10. Your Web Site
“Duh, Lisa!” you shout at your computer screen. “Everyone knows that!” Well, don’t get snippy with me just yet. Some writers don’t have a web site, and some who do don’t use them to their full advantage. Hook up with a good web designer who can help you lay out a great looking, organized web site with features that will help you promote your books. People love pictures, video clips, and podcasts. Make use of them if you are at all able.

And look for a designer/webmaster who has a good grasp of search engine optimization. If you build it, they won’t necessarily come. You have to code the site in a way that helps the spiders find you. (Sounds creepy, but trust me, it’s a good thing.)

9. Blogger
Most publishers now insist that their authors keep a blog. It pays to promote and with so many people visiting Blogger every day, you have a good chance of attracting attention if you have an insightful blog. I love visiting some of my favorites and seeing what my peeps are doing and thinking. Consider writing the blog from the viewpoint of your lead characters to make it interesting and relative to your latest release.

8. Reviewers
Find one of the dozens—nay, hundreds—of review sites on the web and get your book reviewed. Ask friends or associates to read your book and post comments on all the major book sellers sites (Amazon, B & N, Christianbook.com, etc.). The more word of mouth you can generate, the more sales you will enjoy.

7. MySpace
Vanity pages are all the rage and you can reach your reader demographic in a fun way by creating a MySpace page for your book. Consider making the page about your heroine or hero. Use his/her name and photos that resemble them. Get your character some “friends” from your reader demographic and see what happens. If you are creative, you may just start a stampede to your MySpace page.

6. YouTube
Do you spend hours watching people’s generic home videos on YouTube? Okay, I don’t like to admit it, but me too. It’s kind of addictive. So why not use that addiction to promote your book. Fire up your Power Point program or iMovie and create a trailer for your latest novel. When you’ve polished it up to the best of your ability, then post it online and tell all your friends to go watch it. Then she told two friends, and they told two friends, and they told two friends…. Get that pyramid scheme working for you.

5. Blogs
I know I already mentioned having a personal blog, but there are other ways to use blogs to your advantage. For example, network with fiction interviewers and reviewers who blog and schedule a Blog Tour. Have one person post about you or your book in their blog each day for 15 - 30 days. Let them choose the format that appeals to their readers, whether interview or review or something altogether unconventional.

Another way to use blogs to your advantage is to get involved with blogs that relate to your book’s topic matter. For example, does your book revolve around a home-schooling mom? Find blogs for home-schooling moms then post comments and get involved. When you feel like you’ve established yourself as a “regular”, mention your book. See what happens. I bet you get some buzz.

4. Forums
Same as blogs only find forums that suit your book’s subject matter and post to them. The more people who hear about your book, the more buzz and sales you will get. And remember to always put your web site link in your sig.

3. Writing Organizations
Get involved in a national writing organization and then take advantage of the marketing opportunities that they offer. Most will at least mention a sale, a contest win, or an award in their newsletter. Many will promote your latest book release on their web site or in a printed newsletter. Some offer interviews and features, or reviews of your work. For the price of the membership, the advertising benefits are more than worth it. Do your publisher and yourself a favor and do your part by making use of these opportunities.

2. Mailing List
Make use of the mailing list feature in your web site hosting package or open a Yahoo group and start collecting friends’ and fans’ email addresses. Once a month, send out an update on your career, and tailor it to your reader. Tell them what you are offering them, what benefits they can get from supporting your career, how you are working for them. Do a giveaway or invite them to come get a free bookmark at your next book signing. Tell them about your upcoming release and offer a discount for pre-orders.

1. Teaching classes
If you think you have progressed to the point where you have something to share, offer to teach a class at a conference or online, or host a podcast seminar. You can also teach in a chat room or forum. While teaching writing classes are great, teaching classes that are geared toward the general public might get you more sales. For example, if you book includes a kidnapped child and you spent extensive time researching what makes kids vulnerable and how to reduce the risk, teach a seminar on kidnap prevention. Every mother in America will be eager for that one. Or if you wrote about a natural disaster, like a hurricane or a tornado, teach on disaster preparedness. And of course, work in shameless plugs for your novel along the way. ~wink~