING YOUR OWN WORDPRESS WEBSITE Creating a website might sound difficult, but we can make it quick and easy for you! There are many ways to create a good website, but most of them want a substantial amount of money. Wordpress is free, if you don’t mind having “wordpress.com” at the end of your website address. If you would like to have a custom domain name, that is also an option if you’re agreeable to paying a fee for it. Here is what you need to get started: Go to www.wordpress.com, Click the “Get Started” link in the upper right- hand corner of the screen. It will ask you what your website will be about.

Page | 25 Steps in Chronological Order: 1. It will ask you what your site is going to be about. You can simply type in your book’s title or what your book is about in about 10 words or less. There is no need to go overboard with the entire back cover summary in that small text box. 2. The next page that pops up will have options for creating a blog, website, portfolio, or an online store. We want you to stay directed towards making the website. You will just click on that (website) and it will take you to the next appropriate page. 3. Next, you can choose a theme for your website, or you can skip it and go back to that later. We recommend going back to it later. You don’t want to limit yourself to the endless possibilities of expressing your book the way you envisioned! 4. This is where you can get creative and give your website its domain name. A domain is what you will give to other people to type into their computer and direct them to your website. Example: www.yourbooktitle.wordpress.com 5. You will see a few options you can choose from to create your site. We recommend having either the free version, which will require you to still have the “wordpress.com” at the end of your domain name, or you can pay $2.99/month and be billed annually in order to receive a custom domain name (which would not have to use “wordpress.com” at the end of domain). 6. Choose which plan is best for you and you can create your username and password for your website. We recommend using something that relates to your book so it’s easy to remember.

That’s all there is to it! Once you’ve created the website, you can customize it however you would like. This would be a great place to display your cover art, book summary, ATA, etc. You can also include links that will direct readers where they can purchase your book.

SELLING DIRECTLY TO YOUR READERS In these ever-changing times, it is important to remain flexible with how you do business and do not be afraid to modify and change the way you navigate through marketing your book. While your book is available in the broader, world-wide market, many of our authors sell books on their own in order to meet their local demand. Another great option to consider is setting yourself up for success by allowing readers to purchase copies of your book directly from you. Of course, find the best fit for your needs, but below are just a few general suggestions to help you get started. Since you can purchase your books from Page Publishing at a steeply discounted price, you have a wider profit margin to experiment with. There is a vast number of platforms you may find to offer your book for sale. You may decide to set up your own personalized webpage that includes an ordering option. There are several services that make setting up your own website easy and cost-effective, such as GoDaddy and WordPress. There are also other online marketplaces you can post items for sale without having your own custom website. Sites like eBay and Etsy give you a place to sell your goods for a small fee or commission. There are also several social media marketplaces and groups that offer options for sellers. We have seen other authors who have partnered with their church and community groups that offer items for sale too. With so many options at your fingertips, try to find one that best suits your needs and goals.

Page | 26 Organizing and Recording Customer Information In order to ship out a book to a reader, you will need to have their contact information and address. There are a few different sites that you could use to acquire/store this information. With both options, you can securely receive the information and use it to finish processing the order: 1. Google Docs – This is one of the easiest ways to set up and manage your own registration or ordering form. You can create your own order form and have it available for readers to input their information (name, email, phone, address, etc.) This will allow you to easily receive, review, and save customer information. The only stipulation is that you will need to already have or set up a Google account to access these and other great tools. 2. Jot Form – This is another site you can use for recording information. It is similar to Google Docs with the ability to create, modify, receive, and review customer information.

Receiving Payment for the Book Order It is particularly important you give your readers a safe and secure means to pay for the order. Invoicing online has become a common means to send and receive payments for goods and services.

Here are a few trusted examples: 1. PayPal – With a site like PayPal, you can create an invoice and email it directly to your reader for payment. The reader is then able to pay for the order directly without having to share their card information with you and you are not responsible for keeping their personal card information safe. After the payment is made, the funds will go into your personal account and you are free to transfer the funds as you would like. 2. Square – Square is a mobile payment company that offers financial services. Much like PayPal, you can send an invoice for the total cost of order and shipping directly to a buyer via email. They are then able to securely make their payment and the funds are sent to you.

These are just a few options available for processing online orders. We recommend researching the best option for you. Each comes with pros and cons to their services, so find the best fit for you and the business plan that you have.

Shipping the Order For the customer, this is the most important part of the ordering process. You are going to want to make sure that you choose an option that is both cost-effective and reliable, so the book arrives without damage and within a timely manner. You are free to use UPS, Fed-Ex, or the US Postal Service for your mailing needs. Some options even include templates and software, so you can ship your goods from the comfort of your own home. Again, find the service that works best for you and do not be afraid to use multiple services if you find a better option for the needs or destination of your customer.

*When selling any items on your own, we highly recommend consulting with an accountant or business professional to ensure all proper permits, resale laws, and tax laws are being followed for your locality and state*

Page | 27 ADDITIONAL MARKETING ASSISTANCE OFFERED

❖ Radio Interview – Page will arrange and schedule a radio interview between you and the host of our Book Club radio show. The interview is pre-recorded from the comfort of your own home and is then made available for you to use in your own marketing efforts after airing.

❖ Video Trailer – A 30-second video production which includes high-resolution images related to the story and information as to the various outlets where the book is available for purchase. This video will be posted to YouTube and will also be available on your author portal.

❖ Social Media Package – Please see the details in the Social Media section of this guide which features our social media partners, Snow Tree Media.

❖ Combined Book Exhibit (CBE) – CBE’s goal is to help promote and showcase titles at major book events around the world. Books would be showcased at major national and international books shows, allowing authors to promote their books to a collective worldwide audience of over two-million attendees and readers, without having to be present themselves. Let them know you are a Page Publishing author and receive exclusive pricing! Website: https://secure.combinedbook.com/cbe_reseller/pagepublishing

Email: [email protected] Phone: 914-739-7500, EXT 101

❖ Audiobook Network – This is a trusted company we have worked with over the years for authors who are interested in creating an audiobook from their print book. You already have a great story, why not let it come to life through sound? Audiobook Network will take your already published book and move you through the steps necessary to create, publish, and promote an audiobook edition for easy listening. Website: www.audiobooknetwork.com Phone: 866-296-7774

❖ Author Promotional Package – A collection of printed marketing materials including 1,000 bookmarks, 1,000 sell sheets, and one large 24x36 inch poster. Individual printed promo materials are also available.

❖ Promo Items A la Carte – The following page shows a complete list of all individual promotional materials available through Page Publishing. If you are interested in learning additional details about these publicity options, please feel free to reach out to your Coordinator. They will be happy to provide you with any information you might need about these promotions!

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Sell Sheets What sort of information is included on a sell sheet? Includes the following information: -Title and name of author, as well as the formats the book is available in -Page count, price, & ISBNs for all formats, book summary, and information about the author -Marketing & distribution information, stating your book is available via Ingram. What are the dimensions of a sell sheet? Sell sheets are 8.5x11 inches. How many can I order? Available in the following quantities: 100, 200, 500, 1000 What is the cost? 100 sell sheets: $124.95 500 sell sheets: $199.95 200 sell sheets: $159.95 1000 sell sheets: $249.95

Magnets What information is included on a magnet? Magnets show the front image of the author’s cover. What are the dimensions of a magnet? Magnets are 2x3.5 inches. How many can I order? Available in the following quantities: 25, 50, 75, 100 What is the cost? 25 magnets: $64.95 75 magnets: $139.95 50 magnets: $99.95 100 magnets: $174.95

Invitation Cards What sort of information is included on an invitation card? Invitation cards will say, “You are invited to a book signing for author ____”. It will then provide the Date, Time, Location, and RSVP areas that can be filled in later by the author. The front image of the cover design will also be included on the left side of the invitation card. What are the dimensions of an invitation card? Invitation cards are 5x7 inches. How many can I order? Available in the following quantities: 100, 250, 500, 1000 What is the cost? 100 invitation cards: $75.95 500 invitation cards: $119.95 250 invitation cards: $99.95 1000 invitation cards: $159.95

Bookmarks What sort of information is included on a bookmark? The front of the bookmark will have the cover image of the book’s cover. The back includes book’s title, author name, and the author’s Page Publishing webpage link. What are the dimensions of a bookmark? Bookmarks are 2x6 inches. How many can I order? Available in the following quantities: 250, 500, 1000 What is the cost? 250 Bookmarks: $139.95 500 Bookmarks: $164.95 1000 Bookmarks: $219.95

Posters What type of image is placed on the poster? Will show front image of the book’s Cover Design. What are the dimensions of a poster? Available in sizes: 18x24 inches or 24x36 inches. What is the cost? 18x24 inch poster: $59.95 24x36 inch poster: $69.95

Business Cards What sort of information is included on a business card? Will have the front image of the author’s cover on the left. The title, author name, & author webpage link will be on the right. What are the dimensions of a business card? Business cards are 2x3.5 inches. How many can I order? Available in the following quantities: 100, 200, 500, 1000 What is the cost? 100 business cards: $59.95 500 business cards: $79.95 200 business cards: $69.95 1000 business cards: $99.95

Page | 29 FINAL THOUGHTS

By using some of the tips and tools provided in this guide, we hope you increase your chances of gaining success for your publication. It is important to remember: Success is seldom guaranteed, and its meaning can be relative to those trying to achieve it. Take pride in even the smallest of successes and do your best to avoid getting discouraged. To gain success and sell copies of your book, you will benefit from a positive attitude, being proactive, and working hard with a variety of tools and approaches. Introducing any new product into a wide and competitive market can take time to gain traction and build a following. This process is better thought of as a marathon rather than a sprint, when considering your book’s goals. Each mile brings with it, its own lessons, experiences, and gifts. At times it may be frustrating, and you may even want to give up and become discouraged. Do not stop trying and keep pressing on to the next mile! It may take some time and patience, but you will establish yourself as a successful author and will see that the effort was entirely worth it in the end! We love hearing our authors’ feedback, so if you have a tip or suggestion we did not include that was effective for you and your book, please share it with us! We also love to publicize our authors’ recent events – be sure to snap a few photos and share them with us so we can post your event information in our “Recent Events” section on the Page Publishing website! You can feel free to email us at [email protected]. We sincerely hope you have enjoyed the publishing process and thank you for partnering with us to bring your book to life, while still fulfilling our mission. Page Publishing continues to focus on partnering with budding authors to assist them in realizing their dreams. We aim to be an internationally recognized publisher, known for impeccable service and professionalism, while remaining true to our founding principle that great pieces of literature can come from anywhere.

--Your Page Publishing Family

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