April 18, 2023
understanding book marketing

Book Publicity

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While often used interchangeably, book marketing and book publicity are distinct but complementary tactics.

Book Publicity and Book Marketing: What's the Difference?

Book marketing focuses on actively driving sales through paid advertising, promotions, and partnerships. Think social media campaigns, book tours, and targeted ads.

Book publicity, on the other hand, earns you media coverage. It's about generating buzz and third-party validation through reviews, interviews, features, and endorsements. This organic exposure builds credibility and desirability, which ultimately translates to sales.

Why Opt for Established Book Publicity Companies?

Think of it this way: book marketing shouts your message; book publicity whispers it through trusted voices, making it all the more captivating. Navigating the media landscape can be daunting, especially for self-published authors. Partnering with an established book publicity company offers several advantages:
  • Extensive networks

They have established relationships with journalists, editors, and broadcasters, increasing your chances of securing coveted coverage.
  • Strategic targeting

They know which outlets best align with your genre and audience, maximizing the impact of your campaign.
  • Media savvy expertise

They craft compelling pitches, prepare you for interviews, and navigate the intricacies of media relations.
  • Measurable results

They track and analyze coverage, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of your campaign.

Affordable Book Publicity: Is It Possible?

While high-profile firms can come with a hefty price tag, several affordable book publicity options exist:

DIY Strategies

Craft your own pitch materials, engage with relevant online communities, and reach out to local media outlets yourself.

Boutique Publicists

Look for smaller firms specializing in your genre or offering targeted packages.

Publicity Services for Self-Published Authors

Many online platforms offer affordable press release distribution and other publicity services.
Remember, a well-executed DIY campaign can still yield impressive results. The key is to be strategic, persistent, and prepared.

Unleash Your Book's Potential: Key Takeaways

Book publicity goes beyond advertising; it earns you media attention and builds credibility.
Partnering with a book publicity company can optimize your reach and impact.
Affordable options exist; be strategic and leverage your own initiative.
Unleash Your Book's Potential: Take Action Today!

Ready to see your book shine?

Research book publicity companies that align with your genre and budget.
Develop a compelling media kit showcasing your book and unique selling points.
Network with book bloggers, reviewers, and potential interviewers.
Craft strong pitches that resonate with your target audience.

Don't give up! Book publicity takes time and effort, but the rewards can be immense.

Does book publicity sell books?

Book publicity does sell books. It is how you market that is important. In our Author Masterclass we take an in-depth look at Marketing Using Story Dynamics, which is your starting point with book marketing.

Marketing. You don't like it, you don't understand it... but you HAVE to do it. In the Marketing Using Story Dynamics, you will learn how to use the symbiosis between story and marketing to sell yourself to the industry and your work to a wide audience.

We also cover what we call , The Secret Sauce, where we state that it is basically impossible to sell a book. You are not selling a book, you are selling you!

You have to create an author mythology around your characters, your story world and around yourself as an author, and let the mythology sell the books for you. Invaluable, critical learning.

These two seminars are your starting point, getting these right are the essential first steps in book marketing. Once you have these in place you then have the option to explore the other options to actually market your books.

What are the other Book Marketing services that are available?

Book marketing services are a set of strategies and activities designed to promote and sell books to a target audience. The goal of book marketing services is to increase book sales and visibility, which can be achieved through a variety of channels, such as online advertising, social media, book reviews, book tours, email campaigns, and more.

  1. Book marketing services can be provided by specialized companies, which can offer a range of services to authors and publishers, such as:
  2. Book Promotion: This service involves creating a marketing plan for the book, which includes strategies such as press releases, social media promotion, email marketing, and advertising.
  3. Book Reviews: Getting book reviews from reputable sources can help increase book sales and credibility. Book marketing services can help authors get reviews from book bloggers, reviewers, and other relevant platforms.
  4. Book Tour: A book tour involves traveling to different locations to promote the book, including bookstores, libraries, and other venues. Book marketing services can help plan and organize book tours for authors.
  5. Social Media Management: Social media is an important tool for book marketing. Book marketing services can help authors and publishers manage their social media accounts and create engaging content to promote their books.
  6. Book Advertising: Book marketing services can help authors and publishers create and run online advertising campaigns, such as pay-per-click (PPC) advertising and display advertising, to increase book sales and visibility.
  7. Email Marketing: Email marketing is an effective way to reach potential readers and promote books. Book marketing services can help authors and publishers create email campaigns that target specific audiences and promote their books.
  8. In summary, book marketing services are designed to help authors and publishers promote and sell their books through various channels and strategies. By leveraging these services, authors and publishers can increase their book sales and reach a larger audience.

Book Marketing summary.

In summary, book marketing services are designed to help authors and publishers promote and sell their books through various channels and strategies. By leveraging these services, authors and publishers can increase their book sales and reach a larger audience.

The hybrid publishing model with DreamEngine

DreamEngine is an independent publishing house offering a bespoke hybrid publishing service to new and self-published authors.

My ambition is to make a co-publishing service that is reputable and which works for the author. I admit, it's a challenge because of the absolutely justified negativity surrounding vanity presses, and the difficulty in differentiating ourselves from the sharks. So we have to provide exceptional services and opportunities to prove who we are. Our aim is to be at the top of the list of the best hybrid publishers.

We do not accept every author and are honest about the commercial prospects for your book.

We'll give you the truth, even if it's not what you want to hear!

We will support and guide you through the whole process.

From helping you improve and develop your story to the final edit for publication.

With you every step of the way

We put a ten step book marketing plan in place. Along with – possibly the most important element of all - help and training in how to market yourself and your book.
You are assigned a personal editor, and we put a team of talented book design and book cover design specialists around you to produce the book that you, and your readers want.

I am a director of a film production company, a film producer, scriptwriter and story consultant. We will give you the best chance of getting your story on to the big screen.

We have partnerships with agencies, marketing companies, distributers and more. We understand how the positioning of your book in terms of genre, book categories, title, sub-title, cover design and back cover ‘blurb’ can be critical in raising the profile of your book, particularly in a digital marketplace and on social media. This is a major advantage for authors.

Are you ready to explore the benefits of working with one of the best hybrid book publishers?
Get in touch to find out more. It costs absolutely nothing to talk to us about your book, your plans and your hopes for the future.

Please start by submitting your work to us. This gives us a chance to find out about you and your story. We will then contact you for a free talk about how we might be able to benefit each other.

Author Submission

Essential Author Knowledge Seminars

  • Ten videos for success as an author

  • A complete course on Marketing

  • The Hero's Journey...(...to Market)

  • The Author Mythology

  • Understanding the Publishing Industry

  • Author tips, tricks Q&A

Access to all the video seminars on Essential Author Knowledge for just £20

30 day money back guarantee!

If these seminars do not change the way you act and think about yourself as an author, and bring results, I will give you your money back.

Read more about Book Marketing

In-depth articles on  book marketing. We offer a range of book marketing services to all authors.

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Understanding the Publishing Industry and what it is looking for.

I believe that it is important that every author has an understanding of the publishing industry. That is why we offer the Author Edition in our online training academy. Here you will learn everything you need to know about the industry and how to become the author that the industry wants. 

There are many skills needed to publish your book that you most likely do not need or want to learn, such as formatting your book. You will also need to create a cover and there are many technical aspects to this. You may feel you are happy and able to do this, but this is where authors do not understand nearly enough about publishing. 

For example, the title you choose is almost certainly selected on the basis of your artistic love of those words rather than giving any consideration to the impact that title, sub-title and the accompanying cover design will have on your ranking and sales out there in the commercial world. Getting these things wrong can kill your chances before you have even started. We use complex algorithms and software to test and rewrite a title to ensure it gets to the top of search strings and, for example, Amazon categories. Take a look at the marketing resources we offer our authors for a glimpse of what is required. 

You will also need an editor to work with you. No matter how good a writer you are, it is essential to have an experienced editor to read through your book. It is very easy to think that your book is perfect when it is not. 

In reality, if you want to make any sales, you will either have to embark on several training courses to learn how to format your book, design your book cover, be your own editor, and become an expert in publishing and book marketing. Or you will have to pay people to do these things for you. 

Hybrid Publishing FAQs