Small Press Month, Tip # 16

March 16 - Start marketing early. Don't wait until you have books in your hands to start building a following for your book. Keeping your book a secret is not going to protect you -- in fact it is the most dangerous thing you can do. There is little risk to most authors of someone stealing your idea - everyone wants to write their own book with their own idea.

People aren't going to just line up when your book comes off the press -- you have to get their attention and their buy in. Make it a book they anticipate and look forward to. 

If you are doing non-fiction or children's books, it's not too early to start chatting up your upcoming book 12 to 18 months prior to your book coming out. 

If you are self publishing fiction, start building social media and other vehicles 8 months to 2 years ahead ahead of it's publication.

Actively market during this time. You can't get the time before your publication date back. Once the book is out, it's out!

Small Press Month, Tip # 15

March 15 - Create a lecture or short talk about your topic and call venues to ask if you can give the lecture.  Make sure you are giving your audience some value -- not just blabbing about your book, and that "everyone who has read it says they could not put it down." Audiences won't want to see that, and you are more likely to turn off a sale than turn it on.

• Carefully craft your talk, so that it gives them information about your topic, but makes them want to read more by buying your book. 
• Give them something they can't get anywhere other than at one of your talks. 
• Call libraries, retirement centers, universities, groups, chamber of commerce offices, historical societies (whatever is appropriate for your particular book) within a radius of where you might like to travel to give your talk.
• Ask the organizer how long they want you to speak and who will be in the audience. If they give you 20 minutes -- strictly adhere to that, as they probably have other plans or more knowledge about the activities that day than you do.
• Reserve your spot for a speaking opportunity at least two months in advance to give them time to promote and build excitement.
• Show up on time and be prepared.

Have fun!