Book Marketing can feel overwhelming. Here I offer practical, doable ideas to promote your books.
My Five Favorite Digital Tools
_w140_h140/FauziaBurke-Innovationinbookpublishing(1)_05080418.jpeg "My Five Favorite Digital Tools")
by Fauzia Burke
Recently, I had the pleasure of attending and speaking at the IBPA Publishing University 2023 in San Diego. It was an incredible opportunity to learn from industry leaders, network with fellow professionals, and share my insights on cost-effective strategies for book publicity. Plus, it was fun to see people in person. I was also thrilled to promote our company, Pub Site, as an exhibitor during the conference. John Burke, the founder of Pub Site and, more importantly, my partner in crime, captivated numerous publishing folks with his live demos. Witnessing their excitement and admiration for the brilliant platform he's built is always a treat for me.
Boost Your Book Sales with Podcast Interviews
by Fauzia Burke
[For your convenience, a summary is provided by Chat GPT: The blog provides tips for promoting a book on podcasts. Key points include researching suitable podcasts, pitching yourself as a guest, customizing your pitch, preparing for the interview, and being camera-ready, engaging, and authentic. Avoid hogging the conversation, and ensure you promote your book during the interview. Offer value to the host and audience, and use social media to promote your appearance. Finally, follow up after the interview to express gratitude and share the episode with your followers. By following these tips, you can connect with a broader audience and effectively promote your book.]
The Art of Connection: Tips for Building Strong Relationships with Your Readers
by Fauzia Burke
Building strong relationships is essential for success in both personal and professional life. Whether connecting with readers, collaborating with colleagues, or bonding with family and friends, the ability to communicate effectively and form meaningful connections is key. In book publishing, it’s especially important for authors to cultivate strong relationships with their readers. Not only does this foster a sense of community, but it can also lead to increased book sales and opportunities for growth and development.
Simplify Your Social Media Content: Tips for Building a Fan Base for Your Books
by Fauzia Burke
As an author, your online presence is critical for building a fan base. Social media is a powerful tool for connecting with readers, promoting your work, and building your reputation as an expert in your field. However, managing multiple social media accounts can be overwhelming, especially when creating and sharing content. Below are tips for streamlining your social media content and creating a more cohesive online presence.
Let Joy and Ease Be Your Guide
by Fauzia Burke
When it comes to navigating the ups and downs of life, it can be easy to get caught up in stress and worry. But what if there was a way to approach things with a sense of joy and ease?
Fresh Start With Social Media Accounts
by Fauzia Burke
The recent changes in Twitter have prompted many of us to reconsider where we hang our social media hats. As we start 2023, we can take the opportunity to declutter and reorganize our physical space, and it's also a good time to do the same with your online presence. I do this every year, which makes a huge difference in the value I get from spending time on social media.
TikTok & Books
by Fauzia Burke
TikTok is a social media platform for sharing short form (1-3 minutes) video content. It has been growing in popularity, in fact it is now the third most popular social media platform and has grown to 1 billion active users worldwide this year. However, it is not the growth of TikTok that is making people pay attention; it is the engagement.
Why Pub Site is Better than Wix for Authors
by Fauzia Burke
If you are thinking about setting up and designing your author website, you’ve probably reviewed the available DIY website options. You’ve probably taken a look at Wix and added it to your list of potential platforms to use. However, the reality is that Wix wasn’t built to serve authors. Wix can work for photographers, event planners, entrepreneurs, etc. but not so great for authors. When it comes to websites, authors have different needs which is why we built Pub Site. Let’s get into it.
How to Use Your Author Website to Sell More Books
by Fauzia Burke
As a publicist and marketer, I know that websites can be an invaluable marketing tool when promoting a book. Most authors know this too, but many don’t know how to get people to their sites, and more importantly how to sell more books. Here are some key points to keep in mind if you want to sell more books.
Biggest Mistake Authors Make When Marketing Their Books
by Fauzia Burke
When beginning your book marketing journey, it’s best to identify your audience and your goals first. Doing so will act as your "North Star" leading you in the right direction and keeping you on track.
Let's talk about audience: What is the most common mistake authors make when marketing their book? From experience and asking my book marketing friends, the answer is clear: it’s thinking that their book is for everyone.
Which Social Media Platforms Should I Use?
by Fauzia Burke
No matter what you write or how you choose to publish, the majority of authors can agree on one thing: social media has redefined the way books are promoted. However, you can’t be present on all platforms, so which platform is right for you? I feel that the best platform for you is the one you enjoy the most. If you don’t enjoy being there, no one will follow you. It is far better for you to focus on one or two platforms that work for you then to spread yourself too thin by trying to be all things to all people.
Social Media Stats All Authors Need to Know
by Fauzia Burke
There has been a large increase in social media presence this year. With Covid taking away other ways of networking, it is no surprise that more than half of the people in the world use social media as of July 2020. Most social media users select brands and find new products based on the recommendations of peers and friends. This makes social media a marketing powerhouse and instrumental in getting your books discovered.
How to Drive Traffic to Your Author Website
by Fauzia Burke
As most of the world is sheltering in place due to Coronavirus, we are all spending more hours online than ever before. This is a good time for authors to spit and polish their websites and find new ways to get more readers. If you’ve been reading my blogs or have heard me speak, you know that I think every author needs a website in their own name, not the name of their current book. Remember, you need a website that is going to scale with you. But once you’ve taken the leap and set up your website, purchased your domain, and entered your basic book information…now what? How do you get people to your website? Here are 3 steps to make your website a success.
3 Reasons Why Book Publicity is More Important Than Ever
by Fauzia Burke
PR does not sell books. There I said it. If you are doing PR because you think you’ll sell enough copies to get a return on that investment, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Most PR firms will require a financial commitment of thousands of dollars a month, plus require a 3-6 month minimum engagement. You’d have to sell a lot of books to get that investment back. Yet, here I am telling you it’s a worthy investment.
Sell More Books Even During a Crisis
by Fauzia Burke
One of the best ways publishers can sell more books is to help their authors become better marketers. Some publishers have already figured out that their best marketing assets are actually their authors. Of course, publishers need to do all the things that work on scale—distribution, general marketing, publicity to mainstream publications, radio and TV. However, authors have a unique advantage. They bring their deep subject matter knowledge, professional networks, and local community connections to the table. All of these are more important than ever as we see disruption in the traditional sales and marketing channels due to coronavirus.
Lessons Learned in Business: The 25th Anniversary Edition
by Fauzia Burke
This year marks the 25th anniversary of FSB Associates. What started as a one-woman (me) shop from our spare bedroom has grown into a dream small business with a fabulous staff working around the country, and a roster of thousands of amazing clients. While our plans for a celebration at BEA had to be shelved and our planned parties in New Jersey and San Diego will have to wait, we are still thrilled that we’ve been able to celebrate such a milestone, albeit remotely.
What Makes a Successful Book Campaign?
by Fauzia Burke
One of the absolute best parts of my job is that I get to spend time talking with and meeting authors: amazing people who are truly passionate about their work. And while I work with writers across almost every subject area, one question remains the same, whether they are writing crime fiction or business self-help: What makes for a successful book campaign?
It’s a tough question, but one I’m going to try to answer here.
Black Lives Matter and Juneteenth
by Fauzia Burke
I am heartbroken over the murder of another Black person by police officers and the violent response by police against protestors. I stand with the victims of murder, violence, and oppression based on skin color and with those who are protesting for justice. Unless we as a country speak up, take responsibility for our past, acknowledge the present culture of injustice, and make a commitment to change, the list of Black lives lost to police brutality will never end. Black Healthcare Matters. Black Education Matters. Black Housing Matters. Black Voices Matter. And Black Lives absolutely Matter. Together we must support the Black community and speak out against the violence and racism.
The Best Place to Promote Your Book is on the Web
by Fauzia Burke
Now more than ever, it’s important for authors to prioritize online publicity to promote their books. Due to the pandemic, bookstore events have canceled, traditional media is being cannibalized by coverage of the coronavirus, and speaking engagements have vanished overnight. As scary as it is, it looks like our “new normal” is going to change the way we think about book publicity for a long time to come.
8 Digital Marketing Tips for Authors
by Fauzia Burke
When you’re an author, your only job is to write, right? Wrong. The reality of today’s publishing landscape is that authors not only need to be fantastic writers, they also need to be publicists, marketers, and overall cheerleaders for their books. But with all these extra hats an author needs to wear, how do you find the time? And where do you start? If you’re struggling to prioritize your digital marketing efforts, start with these 8 tips.