Promotion in Motion: Completely Whole, with multi-talented Paulette Harper

Please welcome our special guest this morning, Author, coach, radio host, blogger, Bible study teacher, Paulette Harper Johnson.

When I wrote my first book in 2008 I had absolutely no idea about marketing or promoting.  I thought (like most aspiring authors) my publisher was going to do most of it for me. But I soon realized that I had to do about 95% of it. WOW what a shocker!  But after my dismay, I rolled up my sleeves and got busy.  I soon found that God had blessed me with another niche when it came to marketing.  My passion and desire now is to connect readers with authors.  As the owner of WNL Virtual Blog Tours I share with my clients ways they can gain more exposure while promoting their books.

Here are ten ways to help bring awareness to you as an author.

1. Send review copies of your books to book clubs and to all the journal and magazines that review books in your genre.  Most publishers will do this, but it never hurts to research other places that you can submit a copy of your book. There are plenty of places on-line that will review your book for “free.”

The importance of book reviews: Now that you have written the book, the next step is to find an audience to read it. Cultivating an audience is essential to the success of any book. It is very important that your book is reviewed. A book review is an opportunity for people to take notice to what you have written. Once your book is reviewed, there are plenty of places the review can be posted (i.e. Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites).

You should seek out those in your target audience, editors of newspapers or journals, book club presidents, and those who are willing to review the book. Include an email on your website, inviting them to review your book upon request. Ask them where they are planning to send or post the review. You want to make sure that those whom you are asking for a review copy know you are expecting them to do a review to help you promote your book. Book reviews give your book credibility! Here are just a few places you can announce your book release and reviews:

http://freebookreviews.blogspot.com http://www.bookreview.com/$spindb.query.bottom.booknew http://www.prweb.com/

2.  Offer sample chapter as free downloads on your website. This is an excellent way to “tease” readers to want more. Make sure the chapters you are offering are your best chapters, and turn those chapters into PDF files.

3. Publish an e-mail newsletter. This is a great opportunity to connect with your audience. You could pull nuggets from your book, give book excerpts, and offer other valuable information to your readers. Encourage people to subscribe on the website, and then send out an occasional newsletter with interesting new material in this book’s field.

4. Do book signings. Find places that are willing to allow you to come do a book signing. Years ago, bookstores were thriving with author’s book signing; but over the years, book stores have closed down. Because of this we have had to think outside the box.

5. Give away copies to the right people. Use this as your calling card. Give copies to potential clients and customers. Encourage them to read it and pass it on to others.

6. Sell your books out of your trunk. Always carry books and promotional material with you at all times.

7. Leave promotional items at the dentist or doctor’s office and any other professional business where people gather. I’ve left bookmarks in the pockets of the airplane.

8. Become a reviewer on Amazon. Use your own name accompanied by “author of the book…” Review other books; and when people read your reviews, some will click through to your book.

9. Become a Blogger and blog about your book.

10. Write articles using some of your book’s content.

 

Paulette Harper Johnson is an award winning author, writing coach, Bible teacher, radio host, and the owner of WNL Virtual Blog Tours. Her years of marketing her own self-published books have created a special talent in her—her ability to sell a product well. Not only does she specialize in marketing strategies, but also serves as the publicist for P.F.L. Publishing.

She serves in ministry as an Elder with her husband Sr. Pastor Tony E. Johnson at Word of Faith Worship Center in Bradenton and North Port FL. Paulette’s website: www.pauletteharper.com

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