Good books need good marketing strategies. Writing a good book is not the end of the line for an author. Unless an author has the support of a team of marketers, he will have to involve himself in all the activities of marketing to sell the book, in addition to writing it. Often books that are well written go unnoticed, if they have not been marketed successfully. The successful author often has to take a very active role in promoting his books. Marketing not only involves letting people know about your book, but also getting them to want to buy the book. Listed below are a few strategies that various authors use and benefit from, for marketing their books.



Use Bookstores and Libraries: It is a very basic idea to head down to a local bookstore and request them to stock your book. You could even ask them if you could sign a few books at the store. If possible offer them discounts. The same policy can be followed at libraries. You may even give away a few books free to the libraries.

Online Marketing: You could use the latest technology, Internet, to market your book. The best option is to design a website of your own that will be a part of your online marketing strategy. Your online marketing strategy can include writing an article or book excerpt in content article directories, online discussion on the topic of your book, various quizzes for which you could keep your books as gifts, polls, volunteer for online interviews, and the most important - request online reviews. Many people and bloggers would be interested to express their opinion about your book. Online newsletters are also good tools to create awareness about your book.

Communities on the Net: You can join online communities and groups like Yahoo, MSN and Author's Den, where you would find like-minded people. You should make your presence felt in such community discussions so that others would take interest in your books. Once you post your say, do not forget your signature. You could also identify few bloggers on the Internet interested in your subject. Send them your book as a gift. If they like it they may even mention them in their blogs. You may even request them to blog about the book.

Use press releases: Research your market. You could design a press release and send it to editors of various newspapers and magazines.

Use Flyers: You can have flyers distributed at locations such as libraries, bookshops, conventions etc.

Use radio and TV: Radio interviews are an important part of media strategy. They allow you to promote your book to millions of listeners and viewers across the country. TV can also provide you with good exposure. You only need to be presentable and make an impact on the mind of the readers in the short span of time that you get.

There are many more strategies that you may follow like selling at seminars, conferences, getting the editors to review your books, conducting your own workshop or seminar and so on.

Every writer has to build up his own marketing strategy. Personal involvement in marketing strategy is a major factor to push sales.