Saturday, July 21, 2018

Article After My Notes on "Marketing Your Children's Books"



That most writers have too write a lot before their proficient enough to call themselves and author is a given. However, few realize while honing those skills that it is as or more necessary to learn how to market their book, even before it’s finished.

Though the reasons very, it is a normal, healthy thing to tell others what you’re doing. I believe many good closet-writers don’t publish because of fear. However, if you start early-on sharing what your doing, you’ll find within every group another wannabe whose as passionate and worried like you. The adage ‘there’s safety in numbers’ applies here. For in all personal endeavors which require time and perseverance, isolation and self-doubt rob the world of many a fledgling – name your favorite author, athlete, or....

Therefore today, I share an article which deals with one reason writers don’t publish, namely marketing. Now, I’m not posting this because I know what will work for you rather because the first steps require those who write to talk about what they are doing.
For me this hit close to home when I learned last year that my brother started writing in Junior High School and is now seriously writing for publication. And to think I found this out at 71, was a shocker. Especially when I would have happily supported him.

Below is what I believe to be valuable, get out of the closet and do what it advices!


This article is by Kimberly S Hoffman

Develop a Strategy:
*   Who is your main audience? Can you expand this out to include other groups?
*   What is your book’s theme? How can you use that to develop programs around this theme?
*   Are there other elements of your book that can be used to develop programs.
Create a Contact List:
*   Brainstorm Who Can You Contact
      *  Schools (include all age appropriate levels from preschool-elementary)
      *  Libraries
      *  Toy Stores
      *  Book Stores
      *  Churches
*   Utilize Social Media
*   Ask Children for Help Reaching Their Teachers
*   Bring up what you do in conversations.  You never know what may come of it
Time to Contact:
*   Keep your email as concise as possible, but include all pertinent initial data.
      *  Remember that teachers & librarians are busy people. You don’t have to provide dates,     
         times, etc. on the first contact.
      *  Include who you are, your purpose in writing, possible choices of programs, and include links to your Social Media site, your webpage, your publisher’s page, etc. Establish your legitimacy.
      *  If you cannot find contact information, call. Keep it to the point. Same rules apply.
 You Receive a Reply:
*   Set Up the Visit
      *  Try to be as flexible as possible to meet their schedule.
      *  Determine the length of the program.
*  Determine what program they would like presented.
*   Ask for possible headcount.
*   Send the teacher a confirmation of details and include a pre-buy flyer.
*   Mark your calendar with date, time, contact number, and any pertinent details such as what you need to bring that day.
      *   Most schools will require you sign in upon arrival.
      *   Some will require you to fill out a background check.
Programs:
*   Read your book
*   Main theme of your book
*   How to write a book
*   Secondary topics
*   Be flexible!
Follow-Up:
*   Thank you note
*   Ask for a review
*   Let them know you are more than willing to come again
*   Look at what went well and what didn’t ADJUST
Other Ideas for Marketing
*   Book Launch
*   Book Signings
*   Attend local Literacy Fair
*   Talk up your book - You are your own best marketing agent!
*   Ask teachers/librarians/etc. to leave a review on your Facebook page, author webpage, etc.
*   Use other sites such as Author Central on Amazon, Goodreads, etc.
*   Look for ways to give back to the community through your book.
Advertise, Advertise, Advertise
*   Facebook events, posts, etc.
*   Other Social Media / Websites
*   Posters, fliers, postcards, etc.
*   Word of mouth

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