I was reminded of that today, when the UPS guy delivered a copy of “Make Your Business Survive and Thrive!—100+ Proven Marketing Methods to Help You Beat the Odds and Build a Successful Small or Home-Based Enterprise,” written by Priscilla Huff.
She sent me a free copy because it includes a list of seven publicity tips from me on page 151, plus a mention in the recommended resources section. I’ll get sales leads from that book, just as I have from the more than 50 other books where I’ve been mentioned.
In some cases, it’s just a two-line blurb about my website. Some authors, however, have asked me to write entire chapters, and I jump at every chance to do that.
Because books have a long shelf life, the leads keep coming in years after the books have been published. Here are 8 tips on how to get into other people’s books:
1. Start blogging about your topic. Most authors do voluminous research before writing. And your blog will help them find you through the search engines. See “Blogging 101: How to Use Weblogs for Publicity.”
2. Post helpful comments at other people’s blogs to position yourself as an expert. See “How to Pitch the Best Bloggers & Create a Publicity Explosion.”
3. Set up one or more Google Alerts so you can find articles and blog items about your area of expertise. Once you know who wrote them, you can find out if the writer is writing a book. If so, offer yourself as a resource. Watch the short video on how to do this.
4. See if your local library carries a copy of “Forthcoming Books in Print” or “Books in Print.” Both offer information on books that haven’t been released yet.
5. Read the Media Leads section of my weekly ezine, “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week.” Most weeks, you’ll see queries from journalists or authors looking for specific kinds of sources for their articles or books.
6. Read Dan Poynter’s ezine Publishing Poynters. Many issues include queries from authors.
7. Find books that other people have written about a topic on which you’re an expert. Contact each author and offer yourself as a resource for their next book.
8. Write articles about your topic and post them to online article directories. See “How to Write How-to Articles” and “How to Submit Online Articles That Pull Traffic to Your Website.”
I’d love to hear your ideas on how to get into other people’s books.