During the 2017 Bocas Literary Festival in Trinidad, Franka Philip, Features Editor at the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian shared some tips on promoting your book.
- Have a media kit. Make it digital so they can easily download images, etc.
- Send an audio clip of you or someone reading the book.
- Include high resolution photos of the author and book cover. Good quality photos that are well captioned are key. Remember you are a business selling a product, so send them the best version of yourself.
- Be willing to connect with Skype, Facebook or another means if unable to come to their office for an interview.
- Send link to the book so it can be read. Accessibility is vital.
- Build your platform. Who do you follow online and who is following you? “Do you interact with people? If I see your Facebook page and it hasn’t been updated then it makes me ask if you’re serious,” the editor said.
- Follow up once you’ve submitted your press kit. Call or follow with polite email.
- Know your market.
- You need to do TV (news, talk shows, etc.)
- Find the radio station that fits your demographic. Which station targets women, young adults, etc.?
- Make yourself appealing.
- Be persistent. No could mean not right now.
- Share your book with book and poetry clubs. Send to literary bloggers who can give reviews.
- Have your own media. If the newspaper rejects your book that is not the end of it. Use your website and other social platforms to bring attention to it.
- Consider appealing to literary festivals to get on their program.
