Janet Jensen–new information added.

Third instalment:
Media Kits–send with every review copy, keep up to date. Send media release page to local papers, university alum, libraries, and organizations that might be interested (historical societies, social, etc.)
In email–put mini media release in body (don’t attach).
Send with a copy of your book to media outlets. ie—newspapers, radio stations, etc.

• Media Release on publisher letterhead
• Information about book–image, ISBN, price, etc
• Awards/honors
• Blurbs from published reviews
• Author Bio, contact info
• Published Articles/interviews/sample Q&A (interview yourself).
• List your availability as a speaker, with topic of expertise (ie League of Utah Writers, BYU Education Week, youth groups, PTA Literacy Night, book clubs, etc). List contact info and fee if applicable (travel $)
• CD with video preview, audio files, etc.
• Business card, flier, t-shirt, pins, bookmark, postcard, signed bookplate, keychain, magnet, etc. Be creative!

1. Get Listed! Find databases where your books should be listed. Add tags to your amazon.com listing (see other side.)
2. Signings: Publicize beforehand in paper, etc. Set up displays themed to match your work–use multimedia, giveaways. Make your poster taller than your table so people can see. Come early, have extra books in car, greet staff and managers, write personal thank yous.
3. Enter Contests–they get your books distributed to schools, libraries, etc. And the publicity for winning is great. See articles at Carolyn Howard-Johnsons’s site for specs.
4. Reviews: The more the better. Look up books similar to yours , see who has reviewed the, request reviews for your books. Swap books with other authors, post reviews on blogs, exchange links.
5. Blogs: hold contests. Caveat: be professional on blogs and webpages. Link your blog to amazon.com. Plan blog tours. Gather email lists through blogging, send email newsletters to interested readers. Learn to do podcasts.
6. Books clubs are always looking for speakers and love real authors. Read from your own work. Always allow time for Q&A. Bring freebies, have drawings for free book.
7. Libraries: See that copies of your book are placed in as many libraries as possible.
8. TV, radio–use internet for contact info., follow contact instructions. Prepare Q&A for interviewer, practice in front of video camera. Do your homework re the show, interviewer, format.
9. Brainstorm with other writers! Keep your publisher updated!

League of Utah Writers: http://www.luwrite.com/

–sign up on their speakers bureau, list topics.

Critique groups are invaluable. Join one or form one.

Other organizations: historical societies, murder-mystery writers, children’s writers, romance writers, etc.

Magazines: The Writer, Writer’s Digest, Poets & Writers, Publishers Marketplace, ByLine–check your library.

Offer to speak to organizations: PTA Literacy Nights, Reading Councils, Civic Groups, school groups.

Get a wikipedia page.

Amazon: Check out their most prolific reviewers. Find one that likes books similar to yours. Request a review. If they agree, send them a book. Create detailed tags. Both will create more hits.
email Janet for a copy of her media kit: janet.jenson@comcast.net
The Frugal Book Promoter by Carolyn Howard Jonson