If you are asking yourself, “Why do I need to read this? My
publisher takes care of all that stuff” then I say to you, “You need to get a
clue.” The days of publishers taking care “of all that stuff” are gone unless
you are a mega-blockbuster author. Nobody cares more about your book than you
do. So show it. Be prepared to shoulder a lot of the promotion and marketing
load.
When I submit to an editor or agent, I offer to share my multi-month
book marketing plan. I want them to know I have thought about the business end
of being an author. I am a professional, and I’m serious about promoting my
books and my career.
Just what does a marketing plan look like? I’m not sure
there’s a template out there, but there are a number of articles about how to
create one. I listed those resources at the bottom.
I can share my nascent marketing plan for Prime Rib and Punishment with you. I’m
pretty sure this isn’t the final edition, but there’s enough here to spark your
own marketing plan, I’m sure. Sorry about the formatting. It got all wonky.
Also, my marketing plan is based on one I developed for Oak
Tree Press. They required a 12-month marketing plan when you submitted your
manuscript for review. This is PRE-CONTRACT, we’re talking. Impressive, right?
OTP wanted to know up front about your commitment to making the book a success
and what your plans were to make that happen.
15-Month Marketing Plan for Prime Rib and Punishment
Prime Rib and
Punishment, 60,000 words, is book two in the “Dinner is Served” culinary
mystery series. Personal Chefs, Alli Wesson and Gina Smithson find themselves teaching at the new
Culinary Arts School-Glendale (Arizona) even though the Executive Chef hates
“amateur cooks.” Add in a diet scam operation and a guy with a mafia
connection, and things become . . . complicated. Murder is part of the
complication. At the end of the book are recipes, mostly meat, that are
mentioned in the mystery.
My audience is
people who like to cook, enjoy the desert Southwest, mystery lovers, single
women, and small business owners.
9-12 months prior to
publication
Compile list
of potential reviewers for blurbs
Compile list
of bloggers who review mysteries
Compile list
of bookstores, kitchen stores, and other places for book signings
Compile a list of podcast
possibilities Create media kit including: press release, questions for author, author bios
(short and
long), talking points for interviews, and brochure)
Create book
club reading kit
Attend writing
conferences and present on panels
Seek speaking
opportunities with libraries, Sisters in Crime, et al.
Continue to compile e-mail
addresses for announcement of publication Weekly blog posts on sharonarthurmoore.blogpost.com with some mention
of PR&P
(recipes, character interviews, writing culinary mysteries,
information
on topics in the novel, etc.)
Monthly food
column for small town paper with mention of PR&P
8-6 months prior to
publication
Create
components for virtual launch on Facebook
Contact
cooking stores, book stores, former Glendale Sugar Beet Factory,
Cucina Tagliani restaurant to set-up real-time
book launches
Contact
Glendale, AZ Visitor Center to see if they’ll carry the book
Compile list
of bed and breakfast inns to see if I can place the book with them
Contact local
Pampered Chef demonstrator to see if can partner
Continue to seek speaking
opportunities
Weekly blog posts
(sharonarthurmoore.blogpost.com or samwriteaway.blogpost.com)
with some mention of PR&P (recipes, character
interviews, writing culinary
mysteries, information on topics in the
novel, etc.)
Monthly food
column for small town paper with mention of PR&P
Contact
bloggers for guest blog spots upon publication (include cooking blogs, as
well
as mystery and romance)
5-3 Months prior to
Publication
Contact
bloggers to set up guest posts
Create
business cards if cover art available (front: cover art and contact info;
back:
recipe from PR&P)
Continue to
seek speaking opportunities
Continue above
activities as appropriate
Two Months Prior to
Publication
Create a
series of e-mail messages and Facebook and Twitter posts to distribute
to 25
supporters to send to their followers over a one week period
Develop my
Pinterest board on PR&P
Set up an
Instagram account for promoting PR&P
Contact local
libraries to set book signing dates
Continue
blogging on my sites
Continue above
activities as appropriate
One Month Prior to
Publication
Contact local
radio and TV stations to pitch cooking and book promo spots
Contact area
newspapers (Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff) for interviews
Create a new
YouTube video for “Alli and Gina’s Cooking School” channel and
promote
on all my social media accounts
Continue
blogging on my sites
Continue above
activities as appropriate
Publication Month
Big splash on
release day from 25 supporters—social media blitz
Virtual book launch on Facebook (4
hours with giveaways, quizzes, recipes,
pictures)
Blog tour with 15 guest posts
Offer free
book club reading kit on my website
Cross-pollinate
across my four Twitter accounts, five Facebook pages, and four
blogs
One Month after
Publication
Blog tour with
15 guest posts
Post a few
recipes from PR&P on website
Create a new
YouTube video for “Alli and Gina’s Cooking School” channel
Continue other
efforts from above as appropriate
Two Months after
Publication
Cross-pollinate
across my four Twitter accounts, five Facebook pages, and four
blogs
Continue
blogging and writing newspaper column
Continue guest
posting on blogs
Continue other
efforts from above as appropriate
Three Months after
Publication and beyond
Cross-pollinate
across my four Twitter accounts, five Facebook pages, and four
blogs
Continue other
efforts as appropriate from above
Submit
PR&P to Arizona Library Association Adult Fiction Book Committee
Submit to
Public Safety Writers Association published book award contest
Book signing
at the Pinewood Country Club
Continue other
efforts from above as appropriate
Please leave comments below for more ideas I can try or for
your reaction to this plan. When authors work together there is nothing they
cannot accomplish.
Resources:
https://www.standoutbooks.com/13-steps-to-write-a-book-marketing-plan/
https://www.dogearpublishing.net/wordpress/how-to-write-a-book-marketing-plan/
https://allfreelancewriting.com/free-book-marketing-plan-outline/
https://www.thebookdesigner.com/marketing-your-book/
If you think others should read this blog post, please share
on your social media sites. Here are some pre-made messages for you. And thanks!
Facebook: Authors
need to be thinking marketing BEFORE they have a book contract. Sharon Arthur
Moore Author shares her marketing plan for her next book, Prime Rib and Punishment. Check out her ideas and add to them at http://bit.ly/2uVngab
Twitter: Do you
have a book marketing plan? @good2tweat posted her 15-month marketing plan for
an upcoming book at http://bit.ly/2uVngab
