Mary Higgins Clark
When Is the Right Time to Start Marketing Your Book?
In a book’related LinkedIn group in which I’m a member, someone asked the question: When is a good time to start marketing a book? While still writing the book, while looking for an agent or publisher, while going through the self-publishing process? When the book is available on Amazon?
There are few certain replies to this question except for one: It’s rather late to start marketing your book when it is already out on Amazon.
So what’s the answer as to when is the best time to start marketing a book? It depends.
And what it depends on is a great number of variables, including is this your first book, do you already have an online reputation, are you a renown newspaper journalist who is about to write a first novel, and any other variable that you care to name. (Such as, do you have a famous last name, such as Mary Higgins Clark’s daughter had when she started writing mysteries?)
If we can agree that we can’t pinpoint an exact right time that applies to everyone, are there general guidelines that can help all authors?
Yes, I believe there are. First, if you’re interested in promoting online, the earlier you start establishing yourself online the better. And the first step is to decide on your brand as a book author.
What do I mean by brand? I mean how you plan to position yourself in your marketing and promotion. What will set you apart from other writers of similar fiction or non-fiction? What will make people interested in you (and hopefully want to buy your book)?
The strategizing of your brand definitely takes place as early as possible in the publication quest for your book. And as part of this brand strategy, it’s very important to consider the proposed title of your book. This is even more relevant if you’re going to self-publish. Even though you love the title you’ve chosen, check it out with others.
Does your book title “read” the way you think it does? Or does your proposed tile have a different meaning to some people? For example, today I saw someone’s proposed book title that will be very hard to remember, let along spell on Amazon or for a URL. This is probably not the best name for a book.
And does the title stand out? Does it create an image in a potential reader’s mind so he/she can remember the title? A generic title such as “A Good Trip” doesn’t create a specific image, whereas “Six Sunny Days in Paris” creates a strong sense memory.
Once you are clear about your brand and have a good “working” book title (it still may change), you can begin to add elements to your brand positioning.
You can, for example, have someone create short videos (less than three minutes) of you talking about the stages you’re going through in researching and writing your book. Then you can use software such as Sony Vegas Movie Studio to edit the video and to put text such as your name and, if you have a website, your website’s URL on the video.
And you can upload these short videos to YouTube and other video-sharing sites. Remember, it’s important to tag these videos with good keywords that relate to you and your brand so that people will have an easier time finding your videos.
You can start a blog, detailing the stages of your book’s process and sharing sample chapters with your blog readers. Getting feedback early on can help you refine your book. And you can offer to write guest posts for other people’s blogs, again staying true to your brand in what you offer to write about.
And then you’re ready for a website – a site that you can control yourself without waiting days for your web master to make one little change. That’s why I recommend having someone build you a website using WordPress.org. Once all the backend steps are done, you will have a website (and blog if you want) that is hosted on your own site and can be completely controlled (read “changed”) by you.
Finally, it’s time to establish a sincere presence on social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn as well as various book sites and other social media sites. Gradually build up your presence on these sites by engaging in conversations with others, offering advice when you can, and establishing relationships that will come in handy when your book is published.
Having a website or at least a blog hosted on another site such as blogger.com provides you with your own arena of visibility when you set up your profiles on social media sites. By using your website URL or blog URL as part of who you are on the internet, you’re more firmly establishing an online foundation for your book’s publication and marketing.
About the Author
Phyllis Zimbler Miller (@ZimblerMiller on Twitter) has an M.B.A. from The Wharton School and is an Internet business consultant. If you liked this article, you’re going to love her free report on “The Top 3 Internet Marketing Elements” – claim your report now from www.QueensofBookMarketing.com
Mary Higgins Clark & Carol Higgins Clark
|
|
We’ll Meet Again by Mary Higgins Clark (1999) Paperback – Used $0.99 |
|
|
A Cry in the Night by Mary Higgins Clark – Paperback – Used $0.99 |
|
|
Nighttime Is My Time by Mary Higgins Clark (2005, Paperback, Reprint) $3.89 |
|
|
Pretend You Don’t See Her by Mary Higgins Clark (1997, Hardcover) $0.01 |
|
|
LOT of 11 MARY HIGGINS CLARK BOOKS Great Romantic Suspense for SUMMER READING! $7.50 |
|
|
MARY HIGGINS CLARK I’LL BE SEEING YOU PB Mystery $1.99 |
|
|
MARY HIGGINS CLARK LOVES MUSIC, LOVES TO DANCE PB $1.99 |
|
|
MARY HIGGINS CLARK MOONLIGHT BECOMES YOU PB Mystery $1.99 |
|
|
MARY HIGGINS CLARK MY GAL SUNDAY PB Mystery $1.99 |
|
|
MARY HIGGINS CLARK REMEMBER ME PB Mystery $1.99 |
|
|
MARY HIGGINS CLARK SILENT NIGHT PB Mystery $1.99 |
|
|
MARY HIGGINS CLARK THE ANASTASIA SYNDROME PB Mystery $1.99 |
|
|
MARY HIGGINS CLARK THE CRADLE WILL FALL PB Mystery $1.99 |
|
|
MARY HIGGINS CLARK WEEP NO MORE, MY LADY PB Mystery $1.99 |
|
|
On The Street Where You Live, Mary Higgins Clark, Good Book $1.56 |
|
|
I Heard That Song Before, Mary Higgins Clark, Good Book $1.56 |
|
|
Daddy’s Little Girl by Mary Higgins Clark (2003, Paperback) $1.50 |
|
|
The Second Time Around by Mary Higgins Clark (2004, Paperback, Reprint) $1.50 |
|
|
I’ll Be Seeing You by Mary Higgins Clark (1994, Paperback, Reissue) $1.50 |
|
|
I Heard That Song Before by Mary Higgins Clark (2007, Hardcover) $2.50 |
|
|
My Gal Sunday by Mary Higgins Clark (1997, Paperback) $1.50 |
|
|
Mary Higgins Clark ~ 3 Complete Novels in 1 Book ~ Hardback $3.99 |
|
|
The Cradle Will Fall by Mary Higgins Clark $1.00 |
|
|
MY GAL SUNDAY ~ Mary Higgins Clark ~ 1996 HC DJ $3.29 |
|
|
The Lost Years by Mary Higgins Clark (2012, Hardcover) $8.00 |
|
|
Let Me Call You Sweetheart by Mary Higgins Clark Audio $4.99 |
|
|
All Through the Night, Mary Higgins Clark, Good Book $1.56 |
|
|
I Heard That Song Before by Mary Higgins Clark (2008, Paperback, Reprint) $0.99 |
|
|
** YOU BELONG TO ME ** by Mary Higgins Clark $3.00 |
|
|
Mary Higgins Clark-Where Are the Children HC – ImPress $11.99 |
|
|
I’ll Be Seeing You by Mary Higgins Clark (1993) HB / DJ $1.00 |
|
|
We’ll Meet Again by Mary Higgins Clark (1999) HC / DJ $1.75 |
|
|
Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Clark, Mary Higgins 9780671568177 NEW Book $11.56 |
|
|
Mary Higgins Clark “Remember Me” Hard Cover $3.99 |
|
|
Pretend You Don’t See Her, Mary Higgins Clark, Acceptable Book $1.00 |
|
|
Nighttime Is My Time by Mary Higgins Clark (2004, Hardcover) $5.10 |
|
|
You Belong To Me by Mary Higgins Clark $1.00 |
|
|
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry $2.99 … |
|
|
The Mary Higgins Clark Collection – Murder, Mystery & Suspense $19.94 Seven riveting Mary Higgins Clark mysteries are featured in this set. “He Sees You When You’re Sleeping” (2002) is a holiday-themed tale about a self-centered stockbroker (Cameron Bancroft), denied entrance to Heaven, who is sent back to Earth to protect a single mother (Erika Eleniak) from the ruthless mobsters she’s scheduled to testify against. Next, when she’s released from prison after servin… |
|
|
Mary Higgins Clark’s Remember Me $2.67 Studio: Genius Products Inc Release Date: 05/13/2008 Run time: 93 minutes… |
|
|
Deck the Halls By Clark, Mary Higgins/ Clark, Carol Higgins $11.56 Author: Clark, Mary Higgins/ Clark, Carol Higgins Publication Date: 2010/10/26 Number of Pages: 292 Binding Type: Paperback Language: English Depth: 1.00 Width: 4.25 Height: 7.00 |
|
|
Stillwatch By Clark, Mary Higgins $13.25 Working to produce a television series on a woman senator who is running for vice president, journalist Pat Traymore discovers terrible secrets that threaten to destroy the candidates reputation and bring up issues from Pats own past. Reprint. Author: Clark, Mary Higgins Publication Date: 1997/03/01 Binding Type: Paperback Language: English Depth: 1.00 Width: 4.25 Height: 7.00 |
|
|
A Cry in the Night By Clark, Mary Higgins $20.03 Author: Clark, Mary Higgins Publication Date: 1993/12/01 Number of Pages: 245 Binding Type: Hardcover Language: English Depth: 1.00 Width: 5.75 Height: 8.75 |
|
|
The Plot Thickens By Clark, Mary Higgins $13.25 A host of favorite authors including Lawrence Block, Edna Buchanan, Carol Higgins Clark, and Donald Westlake contribute stories that each feature a thick fog, a thick book, and a thick steak, in an anthology that supports the efforts of Literacy Partners. Original. Author: Clark, Mary Higgins Publication Date: 1997/11/01 Binding Type: Paperback Language: English Depth: 0.75 Width: 4.50 Height: 7.00 |
|
|
Where Are the Children? By Clark, Mary Higgins $19.31 Nancy Eldredge leads a quiet life on Cape Cod until a newspaper article and her childrens disappearance bring to light her trial for murder in California. Author: Clark, Mary Higgins Publication Date: 2011/08/16 Number of Pages: 268 Binding Type: Paperback Language: English Depth: 1.00 Width: 5.50 Height: 8.25 |
|
|
Santa Cruise By Clark, Mary Higgins/ Clark, Carol Higgins $13.25 Embarking on a Mystery Seminar luxury cruise during the holiday season, amateur sleuth Alvirah, private detective Regan, and their family members find their voyage overshadowed by reports of a ghost spotting, the disappearance of a fan, and an unexpected storm. Reprint. Author: Clark, Mary Higgins/ Clark, Carol Higgins Subtitle: A Holiday Mystery at Sea Publication Date: 2007/10/30 Number of Pages: 287 Binding Type: Paperback Language: English Depth: 1.00 Width: 4.50 Height: 6.75 |
|
|
The Cradle Will Fall By Clark, Mary Higgins $13.25 After a minor vehicle accident brings her to Westlake Hospital with slight injuries, Katie DeMaio, an ambitious young prosecutor, begins to suspect that the towns most respected physician may be a murderer. Reissue. Author: Clark, Mary Higgins Publication Date: 1994/10/01 Binding Type: Paperback Language: English Depth: 1.00 Width: 4.25 Height: 6.75 |
|
|
The Lottery Winner By Clark, Mary Higgins $15.85 A collection of intertwining short mystery and suspense stories features the sleuthing housekeeper Alvira Meehan and her mate, Willy, in The Body in the Closet, Death on the Cape, The Lottery Winner, and Bye, Baby Bunting. Reprint. Author: Clark, Mary Higgins Subtitle: Alvirah and Willy Stories Publication Date: 1995/11/01 Binding Type: Paperback Language: English Depth: 1.00 Width: 4.25 Height: 7.00 |
|
|
Remember Me By Clark, Mary Higgins $19.31 After their young sons tragic death, Menley and Adam Richardson, a couple living on Cape Cod, try to begin life anew with a baby daughter, though an evil fate still seems to stalk them. Author: Clark, Mary Higgins Publication Date: 2011/08/16 Number of Pages: 338 Binding Type: Paperback Language: English Depth: 1.25 Width: 5.25 Height: 8.25 |