Publication - just Advertising

20 December 2011, Publication - just Advertising

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Here is the list of ideas for advertising--there are more and I'll add to the list as we go along.  I'm certainly not an expert in all these, but I've dabbled in all of them.  I'll try to relate my experience and the degree of that experience to you.

1.  Have a website for your novel.
2.  Write a blog.
3.  Advertise.
4.  Literary awards.
5.  Book cards.
6.  Contests.
7.  Interviews.
8.  Blog tours.
9.  Press releases.
10.  Speaking and teaching.
11.  e-mailing.
12.  ...

Advertising is the point of all of this.  You can actively advertise your books without incurring high costs. 

Much advertising is accomplished by your publisher.  You don't see the work.  You usually only see the results.  Your publisher promotes your book on their websites, at book fairs and conferences, at book sellers, to bookstore, to Internet sellers, to distributors, etc.  This is critical advertising and gets your works in front of people.  It makes your work available to readers, but usually doesn't result in much advertising.

Advertising is not just getting your works to a potential place of sale.  Advertising is the actual promotion of your work.  In this, your publisher can help and does promote your work, but anything beyond this is really your responsibility.

Luckily, advertising can be easily and cheaply done through the Internet.  Two very popular and great sources are facebook and google.  A facebook ad is simple to make and manage.  It is relatively inexpensive because you only pay for clicks.  If someone doesn't click your ad (to go to your website), you don't get charged.  The cost is about $1 per click and you can set a limit of clicks per day.  This means you can control your costs and keep them low.

How successful is a facebook or a google ad?  I'm not sure.  I haven't seen a huge uptick in sales although, I have seen a slight uptick in visits to my websites.  I think this is a direct reflection of the advertising.  This specific Internet advertising is a great means of getting information out about your books. 

I'll write about other types of advertising tomorrow.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.