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One Minute Marketing

by: Penny C. Sansevieri

So, you say you're too busy to market your book? Well, welcome to the club. Most of the authors I work with or coach work day jobs and try to cram in as much marketing as they can after they come home from an exhausting day at the office. Working this way can be completely overwhelming. It’s no wonder mot authors only market their books for ninety days. Who could stand to keep up this pace any longer than that? There were so many things authors need to do, most simply don’t know where to start.

Enter the one minute marketer. As tempting as it is, we can’t do everything. It’s just not realistic. Instead, try doing just three things a day. I found that authors are not only more focused this way but tend to be a hundred times more effective. If you're marketing your own book and you're becoming overwhelmed by the magnitude of the work ahead of you, try doing just three things a day. Some of these will only take you a minute and in one week alone you'll have promoted your book in fifteen new ways. And remember, your three things don't have to be earth shattering, they can be as simple as sending a thank you note.

Here are a few ideas you can implement today:

1. Call your local library and sign up to do a talk. You won't get paid for this, but they will let you sell your book (for a 10% commission back to the library).

2. Want to drive more attention to your book? How about creating a contest! Contests are great promotional tools. Design one around the topic of your book. For example, I'll be holding a contest soon asking people for the top ten things NOT to do when you're marketing your book. Get the idea?

3. Pitch your story to a local radio and/or tv station.

4. How's your web site these days? Remember, it's your 24/7 marketing tool so make sure it's up to date.

5. And while you're updating your web site, why not list it on search engines like Google, Alta Vista. Or go over to http://www.addme.com and let them do it for you…for free!

6. Have you thought about submitting an article to a topic-related ezine? Ezine publishers are always looking for content! If you currently subscribe to an email newsletter that you'd like to contribute to, email the editor and ask them what their guidelines are. Or, you can submit your article by registering at the following yahoo group: Publish In Yours (PublishInYours-subscribe@yahoogroups.com).

7. Have you started calling bookstores for signings? Why not start that today.

8. Send your thank you notes! Whether it's to a news person who did a feature on you or to the book store manager who recently hosted your book signing, saying "thank you" is a great marketing tool!

9. Magazine articles are a great way to get exposure. Why not submit an article (or book excerpt) to a topic-related magazine today?

10. Are a member of all the pertinent organizations in your field of writing? If not, you should be. For example, if you wrote a mystery novel you should think about joining a mystery writing group in your area. Not only will you be able to promote your book at meetings but most groups are always looking for speakers.

Happy Marketing!

About the author:
Penny C. Sansevieri
The Cliffhanger was published in June of 2000. After a strategic marketing campaign it quickly climbed
the ranks at Amazon.com to the ##1 best selling book in San Diego. Her most recent book: From Book to Bestseller was released in 2005 to rave reviews and is being called the “roadmap to publishing success.” Penny is a book marketing and media relations specialist. She also coaches authors on projects, manuscripts and marketing plans and instructs a variety of coursing on publishing and promotion. To learn more about her books or her promotional services, you can visit her web site at To subscribe to her free ezine, send a blank email to: mailto:subscribe@booksbypen.com
Copyright ã 2005 Penny C. Sansevieri

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