Marketing Your Novel Via Contests: Michael Balkind

I am thrilled to have Michael Balkind as our guest blogger today. Michael is the author of the Deadly Sports Mysteries series. Sudden Death, the first book in the series was endorsed by James Patterson & Clive Cussler. Dead Ball, the next book in the series will be released in July. The Fix, a college football gambling novel that Mr. Balkind co-wrote with ESPN Anchor, Ryan Burr, is currently in rewrite mode. Stealing Gold, an Olympic ski mystery is also in the works. Michael will share one of the Marketing techniques that he uses effectively to find new visitors to his site and new readers to his books.

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Marketing your novel via contests

Marketing a novel (especially on a tight budget) is an endless task. There are so many things to do in order to successfully market a novel that it's sometimes easy to get caught up in the world of marketing and difficult to maintain that other essential part of a writer's work, you know, the writing part.

One of the things that I have found very successful in the endless list of book marketing ideas is to hold contests. People love to get free stuff.

Of course you can't just put up a sign to say, "Enter my contest!" No, that would be too easy. Below is a simple (oh sure!) list of steps to successfully run a marketing contest.

Steps

1. If you don't have one already, you will need to build your website. Create a form on it where people can enter your contests.

2. Decide what to give away. (Signed books, Amazon Gift Certificates, other gift certificates, anything relevant to your book.)

3. Promote your contest well – Social networking sites such as Facebook, Myspace, twitter are all great places to promote. Find other sites related to your topic in your books and your contests and promote on them. (Such as Facebook groups.)

4. Create business cards, book marks, brochures or flyers – Show your book on one side and your contest and website on the other. Place these everywhere you can (stores, restaurants, libraries, schools, anywhere relevant to your book or your giveaway.) Hand one to everyone you come in contact with. Marketing to a large degree requires stepping out of your comfort zone.

5. Promote your contest at every book signing you do and always have a sign in book available for email addresses.

6. Use the viral marketing concept. "Every additional email you send me will get you an additional chance to Win."

7. Send out a newsletter periodically to let contestants know who won and what your next contest prize will be. There are a few email newsletter sites such as Constant Contact or Vertical Response.

8. Make sure you answer every email that comes in responding to your contest. Wish them luck and always ask them to buy your book. Then thank them for supporting you.

9. Add their email address to your newsletter email database or your new fan database.

The contest process, like every other low budget means of marketing, creates a lot of work for you. But if you work it right, it can pay off in book sales. Good luck running your contest and please let me know if it works for you. Contact me through my website.


Visit Michael's website: www.balkindbooks.com to order his books or enter his contests. While you're visiting, maybe you'll read the first chapter of Sudden Death. The Deadly Sports Mysteries series was optioned for TV by Marc Entertainment of L.A.

Win an ESPN Banner signed by all the anchors & analysts. Or be Named in Balkind's next Deadly Sports Mystery. Registering is Free & easy at www.balkindbooks.com.