It’s one thing to write a course in miracles, but an entirely different thing to write one that’s saleable, viable, and marketable. Whether you’ve just published a book or have a book that isn’t selling, now is the time to get to it; start marketing today! Your book selling, book marketing, and book promotion planning should begin before the manuscript is completed.

Make sure your press release spells out the ‘who, what, where, when, and why.’ Using press releases can be a very effective marketing tool if used properly. Using press releases for marketing or promoting your book or book’s website has become increasingly popular as publishers discover the powerful benefits of using press releases.

Mail a press release to at least 1000 print and broadcast contacts just prior to publishing your title and again and again after you publish; you can never send too many. Mail a press release to all the trade journals in your field over and over again; you can use the same release. Send out at least 10 press releases to the print and broadcast media in your area every month.

Invest in press release submitting software and set aside time every week to send out a press release online to the press directories. Make sure you have at least one good press release, written in AP style that you can send out for the lifetime of your book.

Submit articles to online article directories that focus on your book’s topic to drive customers to your website. It’s important to publish a website that focuses on your title; you’ll be able to refer editors and customers and all interested parties to your book information with the click of a mouse. Get as many testimonials about your book, as possible, from experts in the field relating to your title, not customers; use on your fliers and back of books.

Make five telephone calls a day that relate to marketing your book. Make sure not to overlook the Internet; get yourself interviewed or profiled for sites both about writing, publishing and about the topics covered in your book. Why not give away your book in a raffle at a local function to get more recognition for your book.

Your sales letter or flier should include an eye-grabbing headline, the benefits to the buyer, the book features, book sales information and testimonials. Contact non-bookstore booksellers and offer to leave books on consignment. Create an online contest and list it in online contest directories to drive traffic to your website.

Print and online publications provide longevity to your marketing campaign in terms of having something tangible for people to reference ongoing. Remember to make sure your book is listed in Books-in-Print; don’t assume it’s already listed. Make sure your sales letter or flier is first class; this is your formal presentation of your title to the prospective buyer.

Build a web site that provides another avenue for ordering, a virtual online press kit and link exchanges with sites that relate to your topic. Women buy more books then men; see how you can fit your book into the women’s market.

Make sure to promote and market your book each and every day, both online and offline. If your book fits a specialty market, find a store that fits the genre and offer to leave books on consignment; many publishers have sold thousands of books this way.

Don’t delay another day if you’ve fallen by the wayside; make sure to focus on promoting, selling and marketing your book each and every day. If you apply yourself every day and you promote your book like crazy, you can achieve that ultimate goal of selling thousands of copies of your book, many self publishers have. With well chosen book marketing and book promotion, online and offline, you’ll reap the profits you deserve for your efforts by way of the Internet and in your mailbox.