When Should an Author Start Thinking About Book Promotion?

Guest post by Marsha J Friedman

Many new authors think the answer is either "when the book is done" or "doesn't the publisher take care of that?"

But unless you are a Glenn Beck or Dan Brown, both of those responses are dead wrong.

The right answer is before you start to write your book! Before you type the first word, it is critical that you think about the project in its entirety - including a plan for marketing and promotion and a budget as well. Here are a few questions you want to ask yourself in this process:

• What do I want to accomplish with my book? Is it a marketing vehicle to build your credibility and grow your business? Or perhaps it's a novel you're hoping will turn into a series, with fans begging for the next installment. Your answers to this fundamental question affect not only what you write, and how you write it, but what kind of promotional effort makes sense for your book.

• Who do I want to reach with my message? Know your audience. Are they teens, men, women, baby boomers or seniors? If you've identified who you are writing to, it will help hone your writing style and your message. But, it will also affect to a very large degree how you go about promoting your book and the marketing opportunities available for reaching your audience. For example, an effective digital promotional strategy that reaches busy young people will not necessarily hit the mark with seniors who are less likely to get their information from the Internet or mobile phones.

• What title and cover design will get book buyers interested in what I have to say? The title of your book can play a key role in the promotion and sales of your book. And, with limited space available for the precise words that will effectively communicate how dynamic and interesting your book is, you can see how important that title can be. There's also the actual design of the book cover to consider which can either forward your key message, or make it seem as dull as dishwater. My point is that an impactful title with a very creative cover plays an important role in the marketing of your book, but this is an expense you must calculate into your marketing and promotional budget. Speaking of budget - this leads me to the last point which is without a doubt, one of the most important points.

• What kind of a budget do I need for the entire project? Regardless of whether your book will be self-published, or you've attracted the interest of a major publisher, a budget for marketing and promotion is an absolute must. And an effective book marketing campaign isn't necessarily cheap, particularly if you're going to hire a professional firm to execute a solid campaign. But, if you choose to do the promotion yourself, there are still expenses involved that you need to factor into your budget, not the least of which may be hiring someone in-house to assist you, either with your book promotion or your normal everyday work that will pile up because of the book promotion!

There is a reason I am hitting this point so hard. It's because of the countless emails and calls I get from authors who didn't really understand this would be necessary, and who are now sitting with great books in a warehouse or boxed up in their garage. I feel bad, but there's nothing to compare with how frustrated or disappointed they feel after all the hard work, time and passion they've invested in the whole process.

I'm reminded of Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote, "Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door." It may be catchy, but it's simply not true. Here's the truth: the only way the world will beat a path to your door - or to bookstores, your website or listing on Amazon.com - is if consumers even know your book exists...and that means a great deal of marketing and promotion.

Instead of explaining about the books in the garage to the grandkids, wouldn't it make a much better story to tell them how you became a successful writer?

For 20 years Marsha Friedman has been a leading authority on public relations as CEO of EMSI, a national public relations firm. Her firm represents corporations and experts in a wide array of fields such as business, health, food, lifestyle, politics, finance, law, sports and entertainment. Some of the more prominent names on her client roster are Teamster's President Jimmy Hoffa Jr., Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Former National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane and the famous Motown Group, the Temptations.

She consults individuals and businesses on a daily basis and is frequently asked to speak at conferences about how to harness the power of publicity. Go to www.emsincorporated.com to signup for Marsha Friedman's free weekly PR Tips today! More resources for authors can also be found at www.publicitythatworks.com. Or call 727-443-7115, ext. 202, or email her at info@marshafriedman.com.