Guest Blogger: NIKKI LEIGH

Please allow me to introduce my guest blogger for today--Nikki Leigh!

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Over 15 years ago, I was an assistant manager at Domino's Pizza. There was only one assistant manager in our franchisee with more experience and when a store came open, she was named the manager. As a “consolation” prize, I was named the marketing director for the three stores in our franchise. Little did I know what that would mean over time. At every job I've had since that time, I've learned more and more about how to promote. During that time I promoted a wide variety of products and services.

When I was ready to submit my first book to an agent or publisher, I knew that experience would look good on my query letter. Several publishers have been very excited about that background and it was a great foundation when I started to learn how to promote my books. My writing friends came to me with promotional questions. In the autumn of 2005, I started freelancing fulltime and five of my ghostwriting projects were promotional books for various businesses.

That's when I started thinking about writing a book promotion series of my own. It would be a great way to share the things I learned and it was certainly easier than emailing the same things to all the authors that had questions. The idea for the Book Promo 101 series was born. I wanted to use a teaching format, so there are review questions at the end of each chapter and in the future I plan to start teaching classes based on the classes. But, I've gathered so much information that the series is now going to be at least four books. If you would like more information, visit www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm.

Excerpt

Chapter One - Develop a Marketing Mind

Each author has a responsibility to promote their books. Some large publishing companies offer some promotional assistance. Bestselling and well known authors get plenty of promotion, but those of us who are lesser known, need to do the majority of our promotion - ourselves. I could hide that fact from you, but it won't help in the long run. So, it's better to accept that it's a fact in each author's life. A word to any publishers who read this book - we appreciate any promotional assistance our publishers can offer, but we understand the majority of this work is our responsibility.

Before you begin to promote your book, it's good to develop a marketing mind. Anyone can learn to promote and I'll help you develop the mind set and identify the traits that are needed to be an effective promoter. Let's start with the way to develop a marketing mindset.
Adjust Your Mindset

There are many interesting ways to promote your book, both online and off. We'll discuss a lot of different ideas in this book. There are many free or inexpensive techniques you can use and these are my favorite things. Not all ideas are free and some will cost you money, but many aren't expensive. I'll be honest with you that these promotional ideas require your time and effort.

You have the alternative of hiring someone to do these things for you and we'll talk about that in chapter 3. Most of the ideas we'll discuss aren't complicated.

I've included the links to many websites to make your search easier. Most of these ideas can be implemented by anyone. My hope is that you'll refer back to this book and continue to learn from it for years to come.

Many authors I talk with think marketing and promotion are beyond their abilities. I managed a business for a man about ten years ago and he never wanted to discuss advertising for the business. His usual response was that advertising “was that dirty 'A' word”. Are you the type of person who believes that promotion is a dirty word or that it's beyond your ability?

Advertising and promotion are not bad words. In fact they are essential for a successful business and for authors who want to get their books into the hands of readers. Promotion can take many shapes and the type of promotion you choose depends on whether you promote online or offline. These are some of the considerations that will be important in your promotional decisions and activities.

The marketing avenues depend on the type of books you're promoting.

What sort of promotional work would you be able to do?

Is online promotion better since you don't have to interact face to face?

For more information:

Nikki Leigh website - http://www.nikkileigh.com/

Muze's Musings Blog - http://www.muzesmusings.blogspot.com/

Promotional Services for Author - www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm

Virtual Blog Tour Blog - http://www.virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/

Free Promotional Blogs for Published Authors -
http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/04/free-promomtional-options-for-author.html

To Contact Nikki Leigh - nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com (and to join Nikki's mailing list)

I'm located many other places online, but these contain the most up to date information.