by John Erianne

Created on: January 18, 2009

Whether you are out to promote a book published by a major publisher, a noted small press, or self-published through LuLu.com,
you're going to have to promote the book if you want people to buy it. You would think that would be a given, but you'd be surprised how many writers don't promote their work. Not long ago, a friend of mine put out a book using LuLu, didn't do a thing to promote her work and then wondered why she only sold a few copies to friends. And while a major publishing house will pay the freight and handle all the details for a promotional book tour, if you are dealing with a small press or a vanity press you, as the author, are on your own. Here are some things to consider before you get going:

1. Before settling on the dates for your tour, consult a travel agent. You may think it's a better idea to consult the travel agent after you've decided on a destination, but there are a couple of reason
you'll want to meet with the travel agent. First, it may be cheaper to follow a particular travel route rather than another, so you'll want to compare rates based on several travel scenarios to come up with the best package. Second, it's always a good idea to establish good relations with your travel agent. Not only will that agent be interested in being your go-to guy for all your travel needs, he/she will go the extra mile for a person they like and will want to keep your business. It's human nature.

2. Do your homework. Once, you've settled on your tour dates, you're
going to want to learn about the geography. Even if you've been there before, things might have changed. Contacting travel bureaus, websites, chambers of commerce, consulates, etc. is a good place to start. Tourism, and promotional events such as book tours, concerts, etc. help local economies and you'll find there are people eager to answer your questions.

3. Make sure you have a press package to send out. For the book stores, you'll want to make contact with the store manager (larger book store chains sometimes have a separate person who handles promotional events) to arrange your book signing. Also contact local TV morning talk shows typically feature author interviews, radio stations. A press package (also called a Press Kit or Media Kit) should contain any or all of the following: a press release, a sample of your book, a bio
with your headshot, a promotional postcard or flyer, newsclips (if any), and your publisher (if you are not the publisher) may want to include a catalog or brochure

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