Not exactly a 'getting published' topic, more of a 'what next?' one - but there doesn't seem to be a separate forum for that, so I've posted it here.

As someone who has taken the self-publishing route (not via POD or vanity-house, I hasten to add), setting myself up as my own publisher with website, Amazon listing, etc. I was wondering if there are any other self-publishers on here who can offer advice on self-promotion and generating book sales. My genre is children's fiction but I guess the same rules aply whatever the product.

What works and what doesn't?



- Naomi

Naomi, you've reminded me that one of the things I meant to do this evening was post a report on the Society of Authors Effective Publicity seminar I went to...

Emma

Good for you, Naomi! Nice to meet another self-publisher here. I've done this both independently and with the company - Goldenford - which 3 other writing friends and I set up in 2004.

Promotion is always a tough one, and we're constantly struggling with it. I'd do anything and everything which gets your name out there - within legal limits of course! Contact your local papers, local radio stations, local shops (we have some of our books in small local independent shops), vineyards (yes, they do take them - especially with an alcoholic theme, which 2 of Goldenford books have). Ask your local bookshops re signings/launches etc. It's worth while cultivating those contacts and making good use of them. Ask about reading groups, and if people want your novel as one of their "set books" - offer discounts of course.

And don't forget the web - if people tell you they love the book, ask them to do an Amazon review. Send the book here and the Writewords review process will also get it reviewed for you. Develop your website, set up a blog, and every email you send out should have a signature advertising your book and with a link as to where to buy it. Myspace.com is also a good networking tool - we're finding it very useful. If you get a good review, email everyone again telling them, so they have your name & book at the forefront of their minds. Is it an ideal Christmas present? Tell them this and give them a discounted offer for bulk buying.

Get flyers done, and send them out in every letter & Christmas card. Yes, that includes your credit card bill. Pop the flyer into people's letterboxes locally. Give your friends flyers to hand out at their work, amongst their friends etc. Tell all your friends about it - no freebies - make them buy!

Try to get onto stalls - markets or book festivals can be useful, though this is expensive. Does your book have a theme? - if so, utilise this (eg if a book on the Civil War, contact every Civil War society in the UK and send flyers.)

Keep feeding the local radio/newspapers with snippets about you and your book over the months to come. If you can, do articles for the writers' press, and always make sure you mention your book.

Good luck! And when your next one is published, use unsold copies of the first one as special offer enticements.

Most of all, enjoy! - you'll never have this amount of power over your work and justifiable pride in it again (until your next self-published book!). The mainstream-published people don't know what they're missing!!

)

A
xxx

<Added>

PS - as you're childrens' lit, then try to get readings in schools too - ask Nik Perring (on site) for advice - he's a wow at this!!

:))

A
xxx

Many thanks HollyB. I had not thought of approaching reading groups - probsbly because they are childrens books for 8-12yr olds, and unsitable for the library story times which cater for nursery age and KS1 aged children.

I am planning to hit the schools next year - offering chats on creative writing to KS2 pupils if they'll let me flog the books, but I need to publish a couple more stories to cover the age range. I'm planning to have half a dozen out by this time next year which should cover the 4-11 age range.
I'm also planning to sell at the school fairs, but that does not provide me with a trickle of sales.

I had the book launch with my illustrator's Artists group, last weekend at the local village hall - the local papers did a feature. Unfortunately, the artists did not sell many of their paintings so I have not been invited to join them in the Spring sale. The books sold well though, despite the awful weather - priced to go!

I haven't had any luck on the web, and Amazon have priced them out of the market with their £1.99 finders fee.

I have sent them round the local independant bookshops but they'll only take one or two gratis, and expect a 40% discount on re-orders, which is not cost effective.

- Naomi

Report on the Effective Publicity meeting here:

http://www.writewords.org.uk/forum/48_101043.asp

Emma

Not so relevant for childrens', but Anne, have you come across New Books magazine, aimed at reading groups:

http://www.newbooksmag.com/nbm.html

Some of Goldenford's list might be perfect - but maybe I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs!

Emma

<Added>

Naomi, have you got your book in the WW Bookshop? It's incredibly easy to add it to the e-shelves!

Thanks Emma, but I'm only a half-paid-up member so the WW sales site is not open to me. But they can be ordered via my website.

Oh, and HollyB, great idea about putting the details on everything. We're going to print off our own Christmas cards this year with all the details on the back, and send them out to all our friends and family, Son's school friends, the GP, the milkman, newspaper boy... :D

My husband made up a load of laminated, credit-card-sized calenders with illustrations from the book and web address for the launch, and they all went - children love free-bees. We'll probably do more of them to use as fliers.

And a bit of general info: the County & Parish Councils have 'What's On' pages on their websites, where you can advertise your event for free.


<Added>

Thanks for the Effective Publicity link, Emma, just reading it now, and lots of useful info.

<Added>

Checked out the New Books Magazine link and they also do two magazines for childrens books - for the Preteen and the 5-7 age groups. And they offer a free introductory copy.

Thanks, Emma - we've got that info!

)

A
xxx

Dunno why I thought you wouldn't have, really!

Emma

Nonsense, Emma - we miss loads of stuff! There are only so many hours in the day, after all!! All help gratefully accepted!! (And for some reason "gratefully" looks horribly wrong, but I'm obviously too tired to work it out!!...)

)

A
xxx

Re: MySpace.

An excellent idea for promoting Teen/YA fiction, since the teenagers are already on there. But I'm in the process of getting my website labelled as child-safe, and since my product is aimed at the pre-teen age groups, I've decided that MySpace and similar adult chat rooms would not be suitable.

But if anyone has recommendations for children's chatrooms and Parent-powered websites, I would be most grateful for the links.

- Naomi

That's really excellent succinct advice. Though I've been lucky enough to have my book 'Pets in Prospect' published by Robert Hale and there is a publicist to steer the book out into the ocean of books available , I am still having to do a lot of promoting myself. It's choppy waters for this first time novleist and all the points made are spot on. You do have to push yourself and build on each bit of successful publicity, using that success however small to keep on promoting yourself by telling people about it. In a way, that's what I'm doing here. And the point about reviews on Amazon are relevant. I've been delighted to get some great reviews already and have used them to push the boat (book) out further. Let's just hope it doesn't sink in the flotilla of tomes competing with each other. Keep your hand steady on the tiller and steer in the write direction. Happy 'sales'.

MW, you may already have followed the link further up, but you might be interested in this thread on effective publicity:

http://www.writewords.org.uk/forum/48_101043.asp

Emma

Wow, what a useful thread. I'm going to highlight it.
There!

I am still having to do a lot of promoting myself.

Even with a publisher and publicist, self-promotion does seem to be part of the package, MW. Some publishers even want to see a business plan-of sorts when you submit a manuscript, with details of your website and plans for promoting the book, (assuming it is ever published).
& a pretty face always sells