Simplified Marketing Plan

Okay, so the comprehensive plan was a bit scary. Have no fear, this one will be MUCH easier for you to deal with. I've even included an Excel spreadsheet you can download to list all your promotional efforts. The chart is already filled out with items outlined in the marketing plan below as an example. Simply type over the text and add in your own information. Remember to check the Promo Checklist tab too.

Promotional Checklist

Remember, this is just a guideline for the types of things you should be considering when it comes to developing your own marketing plan. You do not have to do all of these things and what you do choose to do will depend on your budget. Drop me a line at monicaburns@monicaburns.com if you have any questions.

eBook / Print Publications Marketing Plan
for Monica Burns
© Copyright 2005-2007
 

Author:  Monica Burns
Email:  (monicaburns@monicaburns.com or monicaburnsauthor@comcast.net)Release Date - October 9, 2007
Mirage
ISBN  1-59998-615-9
eBook release

Proposed Promotion for eBook Release
(with estimated costs)

General Promotion for eBook Release

• Brochures and flyers ($300)
   

• Bookmarks ($400)  Enough will be ordered for mailings for the print release
   

• Author Days and Excerpts (Free)
   

• Author will post excerpt on Samhain Café, Historical Excerpt Yahoo group (Free)
   

• Author has scheduled an Author Day on Brenda Williamson’s yahoo group (Free)
   

• Author will schedule an Author Day on the Samhain loop (Free)
   

• Author will run an ad in the Passionate Ink BookNotes publication, which goes to over 1400 opt-in subscribers ($40 for two ads)
   

• Author will submit eBook for review to Romantic Times for review. Review quotes can be used in the print advertising campaign. Author will also submit the eBook to websites Samhain does not have contracts with, such as The Romance Reader Connection, Romance by the Blog, etc. These websites will be cleared with the Review Coordinator (Free)

Media Coverage

• Author will submit eBook to Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show with a double prong approach. Author will promote eBooks and Erotic Romance in the same news release in an attempt to generate interest
   
• Author will send out news releases to local radio and TV media about eBooks and Erotic Romance.

Paid Advertising for eBook Release

• A Week of Romance newsletter with Romance Designs historical community website, targeting approx. 15,000 readers ($450) Already scheduled for mid-October 2007 in conjunction with the eBook release on the 9th
   

• Cover/Banner ads will run for initial release date at following websites, which have proven to generate increased traffic at author’s website directly from the ad ($250)

  • Romance Reviews Today

  • Romance Designs

  • The Romance Studio

  • Just Erotic Romance Reviews

  • Road to Romance

  • The Raven (Mandy Roth/Michelle Pillow) blog/website Aug thru Nov

Contests

• Reader contest on author’s website. Author is running a contest currently and will continue to do so for the rest of the year.

Chats

Website

• Up and running, along with BB with character interviews and MS Word help.

MySpace

• Book will be advertised on author’s website, MySpace and Blog. Author will do bulletins on MySpace regarding the eBook release. Author currently has almost 1400 friends on MySpace

Blogs

Personal blog promotion with cover ads

• Will advertise the book release week of release

• Will provide the excerpts over one or two week period to generate interest

Author blog - The GabWagon - promotion with cover ads

• Will blog about release during week of release

 Newsletters

 

 

Proposed Promotion Print Book Release
(with estimated costs)

Paid Advertising for Print Book Release

• A ½ to full page ad in Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine ($1800) targeting approximately 20,000+ subscribers for month of print release
   
• A three to four month ad run at the All About Romance review website - ads run here in the past have generated significant website traffic ($270 - $520)
   
•  ½ page ad in Romance Writers Report - RWA publication  targeting more than 9000 subscribers ($300)
   
• Romance Sells Spring publication targeting over 6500 booksellers & librarians ($200)
   
• Banner ad advertising the print release will run at the following websites, which have proven to generate increased traffic at my website directly from the ad ($250)
   
  • Romance Reviews Today
  • Romance Designs
  • The Romance Studio
  • Just Erotic Romance Reviews
  • Road to Romance

General Promotion for Print Release

• Brochures  and flyers ($300)
   

• Book will be advertised on author’s website, MySpace and Blog. Author will do bulletins on MySpace regarding release
   

• Author will also repost excerpt on Samhain Café and other Yahoo groups
   

• Author will run an ad in the Passionate Ink BookNotes publication, which goes to over 1400 opt-in subscribers
   

• Author will schedule an Author Day on the Samhain loop

 
Booksellers Mailing for Print Release

• Will do a mailing to targeted booksellers that promote romance, specifically erotic romance as well as historical romance using Pat Rouse’s mailing list. Author has also developed relationships and compiled her own list of booksellers who are willing to hand-sell her books. Mailing will include
   

  • Bookmarks

  • Brochures

  • Flyer

  • Pens or other giveaway if finances permit
     

• RT 2008 conference networking with available booksellers to promote Mirage
   

• RWA 2008 conference networking opportunity with booksellers present.

Appearances / Book Signings at Conferences

• 2008 RT conference in Pittsburgh
   

• 2008 Lori Foster Book signing in Ohio
   

• 2008 Book signing in Kentucky sponsored by Louisville RWA
   

• 2008 Women’s Expo in Kingsport, TN
   

• Will arrange book signings at local Barnes & Noble, Waldenbooks
   

Giveaways

• Will continue to build name recognition with free giveaways for distribution at various conferences such as pens and bookmarks and gift baskets
   

• Will participate in the Brenda Novak Diabetes Auction in spring 2008

Contests for Readers

• Will have a contest for readers on website themed with Mirage
   

• Contests will continue to run through 2007 and into 2008 in preparation for eBook release of Dangerous in March.

Bulletin Board

• Author’s website has its own bulletin board that readers can use to discuss her books, the romance industry and general question areas as they develop. There is a special color scheme developed specifically for Mirage
   

• The author has developed character interviews for the book for posting on the BB.

Newsletter for readers

• Will continue newsletter mailings with Mirage as a focus
   

Author Quotes

• Will research the possibility of getting a review quote from another erotic historical romance author such as Sylvia Day, MacKenzie McKade or other known author in the genre for use on the cover at publisher’s discretion. (Samhain has indicated that author quotes for their book are under consideration)
   

• Author will still approach at least one big name author for a book cover quoe or a quote for author’s website.
   

Media Coverage 

• Author will send news releases to print media about the release

Review Submissions

• Will target independent booksellers and reader clubs.

• Will submit ARCs to reviewers at the following websites and/or publications that are not under agreement with Samhain.
  • Booklist - Premier Review site
  • Kirkus Review
  • Publisher’s Weekly
  • Romance By the Blog
  • Historical Romance Writers -Romance Designs
  • Romance Reader at Heart
  • Romantic Times BOOKreviews
  • The Romance Reader's Connection

Top of Page