Getting your book into the hands of readers for reviews, discussion, and word-of-mouth is an essential part of a book marketing campaign. It’s also the dream of most authors to see their book spark lively discussion and community building. One way to do that is by connecting with book clubs, which can be challenging and time-consuming as there’s no one central place where book clubs congregate. Below are some ways that you might connect with book clubs both locally and virtually.

You’ve likely heard a publicist talk about a press kit, but what about a speaker press kit? Both are effective and professional ways to market yourself to specific audiences, and knowing the differences between the two can help you tailor your outreach and could result in more media coverage and speaking engagements.

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As an expert, you’ve spent years building your network. From newsletter subscribers and social media followers to clients and professional connections, you’ve engaged, offered value, and built relationships. When it comes time to publish your book, your network is the single most valuable promotional tool at your disposal. If you can effectively harness their influence and support, you can achieve a stellar launch and sustain your book sales for the long-term.

Your local independent bookstore is likely struggling, and as a publisher, we feel it’s our obligation to support them in any way that we can, including encouraging our authors (and all authors!) to do their part in helping support local bookstores.

Today’s media is highly engaged online creating a myriad of ways to connect with target contacts and disseminate information digitally. There is, however, a method that remains preferred among journalists when receiving formal, newsworthy information. That is the tried-and-true press release. Press releases are short, compelling official statements that cover major details or company announcements and work to pique the interest of a journalist or media outlet. They communicate your message more effectively and provide greater detail and insights than a social media post or blog.

For authors, the goal of a press release is to gain media attention and coverage that highlights thought leadership platforms and written work. With this tool, authors have two options for distributing their information––traditional outreach and wire distribution.

A book launch marketing campaign is never exhaustive--it may be limited by budget, time, ad availability, or other factors--but it is full of chances to reach more readers. There are always new opportunities that arise over the course of a campaign, and there’s so much that authors can coordinate on their own to complement their team’s marketing efforts and advertising spend.

For authors who want to reach the most readers and maximize the value of their book, staying active on social media is a bit like ‘exercising and eating right.’ Everyone recognizes how important these habits are, but actually following through and staying on the right path can be a huge challenge.

Embracing pivotal marketing and media strategies gives authors new possibilities to engage and build trust with their target audience. Using digital media marketing services in particular gives authors a competitive advantage to increase their online presence and visibility, which is increasingly becoming an important aspect for book success. Here are some considerations to help authors prepare for strategies utilized in their digital media marketing campaigns.