Book Promotion & Publicity Tips: How to Promote Your Books

Book Marketing Buzz: Book Promotion & Publicity Tips: How to Promote Your Books is a continuing series to help authors learn how to promote their books. If you would like to be a guest blogger for our book promotion and publicity series, click here.

Today’s guest blogger is Kerri Nelson, author of Cross Check My Heart.

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The Promo Guru

by Kerri Nelson

What is a guru exactly?  We hear the word used but what is it really?

According to Dictionary.com, it is defined as “a leader in a particular field”.  So, I consider myself a promo guru after the past two years I’ve spend learning how to promote my books.

How did all this come about?

Well, almost 2 years ago I sold my first book (a romantic suspense novella) to a small e-book publisher.  They don’t do much promotion on behalf of the author and it is totally left up to us to take the ball and run with it.

Up to that point, I knew about all the big “promo for hire” websites that existed because I’d often frequented them as an avid reader.  But, seriously, who can afford that when you’re just starting out?

I needed other promotional opportunities that I could afford and manage on my own.

The absolute best decision (and investment) I ever made was to take a Marketing class through an online workshop.  It taught me all about creating a website, the importance of social networking, how to cross promote with other authors in my genre, and introduced me to the world of book trailers.

Since that time, I’ve taken a couple other promo classes and have picked up even more ideas but I highly recommend that you take the time to get educated in the world of marketing before you make your choices about what is best for you and your book.

Now, two years later, I own my own promotional blog that I operate for both my own needs and the needs of dozens of other authors.  At the Book Boost Blog (www.thebookboost.blogspot.com), you can run low cost cover ads, make guest appearances, and we’ll even design your custom book video (trailer).  We are a one stop shop.  I even offer free guest blog appearances to author on available days—so there are free promo opportunities as well.

Why did I create this site?

Really, I just saw the incredible need for low cost (highly affordable) advertising for authors.  There are many options out there but they add up in cost very quickly.  I wanted to do something that I could use as an author and that would also benefit my author network of friends as well.

I also fell in love with designing custom book videos (trailers) and through my design company (Book Boost Designs) have completely around 25 of them for other authors including bestselling author Ann Aguirre and Monica Burns.

I believe that this qualifies me for the title of Promo Guru.  But in the highly competitive book sales market, we can always use more gurus.  So, what’s stopping you?

Kerri Nelson has always been passionate about reading books but when she wrote her first poem in the second grade, she discovered her love of writing.  At the age of sixteen, she became a columnist for her local newspaper as the high school correspondent for the weekly “Panther Tales” column.  She won the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year Award for her efforts.

After an education and career in the legal field, Kerri began to pen romantic suspense novels with a legal or law enforcement theme.  She is a true southern belle and comes complete with her dashing southern gentleman husband and three adorable children.  When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her baking homemade goodies for her family, feeding her addiction to blogging online or designing custom made book trailers.  Kerri is an active member of Romance Writers of America as well as numerous Chapters including Hearts through History,  Futuristic Fantasy & Paranormal, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers.

Kerri is a multi-published author of romance in every genre from romantic suspense and paranormal to young adult and inspirational novels.

In 2009, Kerri wrote and sold twelve books to multiple publishers using her Book Factory method.  Her latest paranormal romantic suspense “Courting Demons” will release from Dorchester Publishing in 2011.

Read more about Kerri’s books at her website:  www.kerrinelson.com

Come out and chat with Kerri at her blog:  www.kerribookwriter.blogspot.com

Want to play, learn and compete with other authors in the biz?  Visit here:  www.thebookboost.blogspot.com

For the latest news and updates from Kerri, follow her on Twitter here:  http://twitter.com/kerribookwriter

Related posts:

1. Book Promotion & Publicity Tips: How to Promote Your Books with Tom Graneau
2. Book Marketing Buzz Book Promotion & Publicity Tips: How to Promote Your Books with Becky Due
3. Book Marketing Buzz Book Promotion & Publicity Tips: How to Promote Your Books with Kailin Gow
4. Book Promotion & Publicity Tips: How to Promote Your Books with Tina Martin
5. Shining the Book Promotion Spotlight on Claire Cook