Marketing Drive to Nowhere

Marketing a book when you have just self-published a novel is hard work.

Two weeks ago, I:

• Wrote a press release using PrLeap which was made available on Google News, Moreover and other outlets to help increase search engine traffic and visibility for key word searches.
• Sent out around 25 press packs to UK and Australian magazines, newspapers and booksellers. This included the press release; some included a colour illustration of the main protagonist. I also included a see-through envelope containing a selection of glow-in-the-dark stars. Some lucky (random) people may have also received glow-in-the-dark planets and even an ammonite or piece of obsidian (volcanic glass)!
• Did some social networking - created a MySpace page for Eeare and linked to my press release on Facebook. Actually, Eeare's picture has been subconsciously seen by dozens of journalists all around the country in a screen shot of her MySpace page this week and by about 150,000 other magazine readers - let's hope subliminal 'advertising' does work!
• Sent my book to the British Library's legal deposit office to make it official.
• Sent a few emails to family and friends to encourage them to buy the book.
• Donated a copy of the book to my local library. They might want to sell it off, but so long as someone reads it, I'll be happy.
• Checked how my Distribution went. Now, my books are available on Amazon, Play.com, Lulu.com, The Book Depository and more, with more to come. Images and meta-info now need updating.