Book Promotion: Should You Self-Promote or Use a Promotion Company?
Should I Self-Promote or use a Promotion Company? This is a question many new self-published authors end up asking themselves when they publish their first book--and it's a very important question that deserves substantial consideration and attention.
Self-Promotion
Let's face it, it doesn't matter how good of a writer you truly are if no one even knows that your books exist. If you're a newcomer to the world of self-publishing (like me), you may have a LOT of questions about how to get the "word out" about your book.
Every author needs exposure. Without any exposure, you will not sell any of your books. If no one knows about your book, no one's going to buy it.
There are numerous ways for a self-published author to self-promote their books. The internet is one of the main avenues where both fiction and nonfiction authors can market their publications. You can literally find a plethora of book sites and book blogs that offer both free and paid promotion opportunities for your book(s).
***(I will be listing a few of the most popular book-promotion sites in a future blog post, so look out for that soon! In the meantime, I recommend doing an internet search for "free book promotion sites.")***
When you're a brand new author trying to get your name out there and attempting to attract new readers and fans to your work, just the thought of how to do that can feel completely overwhelming. This is why many experts recommend utilizing a professional promotion agency (or agencies) to market your book to the general public.
Promotion Agencies and other Marketing Companies
A lot of experts out there believe that self-promotion is a futile effort and a waste of time. They recommend utilizing a promotion agency (or several different promotion agencies) if you truly want your books to receive maximum exposure.
With all of the different promotion agencies out there, how to choose which one(s) you want to use to market your book(s)? Research is the best way to answer this very important question.
cost
guarantee(s)
marketing options
experience
reputation
These are some of the main factors to consider before deciding on a promotion agency:
There are numerous ways for a self-published author to promote their books. The internet is one of the main avenues where both fiction and nonfiction authors can market their publications. You can find a plethora of book sites and book blogs that offer both free and paid promotion opportunities for your book(s). How much do they charge to market your book? What's included in the cost?
Cost: How much do they charge to market your work? What all is included in the cost?
Guarantee(s): Do they offer any guarantee of ROI (return on investment)? If so, is it a reasonable one?
Marketing Options: What different types of marketing options do they offer? (i.e. a bronze, silver, gold, platinum packages, etc.) Do these different promotional options seem reasonable?
Experience: How long has the company been in business?
Reputation: Is the company reputable? Do they have a good marketing reputation? Have they been rated/recommended by former/current clients?
These are some of the main factors that will help you determine which promotion agency would make the best fit for your individual book marketing needs.
STAY TUNED for future blog posts related to self-publishing.and for upcoming new book releases!
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