Promotion and marketing are the keys, but many self-publishers don't have the finances to hire professionals to make the pitch, and that's where Promote Like a Pro steps in.

"Promoting and marketing an unknown author is about as challenging as it gets," says publisher and book producer Linda F. Radke, and Promote Like a Pro sets out to help self-publishers to meet that challenge. "Self-publishers definitely need this kind of help because the competition is so intense." More than 50,000 books are published and more than 7,000 new presses come into existence each year. "With this kind of competition, you just can't expect your book to make it by word of mouth," she says.

Radke, president of Five Star Publications, Inc., has spent 15 years advising authors on how to produce and market books. In Promote Like a Pro she shares what she's learned, providing a roadmap to successful marketing with clear, step-by-step advice.

In addition, Radke has assembled experts-including Mary Westheimer, president of BookZone.com; Alf Nucifora, who syndicates his Shoestring Marketing column to 40 business papers nationwide; Jeff Todtfeld, an associate producer at Fox News Channel 24-hour cable network; and Charlene Costanzo, who has sold more than 250,000 copies of her own self-published book-to give readers an inside look at how to get publicity in print and broadcast media and how to create an effective marketing campaign. Promote Like a Pro lets self-publishers "join the club" and learn the secrets of successful promotion.

Although aimed primarily at self-publishers, Promote Like a Pro contains valuable advice for anyone who's new to mounting publicity and marketing campaigns.

"I have read and carefully studied your book. I have 8 pages of notes from what I read and months of work to do from the lists I compiled. The good news is I won't be wasting my time. You might not have any need for the comments below, but I am providing them because I really believe them."

"I am so glad I read your book. You explained things I needed to know and corrected things I thought I knew. Most important, your book helped me develop and refine the marketing plan that I am now implementing for my newest book."

"I have been authoring materials and involved in media (producing and hosting radio & TV) for more than 20 years. After reading your outstanding resource for small publishers, I am changing the way I do things. Thank you for taking the time to compile your book and make these materials available to help others. My work will be more effective because of your work."

Randy Weiss, Ph.D.
http://www.crosstalk.org/

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"If you need to promote a book or other small project and don't have a lot of money to hire experts, Promote Like A Pro is a very useful resource. Each topic is written by a different expert which makes for a nice blend of different voices, styles, and perspectives. Most of the Radke's experts have written their own books, run expensive consultancies, have extensive publication credits, and are entertaining and informative writers. Their expert advice might be the difference between a successful and unsuccessful book."
-Magdalena Ball
CompulsiveReader.com

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"In a perfect world, an unknown writer's first book would become an immediate bestseller, granting the writer universal recognition. In the real world, however, beginning and self-published writers need to put in extra legwork to make their book a success. However, if the unknown writer follows the advice found in Linda F. Radke's Promote Like a Pro: Small Budget, Big Show, their chances of success would rise dramatically... Promote Like a Pro stays true to its promise to "teach you the basics of publicity." Designed for easy access to the topics covered, and offering detailed advice and sample plans without industry jargon or distracting graphics, this book should be in the hands of anyone with something to sell."
-Dawn Colclasure
Crescent Blues Book Reviews

Dawn Colclasure is a writer who lives in California with her husband and daughter. She writes on the Internet under the pen name Dana Mitchells. Her articles have appeared on Web sites such as Griper, Write From Home, e-fido and Absolute Write. Feel free to email her at DMCWriter@hotmail.com.

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"Successful publisher and book marketer Linda Radke provides self-publishers with a detailed guide on how to get the word out about their book. Her new self-published book is titled Linda F. Radke's Promote Like a Pro: Small Budget, Big Show.

The book is divided into two parts. Ms. Radke has written the first part. Various writing and marketing professionals have contributed to the second part.

Ms. Radke cautions that it is not enough for an author just to promote the book. You must also get it distributed. She recommends that an author contact national wholesale distributors such as Ingram and Baker & Taylor. These distributors act as wholesalers that warehouse your book and do not have sales representatives who sell to the bookstores.

Radke suggests the following avenues for getting the word out on your book. They are book signings (although she is not personally a fan of them), using the World Wide Web (it is cheaper is you can design your own web page), and developing mailing lists.

The other contributors examine the more traditional methods of getting out the word on your book. They are newspapers, book reviews, television and radio.

Ms. Radke is well qualified to write this book. She is president of Five Star Publications, Incorporated. Launched in 1985, she has helped many authors publish and market their books. She has also authored several books herself. If you have a book that needs marketing, Linda F. Radke's Promote Like a Pro should be on your bookshelf!"
-Ruth Wucherer, Independant Publisher
www.Independantpublisher.com

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"Many independent presses and self-publishers find themselves in the uncomfortable position of running short on money by the time their book is published. Linda Radke's offers help to those who find themselves promoting on a shoestring budget. Her book details what a publisher (or self-publisher or author) can do to make sure a book has its best chance for publicity, marketing and, as a result, sales-both before and after publication. An excellent value for the price, and the price is one even the most tightly budgeted individual can afford. Recommended."
-Betsy Lampe, Publisher's Report (National Association of Independent Publishers)

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Promote Like a Pro tells us everything we need to know to promote our own book or any other project effectively and inexpensively. In the first half of the book, author/editor, Linda Radke illustrates how to prepare an excellent market plan, how to design a cover that will attract readers, how to find and work with a distributor, how to time our publicity so it will be most successful., how to tie our books in with a newsworthy event, and how to use the World Wide Web to publicize our books.

In the second half of the book, experts share their knowledge and secrets on marketing and publicity. A professional publicist lists the practical steps needed to publicize a product. The owner of a Marketing company explains how Big companies use marketing, advertising and public relations. A media-relations consultant describes the top three ways to get valuable free publicity. A successful self-publisher tells us how to raise awareness, build good will and sell thousands of copies of our books. A professional speaker tells us how to use Public speaking to "create credibility, visibility and sales." A journalist explains how to get newspaper coverage for our projects. An editor tells how to make our promotional material "editor- friendly." A book reviewer explains how to get our books reviewed and how to make the best use of our reviews. A marketing expert / columnist shows how we can get our own column. An assistant television producer tells how we can get free publicity on tv. A communications instructor tells us how to make the most of every opportunity to publicize our book. A successful author tells how we can promote ourselves on radio shows across the country without leaving our homes. Publishing and Internet experts shows us how to market books on the Web. Promote Like a Pro is compact, easy to carry in a briefcase or purse and yet it answers almost any questions anyone can have about promoting and marketing."
-Maryanne Raphael, Writer Editor, Writers World

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"Promote Like a Pro tells self-publishers how to get word out without spending big bucks."
-Publisher's Weekly

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"Most authors and publishers are good at writing and producing books. Where they need coaching is in publicity and promotion. Promote Like a Pro is refreshing, full of new ideas, and based on years of in-the-trenches experience. Your coach, Linda Radke, has arrived."
-Dan Poynter, author of The Self-Publishing Manual

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"Chock-full of practical advice and step-by-step instructions, Radke's guide gives would-be promoters the real stuff."
-Today's Librarian

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"Linda F. Radke's Promote Like a Pro is chock full of practical tips on getting publicity for book authors and other small business marketers. The step-by-step tips are straightforward, and can be implemented on even the most modest budget. If you
wish to use public relations in promoting your product or services, put this one in your briefcase."
-Kimberly McCall, McCallMedia & Marketing, Inc.

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"I loved the book. Read every word, unlined, starred, noted great ideas, tips. Even with 12 years as a best-selling author, I learned (and relearned) so many great ideas and tips from Promote Like a Pro. Whether you are self-published or New York published, Radke's book is a perfect primer. Having the real world experts contribute authentic advice 'from the other side' is a stroke of brilliance!"
-Susan RoAne, author of How To Work a Room, The Secrets of Savvy Networking and What Do I Say Next?

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Ever read a book and thought: "I could have written that."

You're not alone. Each year thousands of people try to get their work published. Some are lucky and land a six-figure publishing deal—but most find themselves rejected from the big publishing houses.

So, what to do?

Well, you can either give up on the idea, or, like a growing number of would-be writers, you can self-publish. It costs money with no guarantee of a return, but for some it's the only way to go.

So, you've written your book, you've scraped together the money to publish it—now you need to publicise it, and that's where Linda F. Radke's Promote Like A Pro comes in.

Radke offers a range of concise and well-researched information for the budding author.

From the basics, such as the difference between publicising and advertising, to advice on pitching your ideas and how to communicate with journalists and the media—it's all here.

Radke writes with a pleasant, easily readable style and doesn't overcomplicate matters with jargon and unnecessary rules and regulations.

She's also incorporated a number of essays from various contributors, all offering advice and a world of experience for the book promoter. There are also real-life examples of how to do—and how not to do—things correctly.

Promote Like A Pro is an invaluable read for anyone wishing to embark on a self-publishing promotion.

It runs hand in hand with The Writers and Artists Yearbook and, although British readers may find the Americanisation a little difficult to follow, it contains the kind of advice you'd pay many a pretty penny for.
-Joanna Knudson, editor BOOKWORM: Non-fiction book of the week, Promote Like A Pro