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You finally did it. You spent years writing your book. You did your homework to publish it. You even built a website, and the local bookstore agreed to host a book signing. So what’s next? How will people know to visit the bookstore or your website to buy your book? How do you transition from closet writer to highly visible author?

The ways to make yourself visible are endless. Begin by creating a viral word-of-mouth marketing plan. No one will know about your book until you tell people about it. The more you tell, the more word will spread. Here are a few key ways to get the word out and achieve author visibility:

Book Reviews: Readers depend on book reviews to decide which books to buy. With half a million books published each year, reviews from reliable reviewers will make your book stand out. Some reliable book reviewers online include Reader Views, Review the Book, RebeccasReads, Feathered Quill, and Best Sellers World. These companies offer reasonably priced book reviews and additional publicity packages, including author interviews, press releases, book videos, and blog tours. Don’t forget to become a book reviewer yourself. Review books on Amazon with similar topics to yours. Sign the reviews with your name and book, for example—Irene Watson , author of “The Sitting Swing: Finding Wisdom to Know the Difference.”

Radio Interviews: Hundreds of blog talk radio stations are looking for guests. These Internet podcast programs are easy and fun to do—you can be interviewed over the phone from home. Do a search for Internet radio programs relevant to your topic. Also try your local radio stations—don’t forget Public Radio. Another great radio resource is Authors Access Internet radio, of which I am the co-host. We interview authors about various writing, publishing, and marketing topics. Come listen and learn about how to sell books. Submit an idea for a show to us—we’re always looking for new informative guests. And be sure to check out our book “Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Publishers and Authors.” Once you get radio interviews down, try for TV!

Speeches: Many authors are introverts, yet you need to be in the public eye to sell your book. Don’t just sit behind a table at your book signing—give a presentation! Find groups to give speeches to—whether it’s the local rotary club or a Fortune 500 company—seek out any organization potentially interested in your topic. If you feel uncomfortable talking in front of people, join your local chapter of Toastmasters International —an easy way to practice giving speeches with friendly support.

Book Videos: Everyday millions of people visit YouTube. Put a book video on your website, YouTube, and anywhere else. Book videos are like film previews—they give a taste of the book. Reader Views provides this service at a reasonable price. Visit their website for samples and the different packages available.

Social networking: Social networking is a free and fun way to spread the word about your book. A MySpace or Facebook page can reach tens of thousands of people. Once you build a profile, search for people you know—you’ll probably find half your high school class. Add everyone you can and leave comments on their pages. Use your book cover as your profile picture so it shows up with all your comments. With your comment, leave a link to your website—you want people to go where they can buy your book. Twitter, of course, is the hottest thing right now. It’s like a mini-blog where you can quickly leave the latest message about your book, upcoming events, or give opinions on relevant topics. It can be tied into Facebook so you don’t need to post twice.

Blog: Create a following with a blog. Use Twitter to let people know when a new blog is created. To make your blog effective, be informative and post at least three times a week. It’s quick and fun—a few hundred words per post is enough. Capture blog subscribers. Even old blogs will come up in Google searches to find new readers.

Website: Keep improving your website. Post new information continually. Websites with frequent new content place higher in search engine rankings. You may want to incorporate your blog into it for this reason. Make your website user-friendly with only a couple of clicks to maneuver from one page to another. Write easy-to-read, short paragraphs. Link to websites with similar content. Most importantly, make it very clear how to buy your book. You may want to listen to an interview with me about targeting your website marketing to personas.

Press Releases: Send out press releases for anything newsworthy—awards you won, speaking engagements, how current news events relate to your book. Media (TV, radio, newspapers) websites have press release submission forms to make things easy. Several websites accept press releases for free.

Articles: As an author, you’re an expert on your topic. Submit articles to magazines, ezines, journals, and newspapers about your topic. Make sure you get a byline listing you as author of your book. If you write fiction, you can still submit articles. Historical novelists can submit to history publications, fantasy novelists might contribute to fantasy or children’s magazines.

Be Creative: Design your own clothing—Café Press is a great resource where you can make your own t-shirts or hats. Your body is a marketing tool! Put bumper stickers on your car with your website on it. Leave a copy of your book on your car dashboard. Leave book brochures and business cards on restaurant tables, restroom counters, or in tourist brochure stands. Never pass up an opportunity to talk about your book!

Learn from what you do—if something doesn’t work after a couple of tries, try something else. Don’t give up. Be in the book marketing business for the long haul and your visibility will be achieved.

I hope to see you and your book around soon!

Irene Watson

Irene Watson, MA,  is the Managing Editor of Reader Views and its subsidiaries. She is the author of The Sitting Swing: Finding Wisdom to Know the Difference , and co-editor of The Story that Must Be Told: True Tales of Transformation, and Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers.  Irene lives  in Austin, TX, with her husband Robert.

To learn more about Irene and her books, click here to visit her profle.

Comments (20)

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written by Jamie L. Saloff, July 30, 2009

Questions for this blog are now closed. Thanks to Irene Watson for stopping by to blog with us on July 30. Please stop by her profile to thank her.

Reader Views
written by Irene Watson, July 30, 2009

Hi everyone! Thanks for stopping by to read my article. Please feel free to ask questions today. I'll be around all day answering them for you.

Also, if you ask a question or make a comment, you will have an opportunity to win a copy of "Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers." Actually, I have 3 copies I will give away!

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written by Stephen V. Masse, July 30, 2009

Hi Irene,
I just finished reading The Sitting Swing and I liked it very much. A question on marketing: Do you find that on-line advertising gets you many more book sales? And if so, what types of advertising seem to work better?

Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend
written by Cheryl Carpinello, July 30, 2009

Hello Irene,

I understand the importance of exposure for a book particularly by a new author. However, many of us are on very limited budgets. What suggestions do you have for these authors as far as inexpensive or free ways to publicize other than the social networks and reviews. Any hints on improving internet exposure?

Thanks,
Cheryl Carpinello

Author Visibility - Where to Start
written by Irene Watson, July 30, 2009

Stephen, I'm glad you enjoyed my book. When I do any kind of marketing or publicity, I always ask myself whether or not this type of venue would work if I was a potential buyer. For me, the best is personal contact (through blogs, features on sites, and workshops) and word-of-mouth. For example, I post articles on two blogs that are in the topics that are covered in my book. It takes time, but I've created a following. Also, one of the sites has just been syndicated so I'm anticipating the articles to start showing up in major newspapers. I have been on two blog tours that I found very successful, and I also have paid to be featured on some popular websites. I use Facebook and Twitter. I also facilitate at retreats/workshops where I sell my book.

One of the important things I feel is to make a www presence so that if your name, t*tle of book, or topic is searched, you will come up. SEO is very important.

Aside from selling books at the retreats, all my other sales are online.

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written by Irene Watson, July 30, 2009

Cheryl, thanks for your questions. Budget is always a big issue and in most cases authors find out they didn't allot enough for marketing. Aside from social networks and reviews, there are many other ways to get internet presence. However, it takes time and effort on the part of the author. My first suggestion is to decide how much time and effort you are going to put in. Then allot this time into your daily schedule. Make a list of what you plan to do and then every day do one thing and check it off. Some suggestions are: press releases (many free sites where to post); make comments on other people's blogs and reference your book/site as a link; create a blog and write articles that pertain to topics in your book (a blog is not for always promoting your book - get a following and the following will buy your book); post at least 3 articles per week on your blog; post articles on other sites - there are many free sites that will accept articles but I suggest you change the t*tle for each post; do a link exchange with others - but only if the other site is compatible to yours - search engines like links; have a give-away of your book; go on a blog tour (you can do your own or we could do one for you); exchange an "advertisement" with another author; co-create on-line campaigns with other authors. These are just a few things you could do that will not cost you any money, or very little.

Anyone else have some ideas? Please chime in.

Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend
written by Cheryl Carpinello, July 30, 2009

Hello,

Nearly every marketing strategy out there tells authors to become experts on their topic and market that. As a writer of middle grade fiction set in Medieval England, I am baffled as to what I should do. All I need is some small piece of information to square my thinking on this. Any ideas?

Cheryl Carpinello

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written by Irene Watson, July 30, 2009

Cheryl, Yes, I have ideas. An author I know also published a book set in Medieval England. She dresses the part and visits schools talking to classes about the topic. Teachers love her because they fit her into the class study.

My suggestion would be to take an aspect of Medieval England - one that interests you the most and work on that. For example, culture. You can become the expert in that area. You can compare the culture of then to now in modern day England. Then compare it to the US culture. Another area would become an expert in a castle - one that is known or not known and compare it to modern day living. You can give armchair travelers an opportunity to travel through this time with you.

Recently I attended a dinner where the guest speaker talked about Queen Victoria. He told us all kinds of interesting things about her and the era, for e.g. do you know why turkey/chicken meat is referred to as white or dark? Well, that's because during the Victorian era the words "breast" and "thigh" were forbidden (oh my goodness!) and the only way they could distinguish the two is calling them white or dark...and those terms still stay. This information was very much of interest to the audience, and the "expert" that delivered the information was invited to come back.

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written by Irene Watson, July 30, 2009

Cheryl, one more thing. :-) I noticed your link goes to Outskirts Press and you have a page there. I'm assuming you don't have a website of your own. A website is a MUST-HAVE. I can't stress that enough. This is your store front - it's the portal for potential readers to find you and connect with you. It's also a place where they will learn about you - this is how to gain credibility. It's your store-front. On-line presence is very important and the best way to do this is with a website and a blog. You will note that every big-time author has site, they don't just have a page on their publisher's site.

I mentioned in an earlier post ways for you to become an expert. Along with that comes the website; it's important if you are going to let people know you are an expert they will need to find you and check out your credibility.

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written by Sue Lange, July 30, 2009

Hi Irene,

Thanks for taking the time to blog here. I'm amazed that you are able to manage a review service, run a radio show and write. Do you have a day job too? Where do you find the time?