by Scott Lorenz | Blog, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Marketing a Book, Promoting a Book, Social Media
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Book Marketing
As an author, your website is a brief glimpse into who you are and what you do. In today’s marketplace, readers are looking to connect with their favorite authors, and books can’t promote themselves. Your website is how you attract and maintain readers. So how can you make it more engaging? Let’s take a look at ten suggestions that other authors are using!
Show your book covers
Visuals are the first thing people see when they open your website, so make them eye-catching! Put your books front and center and let them speak for themselves. Book covers convey the genre, tone, and appeal of your books. They are an easy way to add some visual flair!
Your website designer should pick up on the colors of the book cover and use them in the site.
For example, take a look at James Patterson’s website. The background is kept simple and clean, utilizing the colorful book covers as the key visual.
Share about yourself
Readers want to know who you are! Consider adding an about page that shares some interesting information about yourself. Here are some things you could include:
- Credentials
- Education
- Hobbies
- Personal achievements
- Place of residence
- Cultural background
You can pull your author bio straight from your book or create something unique just for your website. Readers are more likely to connect with authors who share similarities with them, so let your personality show!
Add blurbs from reviews
Sometimes other people say it best! Sharing reviews lets potential readers know what to expect from your work. They also add to your credibility, especially when they are from reputable sources such as editorial reviews. When choosing blurbs, keep them short and sharp! Pick ones that encompass the theme or that highlight a key element of your book. Make sure they are different and don’t repeat the same points.
Let’s take a look at Julie Orringer’s website. Before any other information, she shares a review that captures the tone of each tone. Based on a single review, readers who are interested in ambitious and suspenseful stories will probably enjoy Julie’s book The Flight Portfolio. Julie includes reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist and Kirkus Reviews to name a few.
Create a book trailer
One very effective tactic to promote and publicize your book is to create a “Book Trailer.” A book trailer is like a movie trailer in that it allows someone to preview a book both visually and via audio. A video book trailer brings the book to life and gives the potential reader a sneak peek at the contents. When we create a book trailer, we’ll include it on the author’s website and we’ll post it on YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and use it in the promotion of a book.
Besides attracting readers of a book’s genre and the immediate visual impact benefit, a trailer can actually improve search engine ranking for an author’s web site. The book trailer on YouTube becomes searchable by key words which are carefully selected to attract interest and drive more traffic to the author’s web site or Amazon page.
The website for the “Bad Love” series by Dr. Kevin Schewe features four of the book trailers Westwind Book Marketing created. The trailers are prominently featured on his website and further suggest the series is ‘movie material’ as it has such strong visuals. Check it out at: https://kevinschewe.com/
Add links to buy your books
What is the main goal of an author website? To get people to buy your books! Make it easy for readers to purchase your books by including big buttons that link to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, The Publisher etc. Don’t make people scroll and search for the link. Put it right under or beside the cover.
If you’re searching for additional book retailers to carry your works, check out this list of America’s biggest booksellers. The top ones include Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million.
Quote your book
An easy way to get people interested in your books is to put excerpts on your website. Sometimes, readers unfamiliar with your work may not want to commit to purchasing and reading a whole book. Readers can decide if they are interested based on your writing style and subject matter. Pick excerpts that are well-written, set the tone for the book, and aren’t too confusing without context.
You could also consider providing a chapter for free, like author James Clear. He offers a download of the first chapter of his hit book Atomic Habits. Much like a free sample given out at your local grocery store, an excerpt gives readers a taste of what’s to come!
Add media clips or logos
Add clips of your media interviews to your website and be sure to use the logos from media outlets as well. Use the podcaster’s photo, their promo piece for the interview anything that is already created you’ll want to repurpose it. Often when a member of the media wants to interview one of my clients they’ll go to the author’s website. They want to hear and interview and for TV they want to see what you look like before they book the interview.
For example, let’s look at Jay Shetty’s site. Right away, the site plays a video. He includes interviews and clips of his podcast. On his press page, he promotes a variety of content that he has been a part of, accompanied by the logos of well-known platforms, such as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The New York Times, Red Table Talk, and more.
Share book awards
Book awards are a great way to position yourself in the industry. One of the reasons to go after book awards is to tell people you’ve WON a few. Don’t be afraid to show off your accomplishments! Much like logos, book awards are easy to recognize and add visual flair. They show that people appreciate your work and that it is worth reading. Additionally, readers may seek out the winners of specific awards if they are looking for a certain genre or topic.
Let’s look at Patrick Asare’s website. He displays five awards for The Boy from Boadua, including the Literary Titan Book Award and the International Impact Book Award. Pretty impressive right?
Create a backlist of your books
Much like a portfolio, a backlist provides readers with the full extent of your work. You never know what will connect with someone, and an older book may have a resurgence. In addition, people who have read your other books will recognize them and be more inclined to check out others.
Take a look at Emma Davies’ site. Right on the home page, she displays a variety of her works, as well as including a books tab in her menu.
Utilize a mailing list
A mailing list is a great way to interact with your readers on a regular basis. You can keep them up to date on new releases, your next projects, promotions, and other updates. It’s been said that with a list of a few thousand avid book buying fans an author can live quite well. If you are not collecting the email addresses of your readers, you are missing an opportunity. Many mailing lists are simple to sign up for, just input your name and your email.
Here are some sites that offer free plans for mailing lists:
For other examples of strong author websites, check out one of my articles on the topic where I’ve benchmarked some of my favorite author websites here.
The bottom line: By utilizing these ten tips, as seen by the success of many popular authors, your website will intrigue readers and keep them coming back for more.
About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Book Marketing at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award-winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
by Scott Lorenz | Blog, Book Events, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Book Publishing, Book Title Generator, BookTok, Marketing a Book, Writers Conferences
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Book Marketing
The popularity of romance books has been steadily on the rise for several years now. Stemming from the trend, the latest phenomenon in the reading community is brick and mortar stores exclusively for romance novels. According to an article by Alexandra Alter in The New York Times, romance bookstores are scattered throughout the nation “and have become vibrant community hubs for romance fans.”
The Rise of Romance
“The current romance craze traces to the early days of the pandemic,” says Alter. Romance books began to trend as people were in search of exciting love stories in times of boredom and uneasiness. Alter continues, “Print sales more than doubled in the last few years, from 18 million copies in 2020 to 39 million in 2023.” A significant turning point in the world of romance novels pre-pandemic was the 2016 release of Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us. Hoover’s novel topped the charts, selling 6.9 million copies and remaining on The New York Times’ Best Sellers list for 131 weeks, according to Vox. The book gained tons of attention on social media, especially BookTok, because of its subject matter of abusive relationships. The iconic romance novel has now been made into a movie starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
Dream Me Home
Another notable novel intertwines romance and mystery: Dream Me Home written by psychotherapist Laurie Elizabeth Murphy. Murphy says her book “is about characters that are real, and face real dilemmas, they make irrational decisions even with the best intentions, and cannot always control the outcomes of the most well-planned lives.” The book was published in 2023 and Murphy won first place with Dream Me Home at the 2024 PenCraft Book Awards for Best Fiction in the Mystery category. Visit Murphy’s website to learn more about her award-winning novel.
Darzik
Physician Fionne Foxxe Farraday’s science fiction fantasy Darzik is a continuation of her Mates of the Alliance series. This compelling series tells the story of the love connection between a human and an extraterrestrial being. Farraday says, “In this story, Emily has been through something horrific which altered the course of her life. She is a survivor and doesn’t see herself as a victim. Most of this book is her journey to reclaim her life and how Darzik is there for her through it all as her staunchest cheerleader, the one who sees her bravery and supports her as she steps forward into a new life.” Find out more about Darzik here.
Get Involved in the Romance World
More and more people have jumped on the romance novel train. The industry has grown far from its old “smut” and guilty pleasure stereotypes. As the community has grown, there are now events for romance fans to come together in celebration of their shared interest. Here are a couple of upcoming events for romance fans: Romance Con taking place September 6-7, 2024, in Milwaukee, WI and Black Romance Book Fest taking place May 30-June 1, 2025, in Atlanta, GA.
Advice for Romance Writers
In every good romance novel, there are common aspects that are keys to its success. For example, to write a good romance story there needs to be tension. According to The Book Coach, readers become more engaged as the tension between characters strengthens, building up the story and creating an emotional connection with the reader. Similar to other genres, a good romance includes some kind of character development.
A blog post on QinPrinting says to “avoid creating a one-dimensional character and instead focus on making your heroine human, flawed, and capable of growth.” This allows readers to relate to the character, which heavily influences how much they will enjoy the story. You can also implement character development with the use of tropes; everybody loves a good enemy to lovers’ trope! A final piece of advice is to have a happy ending to your book.
As The Urban Writers stated, “Real life doesn’t always guarantee happy endings, especially when it comes to love… readers understand this and are drawn to romance bestsellers because they know that a happy ending is in the cards.” Readers expect a “happily ever after” to follow the whirlwind of drama they’ve just been taken through.
Romance Bookstores in the US
- The Ripped Bodice in Los Angeles, CA as well as Brooklyn, NY
- Love’s Sweet Arrow in Tinsley Park, IL
- The Last Chapter in Chicago, IL
- Meet Cute in San Diego, CA
- Blush in Wichita, KS
- Under the Cover in Kansas City, MO
- Tropes & Trifles in Minneapolis, MN
- Grump & Sunshine in Belfast, ME
- A Novel Romance in Louisville, KY
- Beach Read Books in Wilmington, NC
- Lovebound Library in Salt Lake City, UT
- …And more!
The Bottom Line: If you’re a romance reader or writer, dive deeper into the community. Visit these romance bookstores, join/start a romance book club, or write a romance novel of your own!
About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Book Marketing at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award-winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
by Scott Lorenz | Blog, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, BookTok, Promoting a Book, Social Media, TikTok
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Book Marketing
TikTok has become a major hot spot for influencing in a range of different fields. When it comes to the literary world, influencers use this digital platform to promote different books and authors in the TikTok community known as BookTok. Read more about BookTok and its benefits in an article I wrote here.
BookTok’s influence has been taken to the next level with “The Shadow Work Journal,” written by Keila Shaheen. This journal is a spiritual guide based on the concept of “the shadow self” by psychoanalyst Carl Jung. It is meant to help readers acknowledge and repair their deep-rooted emotional wounds. The debut, self-published book is now a bestseller thanks to TikTok. So how exactly did Shaheen rise to BookTok fame?
An Influencer’s Influence
TikTok influencer Kohn Glay (@girldadsos) played a critical part in the book’s success. Glay passionately promoted Shaheen’s work, telling his viewers that they needed Shaheen’s workbook to shepherd them in their spiritual journey. Glay’s viewers began to purchase Shaheen’s journal directly through TikTok Shop. According to The New York Times, “Shaheen went on to sell more than a million copies,” of which almost 700,000 were sold through TikTok Shop.
Targeting the Audience
Shaheen promotes shadow work on her TikTok profile with aura cleansing and sound healing, as well as leading viewers through some of the exercises in her journal. The escalation of Shaheen’s sales further proves a point that I made in my article on BookTok, which is that “many users, especially the younger generations, are drawn to organic promotions directly from their source rather than traditional advertising.” TikTok users want to see videos that are short and straight to the point.
If a video drags on baiting the audience for too long, they’ll lose interest and scroll. TikTok influencing is about catering to short attention spans, which is why influencers like Glay were so effective in their promotion of “The Shadow Work Journal,” diving right in at the beginning of his videos to get people hooked on the topic.
Not only was Glay strategic about his marketing, but his endorsement of Shaheen’s work is authentic and real. It is evident that he truly cares about his viewers discovering shadow work in order to better themselves, and this is what made his influence so impactful.
TikTok Sells
As stated in The New York Times, Shaheen has made history with TikTok “by fully harnessing its potential not just for marketing, but for direct sales.” Glay’s viewers were directly influenced by his videos on Shaheen’s work, which caused them to switch tabs and purchase it immediately through the app. This is a true testament to the ability TikTok has not only to market and promote, but to actually sell a book. With over 1 billion users, TikTok has the potential to not only reach a wide market, but its rapid and convincing format has proven to convert leads to meaningful sales.
Bending the Rules of Becoming a Bestseller
Shaheen signed with publisher Simon & Schuster after her book became a bestseller. She was able to reach this point solely because of the way the app launched her into success. Agent Albert Lee of United Talent Agency told The New York Times, “It breaks all the rules of what makes a best seller,” because the book was self-published by an unestablished author with no expansion beyond the United States. Shaheen is a prime example of the truly revolutionary things TikTok is doing for authors.
For advice on jumping on the TikTok train, check out David Alan Arnold’s Facebook Group called How to Grow on TikTok. He is the author of Help From Above as well as the Deadliest Catch helicopter cameraman, and he has 1.8 million followers on TikTok (@davidalanarnold). “I will show you the good and the bad,” Arnold says, “Let’s help each other grow.”
The Bottom Line: Start growing a profile on TikTok now! Use the app to your book’s advantage, and you could be the next author to go from debut to bestseller.
About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Book Marketing at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award-winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
by Scott Lorenz | Blog, Book Clubs, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Promoting a Book
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Book Marketing
How can you get free promotion for your book? The answer is simple: have people connect over your book and talk about it. That’s why book clubs are such an effective tool for authors. Book club members go out and buy your book, read it, meet up to talk about it, and then recommend it to their friends. It’s good old fashioned ‘word-of-mouth’ marketing every book needs. You can learn about this approach to promoting your book in a more extensive article I wrote about it here: book clubs.
There’s one book club with a huge national following and it was started by Jimmy Fallon of the Tonight Show.
About the Fallon Book Club Segment
Jimmy Fallon hosts a book club segment where he and his viewers choose a book to read together. Jimmy starts by giving the audience their options. The choices range from debut novels to New York Times Best Sellers, with genres ranging from love stories to murder mysteries. In 2018 when Jimmy started the segment, it was called The Tonight Show “Summer Reads,” but in 2022 Jimmy coined the official “Fallon Book Club.”
Up until this year, Jimmy has picked out five or six books for his viewers to choose from, none of which he has previously read. To compile his list of competitors, Jimmy does research on each of his selections and their authors to ensure he chooses a mix of both established authors and those publishing for the first time. Jimmy has stuck strictly to fictional stories, and he tends to choose either love stories, psychological thrillers, or murder mystery stories as contestants.
As he stated, “Summertime you want the murder mystery, or you want the love and romance.” After Jimmy read the description of each, viewers could scan a QR code or visit the Fallon Book Club website to cast their vote on the story that most appealed to them.
FBC’s March Madness
This spring, Jimmy decided to switch things up. Instead of only doing a Summer Read, he put together a March Madness style bracket with 16 of his favorite finds. From the initial “Sweet 16,” the viewers voted to determine the “Elite Eight,” then the “Final Four,” followed by the “Terrific Two,” and finally the one winning book, which would be the Spring Read for the FBC. Jimmy’s original bracket was made up of 16 action-packed, thrilling mysteries.
The champion that has become the Spring Read is Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra, a debut novel. According to LateNighter News, there were about 1 million total voters involved in determining the winner, with each viewer allowed to vote up to 10 times on the Fallon Book Club website.
Winner Takes It All
The Fallon Book Club has helped debut authors become New York Times Best Sellers. Having your book selected by Jimmy Fallon could change the trajectory of your career as an author. Thanks to the publicity from the FBC, Nightwatching’s sales have made an outstanding increase. When Jimmy first introduced the novel as a contestant on the bracket, it was #20,143 on Amazon’s list of Best-Selling Books.
A couple days after the voters proclaimed it the winner, it jumped to #46, according to LateNighter News. Jimmy also announced that he would invite the author of the winning book onto the show, which will even further promote Sierra’s novel.
Bring A Social Life to Your Book
Today, people are using social media to connect in ways beyond the traditional gatherings. Connect with Jimmy and the FBC by following along on Facebook and Instagram @FallonBookClub and tagging him with mentions of your book.
Use the hashtag #FallonBookClub and ask friends and family to do the same. Doing this will help build community around your book.
Getting Fallon’s Attention
Multiple attempts to contact the show were futile, so they must want their selection method to remain a secret. It is likely a combination of publisher contacts, agents, and serendipity. The show’s mailing address is 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York.
Jimmy Fallon mainly looks for either love stories or mysteries for the Fallon Book Club. If this aligns with your books, you could be a contender for the segment!
The Bottom Line: A plug on The Tonight Show can be a life changing event. The opportunity is in your hands. Go for it!
About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Book Marketing at https://westwindbookmarketing.com/ or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
by Scott Lorenz | Artificial Intelligence, Blog, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Promoting a Book
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Book Marketing
As a book publicist, I am constantly looking for new and improved ways to help clients promote their books. Marketing is key when it comes to success—you can create a great book, but it will go nowhere if nobody knows about it. One new tool that is being used in book marketing is artificial intelligence (AI). AI is software that helps to carry out a task by collecting and applying data.
Many authors are already using a form of AI while writing. Features such as autocorrect and spellcheck utilize AI to search out grammar and spelling issues and offer corrections. With the more advanced generative AI, it can completely transform the style and tone of your work while keeping the content intact. I recently used AI on the first few pages of a client’s book, asking the program to rewrite it in a more dramatic style, and I was blown away by the finished product!
Beyond writing, AI can be used in many different ways during the publishing process. Here are some examples of ways AI can be used in book marketing.
1. Producing Copy
Using AI, authors can input key ideas and let the machines do the rest! What would take a human being hour to write up can be done in seconds. Sites such as The Associated Press have used AI for years to provide near-instant news, and in publishing, that speed can be used to get content out quickly, jump on the latest trends, and prepare for what comes next.
2. Find Target Audience
Many social media platforms utilize AI to provide personalized recommendations to each user. As stated in an article from FADEL, these recommendations are “a powerful tool for enhancing reader engagement, increasing content consumption, and fostering long-term loyalty.” For authors, AI can find those who will be interested in your book based on other content that they have engaged with.
3. Social Media Content Creation
Similar to producing copy, AI can be used to create social media posts based on popular trends. According to Forbes, this form of AI uses “text-to-image, image-to-video, image-to-image and other varieties of algorithms to create unique content like images, video, music and text.” For authors using social media to promote their books, AI will keep their content relevant and engaging.
4. Book Cover Creation
AI can also be used to create book covers. Given your genre and book content, it can make suggestions for potential covers based on similar or popular titles. Much like creating social media posts, some AI programs can even generate images for your cover. However, make sure to use programs that are not using stolen artwork to teach their AI!
5. Increased Accessibility
AI can also increase the accessibility of your book by generating text-to-speech, creating audiobook formats, translating to other languages, and much more. By offering more than one way to consume your content, more readers will be interested. Author C.S. Lakin recounts her experience of Amazon’s AI Audiobook feature: “Honestly, it took all of fifteen minutes, after I spent one minute choosing one of my titles, picking a voice, and publishing. Seriously! I have an entire 11 hours of audio listening for Time Sniffers, and it took Al all of ten minutes. The reading is pretty good—better than some narrators I paid to do my audiobooks.” Even better, this program is free!
6. Find Places and People for Promotion
You can ask AI chatbots for suggestions of places to promote your book based on your genre, target audience, or other factors. They can quickly locate influencers, websites, magazines, or bookstores that might be interested in promoting your book! Given how vast the internet is, it’s much simpler than trying to find them on your own. Plus, AI can find places that might not have ever crossed your mind.
7. Interview Practice
Not sure how to talk about your book? Ask AI chatbots to ask you questions about it. You can prepare answers for common questions before actual interviews. AI can also offer feedback on your answers, such as how to improve wording or what information you should add or remove.
8. Predictive Analysis
AI can be used to track trends and predict what will come next. What books will be popular? What advertising methods will be effective? What will catch people’s attention? What is going out of style? AI can study past and current trends to predict the answers to these questions. PublishersWeekly claims, “[AI] can do a great job with competitive analysis and can paint a compelling real-time picture of what’s happening in the market to the books that are siphoning off sales, and to opportunities missed.” Get ahead of the curve by preparing for the next big thing!
Reminder: Always double-check your AI-produced creations! You don’t want false or plagiarized information.
AI will continue to grow and expand, and authors should take advantage of it. It is cost-efficient, effective, and saves time. Some common AI programs for writers and publicists include ChatGPT, Gemini, Jasper, CopyAI, Writesonic, Ocoya, Bing CoPilot, and DALL-E. However, this barely scratches the surface of the hundreds of programs available for every niche. Take time to explore and find what works for you!
If you’d like to see a step-by-step overview in using AI, check out an online video class by Jess Todtfeld, President of Success In Media, Inc, a leading business communication expert whose clients include the United Nations and Fortune 500 firms. ChatGPT to Supercharge Your Public Relations Media Training. Just watching the free previews will help you.
The Bottom Line: AI is a valuable tool when it comes to book marketing, as it is an effective and efficient way to expand your audience.
About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Book Marketing at https://westwindbookmarketing.com/ or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
by Scott Lorenz | Blog, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Book Publishing, Book Title Generator, How to title a book, Marketing a Book
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
The saying goes “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but in the marketing world, the cover and title are crucial to the book’s success. No one picks up a book that doesn’t catch their attention with the cover and title. As a book publicist, I have gathered the tips and tricks for titling books in my awarding-winning Book Title Generator, which outlines 4 key factors for naming your book:
1. Make it Memorable
You want your title to stick with potential readers, so make it stand out! Use words that evoke emotion, try out some literary devices such as alliteration or allusions, or capitalize off of the popularity of “clickbait,” aka dramatic or sensational phrases that encourage the reader to seek out further information. Ask yourself, “among the hundreds of thousands of books out there, how can my book title stand out?”
2. Make it Descriptive
What is your book about? The title is the first indicator for readers, so you want your title to reflect the plot of the book. A single-word title may have worked decades ago, but with how many books exist now, it can easily get lost. However, you want to avoid overly complicated or difficult-to-remember titles, so consider using a subtitle. On Amazon, you can put 200 characters in your title, so take advantage of it! Subtitles increase searchability and pique the interest of potential readers. Use the title and subtitle to explain the theme, the genre, a character, or another aspect of your book that makes it unique!
3. Tell them the Genre
Genre is very important when it comes to book marketing, as people will often be seeking out specific types of books, so make it clear from the start. Include a reference to the genre directly in your title or subtitle. For example, if your book is about the paranormal, include that in the subtitle. If your book is part of a series, include that. Reaching your target audience is key to a book’s success!
4. Use Keywords to Increase Searchability
Keywords are what people enter into a website when searching for a product. For most products, this is straightforward, i.e. search “car wax” for car wax. For books, however, keywords are more subjective. This is why descriptive titles are so important; you want to include words or phrases that accurately describe your book but are also common things that people would type into a search bar. Figuring out keywords can take some effort: try typing a similar title or genre into Amazon or Goodreads and see what comes up. Are the results comparable to your book? If not, you may need to rethink your title. Additionally, there is new technology that many writers use to help with keywords. Software such as Publisher Rocket can analyze data directly from Amazon and determine the profitability and competition for specific words or phrases.
These four points are just the starting point to developing a strong title but are easily the most important. Taking the time to develop a title using these tools is crucial to your book’s reach, profitability, and long-term performance. Don’t be afraid to change your book’s title if it will increase your chances of success! For more information, check out Book Title Generator, which offers even more details on these key points, as well as more tips and tricks, a plethora of real-life examples, and a list of resources for authors to use.
The Bottom Line: The title is the first thing readers are drawn to when looking at books, so make it descriptive, make it memorable, incorporate the genre, and utilize keywords to increase your success!
About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Book Marketing at https://westwindbookmarketing.com/ or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award-winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net
by Scott Lorenz | Blog, Book Marketing, Book Publishing, Book Title Generator, Marketing a Book, Promoting a Book
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Book Marketing
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. That’s why the title of your book is so important. The title is the first thing potential readers will see or hear about your book. While thinking of a compelling title is easier said than done, it’s essential if you’d like to sell your book.
I wrote a book about how to title a book called Book Title Generator. The good news is artificial intelligence (AI) can now help in the process. You still need to understand the underlying concepts in titling a book – SEO, Amazon optimization, using numbers, idioms, short titles, etc. Let’s take a closer look at how authors are tapping into the power of AI to title their books so you can do the same.
AI-Powered Book Title Generators
Fortunately, there are a number of AI-powered book title generators to help you title your books, regardless of genre. You can enter a few phrases or keywords related to your book’s content and receive a list of potential book titles to get your creative juices flowing.
An AI-powered book title generator can also analyze your target audience, so you know your readers’ demographics, interests, and preferences. It may recommend titles that resonate with your specific audience.
In addition, you can set different parameters like your preferred tone to customize the titles the generators provide you. This makes it a breeze to ensure the suggested titles fit your vision and brand.
ChatGPT and Bing Chat AI are the most popular tools for generating book titles. Both can generate unlimited title ideas. You just have to use a descriptive prompt about the genre, setting, story line, targeted age group, and other factors. It’s quite amazing how many clever titles it can generate quickly. Here are several other reputable AI-powered book title generators you may want to explore:
- AskYourPDF: AskYourPDF offers several content development tools, including an AI Book Title Generator.
- Simplified AI: Even if you’re new to AI, you’ll appreciate this intuitive tool that can help you generate a variety of serious, thought provoking, and humorous book titles.
- Toolbaz: With Toolbaz, you can come up with book titles in various genres, styles, and lengths.
- AISEO: If SEO is your goal, AISEO will help you optimize your book titles for search engines.
- BookAI: You can count on BookAI to review your manuscript and share relevant title ideas.
- Taskade: Taskade can assist you with every stage of the book writing process, such as brainstorming, and title generation based on the keywords you input.
Benefits of Using AI in Titling Your Book
Whether you’re a new author or have been writing and publishing books for years, an AI-powered title generation can offer many benefits, including:
- Time Savings: Create unique, compelling book titles and save hours upon hours on brainstorming and manual tests.
- Increased Profits: An engaging title can intrigue readers and lead to more sales.
- Flexibility: AI book title generators accommodate all types of authors, regardless of genres or writing styles.
- Chance to Stand Out: With an intriguing book title, you’ll be able to differentiate yourself in the competitive market and in turn, raise your chances of success.
If you’d like to see a step-by-step overview in using AI, check out an online video class by Jess Todtfeld, President of Success In Media, Inc, a leading business communication expert whose clients include the United Nations and Fortune 500 firms. ChatGPT to Supercharge Your Public Relations Media Training. Just watching the free previews will help you.
The Bottom Line: Titling your book doesn’t have to be a long, drawn-out process. With AI, you can come up with the ideal title in a fraction of the time. Best of luck!
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://westwindbookmarketing.com/ or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publishing, Book Title Generator, Marketing a Book
I’ve worked with some of the best photographers in the USA. I’ve been in dozens of studios all over the country and have been privy to their backstage techniques. These photographers have photographed Miss America contestants, professional hockey and baseball players as well as CEOs, authors, doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs. I got the skinny directly from them on their tips for getting the best head shot possible.
While the written word is powerful in landing a media placement, as a book publicist I know that a great photo can clinch a media opportunity just as well and sometimes even faster. How? It’s simple. The photo immediately tells the reporter if the author looks credible and it tells a TV producer if the person is going to look good on a TV interview. If you don’t think they care, think again. It also declares race, sex and sometimes creed. It all matters, and don’t assume it’s a negative thing as it helps news producers provide a balanced newscast so that all voices can be heard. It’s the same with print or broadcast media.
To be sure you convey your message in your headshot and to put your best face forward you’ll want to hear some tips on How to take a great headshot.
First let’s talk about the use of the head shot and its purpose as that dictates the style.
Author Headshots will be used on a book cover and press materials, website and social media. You want multiple variations as the thumbnail close up on Amazon will be different from the one you use on LinkedIn, Amazon and your book flap. Is this a serious book? If so then you should look professional. If it’s a cookbook then look like a cook in proper attire in the kitchen. If you are a doctor, then look like one!
Renowned photographer Sam T’ang of Sam T’ang Production Studios, who regularly photographs Miss America and Miss USA contestants, says planning ahead is critical and offers these tips:
- Get a good night’s sleep and rest the day before your shoot. (You don’t want wrinkles or baggie eyes for your shoot).
- A good headshot should focus just on your face. Clothing should be complementary & should have contrast, IE, someone with lighter color hair should have darker tops or suits, someone with darker hair should have lighter colored tops or suits.
- Clothing/wardrobe should not be busy or have patterns. Always bring several different outfits if possible. It is always better to have too much than only one outfit to work with.
- Backgrounds should be clean, un-cluttered and should not have a pattern (unless it’s an environmental portrait).
- Accessories (Women). Jewelry should be subtle and not overpowering (again, the main focus is on the face).
- MAKEUP/HAIR (Women & Men). If it is possible to have a makeup artist/hair stylist, hire one! Makeup is not only important, but makeup looks COMPLETELY different on camera than in real life and the camera PICKS UP EVERYTHING. Everyday makeup under professional photography lighting and strobes will look like you have no makeup at all. A professional makeup artist is well worth the investment!
- A professional photographer should understand lighting conditions whether it’s natural light or strobes (flash). Good lighting makes a huge difference in your photos. Be aware that shooting under fluorescent lights will cast a green tint to your photos.
- There are many talented photographers out there, but only a few who actually specialize and can take a GREAT HEADSHOT. A good photographer should make you feel comfortable and be able to communicate and direct you, thus making your shots look natural and relaxed instead of stiff or too posed and awkward.
- Almost all images are retouched and edited. One caveat just doesn’t have your photographer OVER RETOUCH your photo or use FILTERS that make you look too plastic and not real (unless that is the look you want).
Jack Kenny whose photography book CUBA is filled with photos of the people of Cuba says he likes shooting outdoors in available light. Natural light outside can be beautiful. I like to shoot in doorways or windows or under overpasses, keeping the subject just out of the direct light.
For headshots, says Kenny, “I like to work both in the studio and in natural light. Sometimes I use a combination of the two where the natural light isn’t sufficient to “fill” the subject. For males I prefer to use a single light source (in varying sizes depending on the drama desired). The light is placed at a 30 to 90-degree angle from the subject and sometimes I use an edge light on the opposite side or a reflector to fill in the shadows. For women I tend to use a softer light – usually two front lights – one weaker than the other, and I keep the light sources closer to the camera.”
According to Steve Kovich who shot for the Detroit Red Wings, Tigers, Lions and is currently the Tampa Bay Rays official team photographer, “You want to create depth and mood. Lighting a subject from high above and off to the side is what I like to do. This lighting style is commonly referred to as “Rembrandt” lighting as this is the way the light came into his studio.”
“On the creative end, it’s the ability to evoke or more likely to capture emotion. Whether it be happy, sad, or otherwise,” says Kovich.
In the end, says Jack Kenny, almost any light can be used depending on the effects desired, but a true headshot should emphasize the subject and not the photographer.
About Sam T’ang
Based in Detroit and Miami, Sam T’ang is a national and international published photographer specializing in Beauty, Glamour, Fashion and Swimwear. Sam’s work has appeared in advertisements, calendars, magazines and posters: MAXIM, STUFF, PLAYBOY, FHM, COSMOPOLITAN, GLAMOUR, TEEN, YOUNG MISS, PERFECT 10, OCEAN DRIVE, HAWAIIAN TROPIC, VENUS SWIMWEAR, FITNESS USA, AUTORAMA, and many others.
Sam has photographed headshots for the Miss America, Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss Venus Swimwear, Miss Hawaiian Tropic pageant contestants, the Detroit Pistons and Detroit Red Wings players headshots/promos as well as thousands of models, actors and celebrities. 248-845-8274 and 305-502-1354.
About Jack Kenny
Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Kenny specializes in headshots and has photographed dozens of CEOs, doctors, lawyers, authors, and entrepreneurs. Kenny is also author/publisher of Cuba where he takes readers on a photographic journey through modern day Cuba. (734) 395-1265
About Steven Kovich
Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, Steven Kovich has photographed celebrities such as Kevin Costner, Kevin Bacon and Hulk Hogan as well as hundreds of sports figures including Derek Jeter and Red Wing hockey great Steve Yzerman. He’s also the Tampa Bay Rays official team photographer. His list of corporate clients includes Hyatt, Ameritech, AT&T, CBS, Coke, Chrysler, Domino’s Pizza, Detroit Symphony, ESPN, Ford, Dupont, General Motors, Getty Images, Proctor & Gamble, Pulte Homes, American Red Cross and the US Postal Service. Kovich’s web site has few words as he lets his photos speak for themselves. www.kovich.com 727-452-2349.
The Bottom Line: Your headshot is one of the most important elements in your book promotion. Get a professional to shoot it. Don’t skimp out and use a cropped shot from your summer vacation!
About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Book Marketing at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Blog, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Television, ZOOM
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
Ever notice how some people look great on a Zoom call? What’s their secret? In today’s era of COVID-19, media interviews that were once conducted in a TV studio are now performed on Zoom, Skype, or Facetime. This presents more opportunities for interviews because you don’t have to go to a studio but there are challenges as well. Are you ready for your up-close TV interview on ZOOM?
My personal Zoom experiences and discussions with several experts in this visual field have allowed me to come up with a quick list of tips to help you crush your next Zoom call. Without further ado, here they are:
Dress Appropriately
You don’t have to dress up as much as you usually do. However, your attire should not be down more than one level from what you typically wear in the office. If you normally wear a suit and tie, for example, opt for a nice blouse or button-up shirt.
Jess Todtfeld, former producer and media trainer also recommends you avoid white, black, and red, ensure your clothing is wrinkle-free, remove distracting jewelry, and dress as simply as possible. “TV viewers should focus on your face and what you say, not your clothes,” he says.
You are the face of your company, your school, your brand. If you normally wear makeup to work, then you’ll need to wear it on a TV interview too.
Jess created a new video course on Udemy focusing on looking and sounding good for any online interview. He goes into much detail on doing the best job possible whether it’s for a media interview or a new job. Check it out at: https://bit.ly/ZOOM_Tips_JT
Invest in Reliable Internet Connection
Chances are you’ve seen someone freeze on the screen during a Zoom session. To reduce the risk of this happening to you, a reliable internet connection is a must. If you’re in the middle of an interview and your connection freezes, a TV station will stop the interview and go to someone else. A hardline wired connection to your computer vs. WIFI can prevent this issue. In the event you must use WIFI, request that others in your home or office stay off it during your interview.
Be Mindful of Your Background
Your background during a Zoom call is important. Do your best to make it visually appealing. Add fresh flowers, a potted plant, a painting, or your book cover enlarged on an easel. Remember that people will be able to read book titles so there’s a good chance they’ll notice dust, dirty clothes, and other imperfections in the background. Don’t sit in front of horizontal blinds as this confuses the camera and may cause pixelation of the image. (Vertical blinds are ok) Refrain from virtual backgrounds that come with ZOOM as they create distortion around your head and body. If you must use one due to a home office in a bedroom or hallway, then buy a portable green screen so you can choose a beautiful virtual background that’s free from distortions. You’ll look professional and feel good too.
Do you have a ZOOM Room?
TV and radio studios have acoustically padded walls, ceilings and are carpeted. The sound is absorbed and is not ricocheting around giving that ‘hollow’ effect. If your ZOOM Room is like a racquetball court then you need a new location or to figure out how to deaden the sound bounce with carpet, acoustic tiles, etc. Wearing a lapel microphone helps too. This should be needless say but, keep dogs, kids, and the neighbor’s lawnmower out of sound range.
Pay Attention to the Lighting
It’s essential that your face is well lit throughout the entire interview. If you’re in a dark room, use a circle light or lamp with a warm glow. Ideally, you’d be in a bright room with minimal windows. Excessive light may cause the camera lens to adjust when you don’t want it to. The cost is $50-100. I love mine and it’s really helpful on dark dreary days, late night or early morning interviews or when your spouse may need the living room light for reading!
Ensure the Camera is at ‘just a smidge below’ Eye Level
The camera should always be ‘just a smidge below’ eye level with you. Try your best to look at the camera instead of the screen at all times. Don’t let your eyes wander as this may cause others to believe you’re disinterested or disengaged in the interview. Put a little post-it notes near the camera lens on your camera to remind you to ‘look at the camera’ not the screen.
If you are using the camera on an iPhone or other smartphone, place it on a tripod and be sure to turn off the notifications and the ringer or everyone on the call will hear them.
Use the Skype App
For best results when using SKYPE use the SKYPE App and not your browser. The reality is that the browser accessed version won’t run at optimal speeds and there’s a good chance your screen may freeze. Download the app on your phone or tablet and test it out in advance to make sure it works well.
Opt for Wireless or Wired Earbuds
Speakers on your computer are ok. But, if you want best results, get wireless or wired earbuds. They can enhance your sound quality and help you sound great on camera. If you use wireless earbuds, don’t forget to charge them completely before the interview.
Have a Glass of Water Handy
You can enjoy a number of benefits if you keep a glass of water by your side during your interview. Since talking a lot and being nervous can lead to dry mouth and throat, water can help you keep your vocal cords moist. It can also serve as a prop so if you’re asked a tricky question, you can take a sip of the water and give yourself some extra time to think of a good answer.
Don’t Forget Pen and Paper
With a pen and paper nearby, you’ll be able to jot down the reporter’s name, questions you may have, and anything that you’d like to remember after the interview. If you take notes on your computer, you’ll distract the interviewer so doing so the old-fashioned way is ideal.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Make sure you know how to work ZOOM, SKYPE, and Facetime and are comfortable with all of the options. Practice using all of these with friends and family. Don’t let your big interview on national TV be a flop because of some technical issue you could have avoided.
The Bottom Line: By following these tips, you can nail your virtual Zoom interview and meet your goals from the comfort of your own home or office.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Blog, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Book Publishing, Book Reviews
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
As a book publicist, I am always on the lookout for effective yet inexpensive ways to reach book buyers. Goodreads is one option. Owned by Amazon, With Goodreads, you can put your book into as many hands as possible, initiate word of mouth promotion and hopefully, succeed with flying colors. If you’re a published author, rest assured you already have a profile on Goodreads. Here’s how you can take full advantage of the platform:
1. Run a Goodreads Giveaway
Through a Goodreads Giveaway, you can promote yourself and your book to the ideal audience. A Goodreads Giveaway is exactly what it sounds like: You give away copies of your books to interested readers. To set up a Goodreads Giveaway, follow these steps.
- Set Up Your Author Profile: First, create a Goodreads account, find the book(s) you’ve written, click on your name from the book’s page, and “claim” your author profile. After you receive an email confirmation, you can customize your profile.
- Choose Your Book Format: Scroll down to “Your Giveaways” on your author dashboard and click on “Listing a Giveaway.” From there, decide whether you want to give away print or Kindle versions of your book.
- Choose a Package: Next, select the Standard Package ($119) or Premium Package ($599). “Do the $119 eBook Goodreads giveaway,” says Alessandra Torre, a New York Times Bestselling Author and co-founder of Inkers Con dedicated to helping authors.
- Choose Your Timeframe: Your giveaway can last anywhere between 1 week and 30 days. I recommend three weeks because it’s long enough for people to notice your giveaway, but not so long that they’ll forget about it.
- Choose the Number of Books: I recommend giving away 100 Kindle books.
- Spread the Word: While Goodreads readers will hopefully find your giveaway organically, it can’t hurt to promote it on your social media outlets and ask your network to share.
You can see a list of Goodreads Giveaways here. If you’d like to hear a pro/con on a Goodreads Giveaway, then check out what YA Fantasy author Bethany Atazadeh has to say.
2. Participate in an Online Q&A Session
Ask the Author is Goodread’s Q&A platform on Goodreads that allows readers to submit questions to Goodreads Authors whenever they’d like. Until you decide to answer a question, it won’t be visible to the public. This gives you complete control over when you respond to reader questions and how you respond to them.
3. Blog, Blog, and Blog
Goodreads gives you the opportunity to blog about anything and everything. If you have a blog, you can set it up, so Goodreads picks it up automatically via a RSS feed. You can write about your writing career, share reviews of your books, and position yourself as an expert. The sky’s the limit so get creative and think about what your reader base would like!
4. Publicize Upcoming Events
As an author you know how important it is to get out and about. If you have upcoming book signings and speaking engagements, you owe it to yourself to advertise them through Goodreads events.
5. Share Excerpts of Upcoming Publications
Excerpts can get your audience excited about a book you have in the works. Don’t be afraid to share them on Goodreads via your author blog.
6. Post Videos
Readers are more likely to remember your messages when you deliver them by video. If you can, create and publish unique videos on Goodreads about your books, charitable contributions, upcoming events, and more.
7. Create a Listopia List
Listopia is a way for people to find new books to read. Since most readers stick to a genre when they finish one book, they go to another in the same genre. I.E. Romance readers are not buying a business book after they finish their last romance book, they usually buy inside the same genre. Listopia allows readers to discover books that are similar to the ones they like or in the same genre because their book is listed as being similar. The concept is “If you like this book you’ll probably like that book.”
8. Share, Share, and Share
Last but not least, share your list of favorite books and recent reads with your fans! This tip is simple but very effective and important.
The Bottom Line: If you’re in search of a fresh yet effective way to promote your work as an author, you owe it to yourself to explore Goodreads.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Book Marketing, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Book Marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
