Key Business Partners, LLC

We used to have lots of questions to which there were no answers. Now, with the computer, there are lots of answers to which we haven’t thought up the questions. –Peter Ustinov

Do you realize the vast number of opportunities the internet can create for an author to be in front of your readers to answer their questions? Between blogging, social media outlets such as twitter and Facebook, article marketing and other marketing tools, an author can more easily drive attention to your book than ever before.

Well, it takes time to create the foundation and lasting relationships, the possibilities are more available these days so now you can be in front of your readers today.

Go and create those connections!

P.S. If you would like to connect with me, please be sure to share your social media contacts with me.
I am at Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

Now anyone who knows me well, knows I adore bookstores. So this post in no way is intended to say that bookstores aren’t a good place to have a book signing. However, you may wish to add a few non traditional places to your book campaign efforts.

These new places could draw in new readers where you may not have initially thought to look. And in turn, you create a way for your potential readers to find you and your book in a place they hadn’t thought of either but are happy you were there with your book.

Here are a few places to think about having a book signing:

1) Shoe store – Perhaps your book is about shoes. Or perhaps you have a book geared toward women who love shoes. And there is always the fact that we all do need shoes.

2) Bank – Have you written a finance or budget book? Or maybe your book is about saving money? Well, what better place to celebrate money then at a bank.

3) Spa- We all enjoy a great place to put our feet up and relax so how about have a gathering a place where the people can have a concentrated and energetic conversation about your book.

Think about those places where your ideal reader may shop and be there. Call the store and ask the manager if having a book signing at their store would be something they would be interested in doing. You can share with the manager about your intention to promote the book signing online and off line. Share with the manager how you will be willing to add an event page on your Facebook page to tell your FB friends about the book signing. Also, ask the manager if you create quarter page or half page flyers about the book signing, if they would allow the sales personnel to put one in each customer’s check out bags. (The manager may say no, but it doesn’t cost anything to ask).

Now, do I have your creative juices flowing about where you might be able to have a book signing?

So…

How about…. a wine store, home improvement store, office supply place, or perhaps a pet store?

Go and think of those places you can have a book signing to spread the message of your books and (*hopefully sell more books!)

Some may say gone are the days of the traditional press kit where you have a two pocket folder with your press release on one side and the sheet of endorsements or reviews on the other. Even though these may still be relevant, there is something that is more vital than ever for authors to have and that is an online media (or press) kit.

Like the traditional press kit, you will want to include a recent press release and a list of reviews in your online press kit, however, a few more things will help round out the online press kit such as:

1) Book Cover Image – In a jpeg file format and in a few different sizes to help facilitate placement on websites and print.

2) Author Pictures – In a jpeg file format and in a few different sizes to help facilitate placement on websites and print.

3) Book Description – Use the book description to convey the key points or message of your book to help it stand out.

4) Author Bio – Share with your readers about you and your expertise on the subject matter of your book. You should have versions available–short (about 200 words) and long (about 500 words).

5) Q & A – Allow this Q&A to be your ideal interview. Showcase those questions you want an interviewer to ask you about your book.

and I will add the other two must haves back on the list–

6) Press Release – Remember with a press release,make the information newsworthy, do not include opinions. Just give the facts.

7) Endorsements or Reviews – Offer to the media, what others have said about your book. You can give this a bit more pizazz with pictures and titles of the people offering their reviews or reviews.

As the digital age of publishing is increasing and the popularity of ebooks has risen over the last couple of years, so has the need for ease of availability for the press to be able to find your author and book information on the web in the form of a online press kit.