Since I often refer authors asking for marketing advice to Curt Smith, I asked Curt to write a short blog post detailing his marketing approach. Here it is:
Curt Smith on Marketing
So you’ve gotten your first manuscript accepted? Congratulations. But unless you’re signing with a big press (and for many these days, even if you are), a whole new set of responsibilities and challenges awaits. Now comes the task of connecting with the reading public. We writers tend to be a solitary lot—it’s how we get our work done, after all—but this new dynamic of having your work go public means we, too, have to go public.
What can the small press author do to help both his cause and that of the press which is now supporting him and his work? Here are some ideas:
- Join online networking communities. To someone like myself who still marvels over e-mail, the possibility of joining MySpace, Facebook, Fictionaut and Goodreads can be downright threatening, but they can provide many opportunities for contact with fellow writers and readers. See what your press’ other authors are doing on these sites and follow their examples.
- Get your own website. Again, a bit daunting to some of us, but with some technical help, it can be a pretty low-maintenance proposition. Post reviews and interviews, writing samples and links, and set up an e-mail account through your site. You may be surprised by the number of sales and reading invites you’ll receive.
- A few months before your books hits, start contacting local bookstores to set up dates to do signings. These gigs can be painful, but they guarantee your books will be on the shelves long after your few hours of talking to strangers are over.
- Go to meetup.com and find book clubs and writing groups in your area. Contact their organizers and volunteer to come in.
- Contact your local library: libraries often host book clubs and writers’ groups. Contact their organizers and volunteer to come in.
- Contact local colleges. Many will have a writing program or on-campus literary club. Offer to meet with them and offer discounts to students.
- Make your online presence felt. If you publish short stories or essays or poems, submit them to online journals.
The prospect of having your book hit an indifferent market can be daunting. A little bit of work on your end can increase your profile, and that can lead to increased sales.