Beginner’s Tips on Promoting Your Book.

Recently, my writers group at the Central West Writers’ Centre was visited by Vanessa Talbot, author of Extraordinary You.  Vanessa is also a life coach, helping other writers and she discussed various ways on how to promote yourself when you become an author.  Here’s what Vanessa had to say:-

  • Writers just want to write – they’re usually insular people.
  • Most self-published authors sell about 100 books.
  • Authors need to be pro-active in marketing their books.
  • The fastest way to sell a book is by word of mouth.
  • Learn to build a rapour with the media.
  • When marketing your book, start with local media – print and radio, then move on to magazines.
  • When being interviewed, match your tone with the subject of your book.
  • Match your energy level with the radio/television host.
  • Eye contact is not necessarily a rapour builder – soften eye contact.
  • Match the tone and pace of your voice with the interviewer, so you’re on the same scale.
  • You need to match the language used with the show – listen to/watch shows to help you.
  • People are drawn to mirror images of themselves.
  • Find common interests with your interviewer.
  • Be careful of your rapour within author photos – body language can be a good giveaway!
  • Get the media on your side and be a gracious guest.  Send email, etc to show your appreciation – they’re sure to remember you that way as well.
  • Finally, create a blog and join social networks such as Facebook and Twitter – get yourself out there!

Many thanks to Vanessa Talbot and the Central West Writers’ Centre – we’ll certainly take more notice of people’s body language from now on!

Have you ever been interviewed?  What was the experience like for you?

Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

8 thoughts on “Beginner’s Tips on Promoting Your Book.

  1. Very interesting. It is always nice to learn a thing or two 🙂

    1. Debbie Johansson 09/07/2012 — 10:56 am

      Hi. Glad you liked it. Thanks for your comments.

  2. Dimity Powell 09/07/2012 — 10:42 am

    Thanks for this interesting post Debbie. I’ve yet to sit through an interview (other than for a job!) but look forward to putting this in practise soon! Cheers.

    1. Debbie Johansson 09/07/2012 — 11:06 am

      Hi Dimity. I find job interviews are bad enough! I hope you found the tips helpful. I wish you the very best of luck! 🙂

  3. That’s brilliant advice Debbie, I’m petrified of such an occasion 🙂

    1. Debbie Johansson 11/07/2012 — 1:26 am

      Hi Catherine. I’m petrified at the thought of it too! At the end of the discussion, I was feeling a bit self-conscious with all the talk about body language, but it was a real eye-opener. Glad you liked it. 🙂

  4. This is good — some interesting information in here that I didn’t know before.
    (JA Howe)

    1. Debbie Johansson 13/07/2012 — 11:16 pm

      Hi. I’m glad you liked it – hope it helps. Thanks for your comments.

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