PRESENTATIONS AND BOOK SIGNINGS

Whether you have been published through a conventional publishing house or whether you have been self-published, you as the author, will need to consistently market your work and yourself in order to ensure that copies of your books are sold. It is a huge misconception that your publishing house will take care of the sales – publishing houses can get the books into stores but that does NOT mean that readers will necessarily buy the books off the shelves. If books aren’t sold in the bookstores within a certain time period, they’re returned to the publisher/book distributor for a full refund, not just that, but you still don’t get buy-in from the readers for current or future books.

 Most self-published authors have to personally drive and market their work. Always remember the simple equation: Input = Output. The amount of effort that you put into your marketing drive is usually equal to the amount of sales that you will have.

 Frequently arrange book signings and presentations to audiences who may relate to your written material. For example, if your have a book on “Battling Drug Addictions – The Self-help Manual”, you can arrange to talk to several audiences such as hospital staff, addicts, drug rehab patients, medical forums, community members etc. Generally, after your presentation, interested parties will want to purchase the book to get detailed information, so have copies available or contact details of where people can get your book.

If you have a fiction book that appeals to school goers, arrange school presentations and book signings. You can talk about your experiences as a writer and you can talk about how you started your book. Young readers will be inspired by you and are always excited to meet authors in person.

If community events are held, try and arrange a stall or table where people can get autographed copies of your book – personalizing books is a great way to get people to want to buy it. If fares are held, books make great presents, have a few books available.

Arrange with book store owners to have book signings on a particular day, it will give you exposure and give them bait to get more customers for that day.

 If you’re not the type to phone around and arrange presentations and signings, get a publicist or employ a marketer, part-time.

 If you can afford to, try and have bookmarkers made to add value to your promotions. Readers love having matching bookmarkers for their autographed books.

 However it is, that you get to presentations and signings, remember that you will have to speak confidently and informatively to your audiences. First impressions are lasting, so strive to make a good first impression by being organized and well-spoken.