Seven ways to get your book in the spotlight

The right publicity can send sales soaring! Here are a few ideas designed to get your books the attention they deserve.

1. Use seminars and conferences to promote your books
Stage an invite-only, meet-the-author portion to your seminar or conference. Your seminar announcement could portray it like a contest: "The first 200 entries get to attend a private reading or Q&A with the author."

2. Sponsor a forum to discuss issues raised in your publication
Invite the author, critics, and readers to discuss your book in Town Hall fashion. The event could warrant local and national media coverage.

3. Make certain there are plenty of review copies available
It may not sound like much, but the trend is to skimp on review copy availability. Buck the trend. Get advanced proofs of your books into the hands of opinion makers and shapers and watch your book get media attention.

4. Establish instant credibility
Getting high-profile endorsements and/or authorships is an excellent way to spread the word on your books. The initial price is sometimes high, but it will pay dividends in the long run.

5. Set up an industry book tour
Who says book tours are for consumer books only? Why not plan a tour of industry events! The events may be picked up by the trade press, and convention-goers will enjoy meeting the author and asking questions. Easy, extra and free publicity. It could be the shot-in-the-arm your book needs.

6. Coincide media hoopla with release of your book
Create contests, press releases, author and reader interviews to add to the excitement of your book's publication date. Set up a charity connected to the book. Donate copies or a portion of each sale.

7. Start the excitement early
Get the word out as soon as possible to your established readers. Plant reminders in your outgoing correspondence--bills, renewal notices, new promotions, etc. Send advance warnings to your friends in the media and on-line.

 To learn about how O'Connell Meier can generate bright ideas and boost sales for your orgainzation, give Rich Meier a call at 703.739.2266 or send us an e-mail. For a preview of the sales-boosting techniques we use, visit the association section of our bright idea generator. And for an overview of our company, our experience, and our creative and marketing services visit the About OM section.