Create a Buzz!

Even if you've published with a large commercial publisher, unless you're a bestselling author, you won't get much marketing help. You need to create a buzz before the book is printed and word-of-mouth is the best, most economical and most effective way to do that.

Why does word-of-mouth work? Three reasons are often given to explain its influence.

• We are hit with so many messages each day that we don't know what to believe or whom to trust. We often don't believe salespeople, because they are paid to sell the product, but we do believe recommendations of our families and friends.

• The blitz of advertising causes us to tune the ads out. How many of you have seen or heard a commercial 10 times and still don't know what they're selling? But if a friend says, "Have you seen that new slim laptop?" you may perk up your ears. Even more so, if they're excited about the product.

• With the advent of the Internet people's opinions are spread faster and wider than ever before. Use technology to spread word-of-mouth of your books. Use your computer to contact your friends and have them contact theirs.

We're basically talking about trust and this leads to sales. So get moving! Have your fans waiting, hands outstretched, when your books come in.