I just finished two days at the BookWise book convention where I was asked to host two break-away sessions. My topic was on self-promoting a book using a turnkey system. Authors are using many internet tools to promote their books these days, but we’ve discovered two difficulties:

1. Getting over the learning curve of using Internet tools, and
2. Using tactics in a strategic way

Response at both sessions was overwhelmingly positive. Basically, our turnkey system is based on the Self-Publishing in a Box program and goes something like this:

1. Build your book promotional plan, which is a book proposal combined with a simple financial plan.
2. Produce a bookshelf-quality book: cover design, editing, printing - all the components to make your book look like a book in Barnes and Noble.
3. Use a blog as the centerpiece of your promotional activities.
4. Interact with the top bloggers on your topic (create a non-fiction angle if you have a fiction book)
5. Build your Amazon profile and list your book on other online bookstores like Barnes and Noble.
6. Choose your social media site like Myspace or Facebook that fits your target audience and build your audience.
7. Start sending our press releases, mainly with PR Web, but the other free sites as well.
8. Send offline press releases to the mainstream media, local TV, Radio, Blog Talk Radio etc.
9. Write articles
10. Start speaking and seminar programs
11. Start doing Virtual Book Tours
12. Create a series of videos and book trailers.

These 12 steps make up an author’s core promotional plan. Once these pieces are in place, the author can begin other tactics, but the key is that every other tactic you take will tie back in with your core promotional platform.

If you’d like to learn more about creating a turnkey promotional plan, please email us at

info@authorsonthenet.com