Self-promotion.

It’s a dirty word in the mind of many authors and cuts against the very grain of so many of us creative and introverted types. But in today’s age of something like 1,000 books being released into the marketplace a day, that’s right, a day, we simply have to do it. Now, I don’t claim to be an expert, but I do know what’s working and what’s not. My first published children’s picture book Pippin No Lickin’ about a kitty that won’t take a bath was just released last Thanksgiving and it’s been a slow burn. I was told that would be the case and that’s ok.

Some of these apply to any book marketing, most are specific to children’s books, here are some things I am learning:

• Persistence.

Take this and pour it over everything else I say like fudge sauce on cheap vanilla ice-cream. None of it will work without this. You can’t say, “Well, I emailed(called, stopped in, etc.,) once and there was no response so I guess I’ll just move on.” Many of my “hits” have come from third and even fourth attempts. Remember, no one cares about another book except your mother, but give them something to connect with about you and you’re in the door.

• Online.

This is the biggie and it’s one that makes many authors cringe. I have an Instagram, Facebook and Twitter account as well as my own webpage. I have them linked so if I make a post on one, it pushes to the others. If possible, keep your name(tag) consistent across them all for ease of search. Post often but not too much. I try to do it every other day. If you have something big coming up, maybe daily for a limited time.

YouTube is the number one way elementary age children access content. I recently read a statistic that 62% of social media traffic pushed to Amazon is from YouTube, while slightly less than 20% for Facebook. That’s something that I never would have guessed. Create a channel where you read your book and even share other videos related to your book. Get people subscribed and invested.

Don’t always be pushing something. Sometimes just post something that would interest your followers or is for their benefit. Because my book is about a cat, I post things on cat adoption or just silly/fun cat videos. It gets your followers connected to you on a more personal level.

In addition to our very own HometownReads.com, Goodreads.com and PR.com are available with free accounts and very valuable for exposure and networking. LinkedIn is also great for industry specific and business connections. Do searches for Children’s Book Awards, Reviews and Blogs, some will accept open submissions, some are free, some charge a fee, do what fits your budget and your book.

• Local Bookstores.

The best way to set an appearance is to physically go in with a copy and a smile and ask for the Event Manager, every store has one, for smaller indies it will just be the owner most-likely. Hold your book in a way that makes it look worth it, cover upright, title visible. You may not even get the decision maker the first time. I leave a copy and my business card paper clipped to the cover. I also ask for their business card and make sure I have a direct phone number and/or email for the person I need. This exact thing happened when I scheduled my official book launch at my local Barnes and Noble. I FINALLY got through after several attempts with a follow-up phone call and then hashed things out with email.

Be confident, guarantee a good turn out and make it happen (bug your family and friends, that’s their job, they won’t mind). My event was well attended, I sold a bunch of books and I had my brother-in-law take pictures I could use for promotion later. Use this as a launching pad for future stores that you can build upon.

• Local Schools.

Follow the same steps above except ask for the librarian. You’ll be limited to the front office at first so be kind and engaging. Don’t treat the admin as a door you need to get through. Use their name, talk a bit. You’d be surprised, sometimes they and the librarian love authors coming in and they’ll talk to you right away. Sometimes it’s the “leave a copy with business card and follow-up later” sort of visit, you don’t know until you try.

If you have kids or know kids of friends, oft times your initial point of contact may be a classroom teacher. I’ve found that it’s still the best to eventually get to the librarian as that will give the most impact school-wide. Now, what you charge as far as fees or how you sell books (I use an order form) is up to you. I may do a blog on that process in more detail at some point.

Ok, you’ve written a book and it’s not going to magically become a best seller on its own. Get out there and get noticed!