|
Divine recipes, luscious photographs – this is your
first cookbook and you look forward to those big royalty checks. So
what's your marketing plan for this book? What are you doing to
increase sales?
New writers often think the
publisher arranges for all publicity. Not true. As the writer, you
have most at stake so it will benefit you most to take a proactive
stance when it comes to promoting and selling your cookbook.
Much of the research can take
place while you are planning and writing your book. Visit bookstores
and study the cookbooks that are on the shelves. Note the different
types of cookbooks and who are writing them. Discern which books are
your direct competition for sales. Create ways to make yourself
stand out.
After your book is at the
publisher but before it is released contact magazine editors, ezine
publishers and website owners. Ask if they will review your book and
wait for a reply before you incur the cost of shipping.
Write articles or offer excerpts
from you cookbook to magazines that cater to your audience.
Tap your local newspaper for
interviews and reviews. Pick up the phone and ask for a feature
reporter (look for bylines in the features, lifestyle, or Sunday
special sections) and offer yourself up as the subject of an
article.
Build a website using your name or
your book's name as the domain. Take all those published reviews,
articles, newspaper features and anything else anyone has said about
your book and link to it, or excerpt it. You can also use quotes
from reviews in any press release you send out.
Once your book is published call
bookstores as far as you are willing to travel and offer to do a
book signing, cooking demonstration or reading. Do not give up. Keep
calling and planning and promoting. Bring along giveaways to book
signings. Have bookmarks, recipe cards, or notepads printed up with
your name, website and book cover prominently displayed.
Don't stop with bookstores. Check
out cookware stores and gourmet shops that will stock your cookbook,
and who might even welcome you to demonstrate your recipes on a busy
Saturday.
Ask all your friends to help
spread the word by joining food-related discussion lists, setting up
book signings in their local bookstores, and writing reviews of your
book.
Contact television and radio
stations to see if they are looking for a feel-good news story or if
you can be a guest on one of their shows.
Having a new cookbook out or being
a local published author is newsworthy, but how do you keep the
marketing effort up long term? Find a way to connect your recipes
with events. Dessert cookbooks are easily linked with holidays like
Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, and weddings.
Healthy food cookbooks are great for January (New Year's
resolutions), spring (getting ready for summer clothes) and right
after a new medical report comes out about the danger of fat, meat,
sugar, wheat allergies and junk food.
If you want ongoing coverage from
local, regional and national news media send out announcements on
your expertise. Include any food science and nutrition background
you have to widen your appeal as an expert.
Donate your cookbook as a prize or
to be auctioned off for charity. Not only will the lucky winner
learn who you are, but so will all the other readers, listeners and
viewers as the contest or auction is promoted for the weeks leading
up to it.
The key to marketing your cookbook
is persistence. Try everything above, then go back through the list
again and again. Marketing your cookbook successfully can be likened
to making a snowball. You start with a few individual ideas, add on
more each day or week, and soon you've got a snowball whose momentum
will carry you, and your cookbook, out into the world.
About The Author
Pamela White is the publisher of Food Writing, a bi-weekly
newsletter. She is the author of Six Weeks to Making Money as a Food
Writer and instructor of an 8-week online food writing class. For
more information or to subscribe, please visit:
www.food-writing.com
|
