Free Book Marketing Tip #4: Always carry copies of your book with you
You never know who you are going to meet when you are waiting in line at the grocery store, in an airport lounge, at the gym, at a conference, your kid’s soccer game, at the movies…places where you find potential readers are who would enjoy your book, so don’t disappoint them. My client, Deborah Myers, carries copies of her new Daily Clean Your House Flow books with her. She met a hospital administrator at a social event and they are now in discussions with about how to bring her work into the hospital.
Think Like a Publisher
As an independent publisher, you are your chief marketeer, (a specialist in promoting or selling a product or service (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marketeer). Think like a big publishing house. Be prepared at all times to share your book with your fans and potential fans.
Be Ready to Sell
There is no excuse for not being able to sell your books anywhere. You can get a free credit card reader from square.com, PayPal, Intuit, or use a service like Stripe, all of which work on a smart phone, tablet or computer.
Don’t forget the sales tax
If you are engaging in physical commerce, be sure to collect sales tax. If you aren’t sure about this step, talk to your tax preparer, or read up on the process here. Remember, you are now a business and it is important to follow the rules of taxation. For more tax tips for small businesses, especially creatives, check out taxpertise.com — this site is amazing in its depth as well as being well written with a touch of humor. Bonnie Lee is an Enrolled Agent and author, so she knows her stuff.
Don’t be shy
You spent a lot of time getting your book published. Now is not the time to allow shyness get in your way. If you are always prepared to sharing your book, you are always prepared to sell your book.
If you are shy, you can hire me to help spread the good word, because “marketing is a conversation.”
Check back soon for more free book marketing tips for independent publishers from Judy Baker and if you have a great book marketing tip, share it with me.
