Are you preparing to launch your new book? Deliberating the best ways to promote and sell your novel? There are plenty of avenues available to you, from building your online presence to securing endorsement to pitching media. As a rule of thumb, no amount of promotion will sell a bad book, so make sure you put just as much time and effort into your editorial process as your marketing and publicity campaign. But once your book is ready for readers, here are some helpful tips about the optimal steps to reaching your target audience. Learn the Right Audience Start by determining exactly who you ..read more

This article was written by Jen Braaksma, a writer and book coach with a decade of experience as a journalist and nearly two as a high school English and writing teacher. With a focus on fiction and memoir for writers of every ability and experience level, Jen loves to assist in shaping stories exactly how the author wants them, from inception of the idea through revisions. Her debut novel, Evangeline’s Heaven is a YA fantasy which features a strong, fierce young woman, learning to see the world for what it is, not what she wants it to be. You can connect with Jen on her website https://www.j ..read more

PR by the Book is celebrating 20 years of providing publicity and social media services for authors and publishers all over the country and even internationally! My husband Doug and I started PR by the Book in 2002 to create a boutique firm to serve all authors from bestsellers all the way down to self-published authors. We have had a great time with beloved books over the years in so many different genres. Here’s a list of our favorite media hits… HAPPY 20 YEARS, PR BY THE BOOK! Learn even more tips and tricks about creating success and influence with our Author to Influencer Acceler ..read more

This article was written by David Wogahn, president and founder of AuthorImprints. AuthorImprints is an award-winning, professional self-publishing services company assisting clients worldwide. They have helped more than 100 authors, businesses and other organizations launch self-publishing imprints which, in turn, has resulted in the successful publication of more than 300 books, and counting. Learn more at www.authorimprints.com. Procuring testimonials is one aspect of a publicity campaign that PR by the Book handles for authors who start their campaign early enough – approximately four mon ..read more

A good subject line’s importance is like a first impression when meeting someone new. It’s the first thing journalists read before deciding whether or not they want to open your email. So what are some ways to make sure a journalist notices your subject line and you secure that media hit? Sender Name/Line One thing that people might overlook is their email sender line or name. But to some journalists, this is more important than the subject line, as it’s the first thing they see before even noticing the subject. Make sure your sender line is professional, that it displays your name clearly wi ..read more

A query letter is a formal letter sent to magazine editors, literary agents, or publishing companies. It is an author’s first step in pursuing publication, and eventually, publicity. At its core, a query letter is the first pitch you’ll ever write for your book or article as you send it to editors, hoping to pique their interest. At the heart of a query letter is the synopsis. No matter whether you query editors, agents, and publishing houses or not, you need to be able to describe your article or book in a quick, concise, and interesting manner. This is your elevator pitch, the fast and intr ..read more

What Comes First, Second, and Third? This article was written by Susie Schaefer. Known as The Book Angel for cause publishing, Susie believes that books are the gateway to creating a movement. Her love of books goes far beyond the feel of a fabric cover or the smell of a library. Whether writing a book helps an author heal trauma or raises awareness for a global crisis, Susie honors and empowers storytellers to be part of the global conversation and create a ripple effect of social impact. Susie’s understanding of social impact, or “cause” publishing, enables her to offer a unique foundation ..read more

In the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Zoom became the foundation for social distancing culture. According to CNBC.com, in 2020, the daily downloads of Zoom increased thirty times and daily users rose to over 200 million. Two years later, Zoom is still the hub of most business communication. Interviews and conference calls over Zoom have become standard business practices, giving workers the ability to communicate from anywhere and news stations the ability to pursue more stories, despite where the subjects and interviewees might live. All in all, Zoom isn’t going anywhere, and it has become ..read more

With journalists in understaffed newsrooms receiving hundreds of pitches each week, it can be difficult to stand out as a PR professional or independent author. It’s so easy for pitches to get lost or overlooked in crowded inboxes that they aren’t given a chance. So how do you succeed in an industry that has such little time? Try our three keys to get a journalist’s attention: Find the most effective way to contact each journalist The most effective way to contact a journalist is by email so that they can take their time to read your pitch thoroughly. If an email is not available, don’t be af ..read more

Don’t be a minimalist in your approach to book selling. It’s a new era of book marketing and publishing. More writers are side-stepping the traditional publishing houses and choosing to self-publish or even crowd-source their next novels. At times it can feel like a free-for-all when it comes to the best possible way to share your work—and once the publishing and distribution is secured, how do you sell your book?  The writers who tend to be the most successful approach publicity and marketing in a multi-faceted way. They rarely focus on just one strategy, but blend the old and new, look ..read more