• Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Books & Such Literary Management

A full-service literary agency that focuses on books for the Christian market.

  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Books & Such
    • Our Agents
    • Our Behind-the-Scenes Staff
    • Our Travel Schedule
  • Our Authors
    • Author News
    • Collaborators and Ghostwriters
  • Submissions
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Virtual Writing Intensive
    • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Editors Select
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Books & Such
    • Our Agents
    • Our Behind-the-Scenes Staff
    • Our Travel Schedule
  • Our Authors
    • Author News
    • Collaborators and Ghostwriters
  • Submissions
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Virtual Writing Intensive
    • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Editors Select

MARKETING MATTERS: Taming the Marketing Monster, Part 3

April 1, 2009 //  by Kathleen Y'Barbo//  Leave a Comment

Blogger: Kathleen Y’Barbo, Publicist

Location: The Woodlands, TX Publicity Office

Weather: Rainy and 65 degrees

Last week I touched on a few ways to carve out time to publicize your book. This week I’d like to take a look at what can you, a writer, do to get your book noticed? That is, what are your PR talents?

Before you answer “none,” let’s think about that. You’re a writer. Perhaps your skills translate to press releases. You will never know until you give one a try. Many good resources show how to write releases. For example, Bill Stoller has a great step-by-step page on his website: http://www.publicityinsider.com/release.asp.

After you’ve written the release, where do you send it? Start with your local newspapers. Most have websites with information on their requirements and even email addresses for staff members. From there, go regional by doing a search for papers in the larger cities around you. The sky’s the limit here, though you should only send the release to one employee of each paper at a time. To blanket multiple sources at one media outlet is not only a bad idea, but it also will brand the sender as a novice.

So your writing skills don’t lend themselves to press releases? What about scheduling speaking events? Or mentoring? Do you like helping other writers learn their craft? Then get out there and do workshops. You don’t think of that as marketing? Word-of-mouth is still the best way to get a buzz started about your books, and what better way to generate some talk than to speak to writers–who are by their very nature, readers?

Not ready to speak at writers conferences? Perhaps you can offer your skills in a smaller venue such as your local book club or women’s or MOPS group. These sorts of events serve the dual purpose of getting your name out and offering a book table that will hopefully generate sales.

Another great marketing tool for those of you who are tech savvy is your website. Keep the content fresh and, above all, be professional. It is, after all, your calling card and should represent not only you but also what you write.

These are just a few ideas of ways to tame the marketing monster by using your skills. Next week I’l wrap up my discussion by talking about cost-effective ways to get out the word. In the meantime, I’d love to know what sorts of publicity you’ve learned to do, whether effectively or not.

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Category: Marketing & PublicityTag: Bill Stoller, marketing, press releases, publicity, workshops

Previous Post: « English As My Only Reading Language
Next Post: Harry Potter and Familiar Landscapes »

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Teri D. Smith

    April 1, 2009 at 5:17 pm

    Thanks for these timely tips. I wouldn’t have had any idea how to format a press release.

    I’ve got a proposal out and haven’t yet heard the word on it, but I’m told it’s not too early to begin some of these marketing ideas.

    I am teaching a fiction writing class to homeschool high school students, and I’m helping get a local writer’s group started. I didn’t realize these activities were a part of marketing.

    Thanks so much. I’ll be checking back for more tips.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to the Blog

Awards

Feedspot Top Literary Agent Blog Top 50 Writing Blogs









Site Footer

Connect with Us

  • Books & Such
  • Janet Grant
  • Cynthia Ruchti
  • Rachel Kent
  • Wendy Lawton
  • Barb Roose
  • Debbie Alsdorf
  • Jen Babakhan
  • Janet Grant
  • Cynthia Ruchti
  • Rachel Kent
  • Barb Roose
  • Debbie Alsdorf
  • Cynthia Ruchti
  • Wendy Lawton
  • Barb Roose
  • Debbie Alsdorf
  • Jen Babakhan
  • Debbie Alsdorf

Copyright © 2025 Books & Such Literary Management • All Rights Reserved • Privacy Policy • Site by Erin Ulrich Creative

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok