Low Budget Marketing 5: Get Attention

I hope this series of blogs has broadened your perception of what activities can help your marketing efforts. This week I will share some simple and inexpensive things you can do to get the right people to notice your book.
Pursuing reviews should be a part of your marketing plan. So why not decide, right now, to send your book to ten book reviewers this week? Keep your pitch simple, but personal (at least learn the reviewer’s name so you can address your note directly to them.)
You want blogger attention too. Find the ones that fit your book and pitch them. A guest blog is a great way to present your book to a new audience. You just need to convince them that news of your book will be of interest to their readers.
Don’t overlook local retailers. Why not just go around to them in person to see if they’ll carry your book? If you are independent you can offer a consignment deal. Look beyond book stores to gift shops, restaurants or coffee houses. You might be surprised at the extent to which neighborhood businesses will support local authors.
You can also get the attention of distant businesses. Go through catalogs you think your book would be appropriate for, and send them a packet about your book. Getting your book presented to buyers surrounded by non-book items can kick off a lot of sales, so look closely for items in catalogs that are natural tie-ins for you.
You want the attention of book clubs. To get it, develop a set of discussion topics or questions such clubs could use. Post them on your web site or some other place so they’re easy to download. Book club love these discussion-starters and are more likely to select your book if they know you’ve given them a place to start their discussion. Also, make sure you mention, on your list, that you’re happy to attend their meeting in person or thru a chat engine like Skype.
To maintain the attention of your current readers start an email newsletter. It is a great way to keep them updated and informed about your success (ditto friends and family.)
And finally, when a member of any of the above groups is helpful to you, send them a thank you note. Because they are so rare these days, an actual handwritten note says a lot about you, all good.