Think of all the places you could add a mention and – ideally – a link to your book’s website page. Can you add it to a list of your publications on your company or faculty website? Make sure you add your book link to your email signature, for a quick, but easy, win!
It might seem obvious, but celebrate that you are publishing a book and let your connections – friends, colleagues, your librarian, any editors/journalists you know – know that you would like their support. Ask us for a promotional flyer or book preview ‘widget’ to share, and/or forward one of our own marketing emails using the ‘Forward this email’ function. This personal touch can start a conversation that may just lead to further opportunities.
Have any of your peers expressed an interest in reading your book? Ask them if they would mind leaving a review of it on Amazon, or even arranging to write a review to be published in an academic journal? As long as they will do so in a fair and measured way!
If you are already active on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or any other social networks or message boards/forums, this can be a powerful (and free) way to connect with your readers. When posting relevant content, tag Bloomsbury's accounts to further your outreach. If you need graphics or extra content for sharing, reach out to your marketer too and they will be happy to assist.
Join online communities, canvas what other authors are doing and look ahead in your field’s timelines. Is there a roundtable discussion that would be a good fit for your book? Is there a journal publishing a special issue on a relevant topic? Is there a museum planning an exhibition on a related theme? Sometimes, it’s only by starting these conversations that opportunities are uncovered that you, and we as your publisher, can take advantage of.
Going to a conference? Let editors and marketers know you are attending or speaking at a conference ahead of time so that we can provide discount flyers to help you promote your book. Conferences are a great way to get your book in front of a relevant audience who are actively looking for the latest research and information in your field, and who are all conveniently gathered in one location!
Perhaps your institution/organisation or a network that you’re a member of regularly programmes talks, or maybe you have a good connection to a local bookshop? If you have the resources or connections to host an event dedicated to your book, we will make sure to be on hand to help to promote it, provide you with marketing materials and assist with book orders.
Know of any blogs in your interest area that you admire? Or, maybe there’s an idea from your research that would make an excellent basis for a short article on this, Bloomsbury Academic Blog? We are particularly looking for teaching and research tips for scholars, or commentary that may be of interest to a wide, interdisciplinary academic audience. Reach out to your marketer to pitch your idea for writing for us.
Listservs are a fantastic way to reach people who really want to engage with the latest research and those that are behind it. The best person to describe a piece of research is – you guessed it! You, the author. Write enthusiastically about your new book and what it brings to your field of study – and, of course, you can always ask us for an online preview of the book and a discount code for sharing too.
Another quick win, if you are based at an institution, is to speak to your librarian. Do they know your book is publishing? Perhaps you are setting it as reading for your course? They need to know that too. Don’t be afraid to check!
For more great ideas and information about marketing your book, expanding on some of the above and much more, take a look at our online marketing tip library.
Amy Carothers is Academic Marketing & Publicity Director, at Bloomsbury USA.
