14 Effective ways to give books visibility

A successful book is not just a combination of a great story and super editing, it’s also about a clever and smart marketing strategy. Many good books due to low visibility do not reach the masses.  

It’s something I realized a little late. When my first two books were published, my publisher requested me to ask my family and close friends to visit bookshops to buy my books. When the staff in the book shops realize that the book is moving and selling well, they not only give it a prominent display but also recommend it to other customers. Unfortunately, I was too shy to ask anyone to do this and the 35% discount offered by my publisher to friends placing bulk orders enticed them away from the bookshops. They approached her office directly. Though my books sold well, most of the sales in the initial period were via my publisher and not the book-shops.

 A lot can be done by the  writers and the publishers to market the books.

        1. Book posters can be put in schools, colleges and libraries and other frequently visited places to spread the word around. I saw a book poster outside a multiplex. My writing friend told me that she would put her book posters in department stores, just behind the billing counter so that it has better visibility.

        2.  Approaching schools with offers of huge discounts if bulk orders are placed is another great idea. Many schools distribute books as prizes.

        3.  Approaching librarians and talking with  library owners about our books is another smart  marketing  strategy.  Many prefer to borrow books from the library than buy books. But atleast the book is read.

         4. Organizing book  reading  and signing sessions in bookshops is a wonderful idea. If this can be combined with a themed event ( like my publisher did for my books) its super.

         5.  Arranging for author interveiws with several newspapers does a lot in spreading the word for books.

         6. Sending out free copies to newspapers for reviews. The books can also be given to columnists whose columns have a wide readership.

          7. Nowadays with many writers blogging, other bloggers go a long way in spreading the word around.

          8. An enterprising publisher indulged in a bit of radio marketing. Local channels like (FM, 94.3) have a fantastic reach. Radio contests with the book as a prize can work wonderfully well. People are listening to the radio all the time: while driving and at home. And who doesn't like a free book?

          9. Organising readings and visits in schools and colleges is another great opportunity.

         10. Blog posts about book releases and Tweets are effective Internet mediums to bring the book to the notice of people inhabiting the virtual world. As are like pages. Blog contests and giveaways are a great way of spreading the word around.

          11. One Indian publisher put up ads about their forthcoming book on MTV.

          12. The same publisher also placed newspaper ads.

           13.  Making an author do guest columns where he or she can talk about the book in newspapers.

           14. Urging friends and family to buy the books from the bookshops or order online, is a great way to see the ratings soar. Buying them directly from the publisher should be a second option.

Do you believe in the adage that effective marketing sells more copies of books? What does good marketing mean to you? How would you market your books? Any ideas you would like to share about marketing your books?

Should Writers Hire P.R Professionals?

Many writers, even though they have written just one book or maybe two, have ensured that they don’t fade out of public memory. In this case I am solely talking  about India, as I have no experience of other countries. It’s said, that these writers hire Public Relations Professionals to keep them fresh in people’s mind. I have heard this from my friends in the media. There is no proof, this could be just plain hearsay, or guesswork.

All kinds of rumours, that these authors have been approached by such and such a filmmaker to write a  script and many such stories  are constantly floating around. The rumour starts  with a small snippet, that so many people have approached the writer to buy the movie rights of the book.

Whether somebody has approached the writer  or not, is a moot point. The purpose has been achieved. The writers and their books are suddenly in the news. Serious filmmakers with a strong deficit of good scripts not only ask their assistants to buy the book, they end up reading the book and  eventually  end up approaching the writer with  a contract  for the movie rights. People’s curiousity has been aroused to such an extent that many have  thronged bookshops to buy the book. It’s a win-win situation. Everyone is happy.

Many times I have seen that these writers have conveniently  brushed aside the names of directors who  were supposed to have  initially approached them.  ‘Why take names when the deals haven’t worked out,’ the writers brush away all the queries.

These same writers constantly give sound bites on various topics :from the state of the politics to Valentine’s Day Celebration, from corruption to crime against Women. Everything  is planned to give them visibility.

One writer categorically denied the huge advance a publishing house was said to have given her. 'The figure  is highly inflated. My book is in the news for all the wrong reasons,’ she had said in an interview. There were stories that the publishing house had created the buzz to hype the book.   

I feel there is nothing wrong  in hiring P.R professionals, after all  writers work as  hard  as other professionals, and like everyone else they want both themselves and their work to be noticed. Its absolutely acceptable. Visibility is indeed the name of the game. Else, how will people know that such and such book is out.

 Now, comes the main question, of ethics. Is it right to plant stories that have no basis in reality? Is it okay to start a wave of rumour in the hope that it turns into a reality? I would like to know how far should writers go to publicize their books? Should  the fire of people’s curiousity be stoked to keep someone else warm. What do you think is the acceptable limit to publicize books? I would really love to hear everyone’s views.

              

Getting the Writer Noticed Before the Book is Published

I have already done a post on giving our books visibility,  refer to post  Effective Marketing Strategy to Give  Books Visibility. But there are a lot of writers who are unpublished. This post will cover the points on giving a writer visibility, though I prefer to call them aspiring authors rather than struggling writers.

 As writers there are many ways we can ensure that atleast some people are familiar with our names before our books are published.

                                           

    1.  In India most writers take the newspaper route: we (including me) start our writing careers by  contributing to newspapers and magazines that accept freelancers. This is one of the best ways to get visibility: contributing regular features, articles  and short stories ensures that we write often, our regular bylines make many people familiar with our names and ofcourse  when a cheque arrives in the mail it’s a wonderful feeling and seeing our work in print is sheer joy. All the newspapers and magazines accept email submissions. I have noticed  that few regular contributors have ended up with columns.

2.      Participating in short  story, poetry, haiku and flash fiction competitions is a    

      wonderful  way to get noticed. Even if the writer does not win the top prizes, 

      but gets just a special mention or  comes in the top ten, editors,   

      publishers and agents  take notice. I have seen several writers who win

      prizes, bag  book deals from publishers. Nowadays there are several online

      writing  competitions  that one can join without worrying about postal

      issues. Many don’t even have an entry fee and one can submit from any part

      of the world.

 3.  Starting a Blog is  one of the best ways of expressing oneself and building

      relationships  with other writers and learning and sharing knowledge, all

      from the comfort of our homes. I have read that many editors and agents  
     ( in India we don't  have agents) search for an  online presence for the writers
      whose manuscript lands in their  inbox. And of course it’s an amazing platform
      and hones our writing skills.

4.  Building a Website is one of the best thing writers and authors can do.

     Though I have been toying with that idea I am not sure I will go for that right

      now. Writers can even put up samples of their previously published
      work for editors, agents and publishers to go through. But, don't ever make the
      mistake of  putting anything from unpublished books or stories. As once its
      read  no one will be interested in publishing it. Both the blog and the website
      looks good in the Writer/Author bio.

5.  Almost all publishers bring out anthologies where several writers (yes even

     unpublished writers are invited) and authors are  asked to contribute a story:

     sometimes based on a theme. If the publisher is big then this turns out to be a

     prestigious thing to mention in the bio. I have been a part of several Penguin

     Anthologies. Many times writers  contributing in anthologies  are offered      

     book deals or commissioned to write on different  topics by  publishers.

6.  Contributing articles in prestigious Journals that have a reputation in the 

     literary world is a wonderful way to get noticed. Such mentions in our bios   

     do make the agent and editor sit up  and take notice. To write a book takes a

      long time, so if in the interim a few publishing credits roll out it’s a good thing.

Do you think its important  for writers to get noticed even before their books are published? What are all the things you are doing to get yourself visibility? What do you all  think writers should do to get noticed. Please share. It will be of great help to everyone.