Wednesday’s promoting tip for authors

Many authors wait too late to begin promoting their book. They wait until they have printed copies of their book in their hands…and then discover that their book is no longer “news.” It’s “old news.”

But, there are also authors like Paul Gillin, author of The New Influencers: A Marketer’s Guide to the New Social Media. Well in advance of the September publication date of his next book–Secrets of Social Media Marketing–Paul is not only distributing sample chapters, but he’s giving away actual galleys of his new book.

Galleys, as you may know, are laser-printed and bound pre-publication proof copies. Galleys differ from manuscript pages in that the text has been formatted using the typefaces and type sizes to be found in the published book. Line-breaks and page breaks appear as they will when the book has been printed.

Galleys are fun. It’s still possible to catch an occasional typographic error or an awkward sentence. Occasionally, some of the graphics or sidebar text may be missing. (Galleys provide the publishing equivalent to sneaking into the kitchen to see mom’s final steps preparing for a family Thanksgiving meal–and catching mom picking up a dropped turkey leg from the floor and putting it back on the platter.)

As you can see when you visit Paul’s website, Paul has posted a prominent offer to send anyone who requests it a galley of his forthcoming Secrets of Social Media Marketing How to use Online Conversations and Customer Communities to Turbo-Charge Your Business.

Paul will undoubtedly reap a great harvest from his offers to sent advance galleys to his website visitors. He’s building anticipation, he’s ensuring that “early adopters” will be reviewing his book, and–on the most pragmatic of levels, he’s “putting his words out for review” in time for constructive comments to be implemented in his book.

Published & Profitable Editorial Board member David Meerman Scott, author of the New Rules of Marketing & PR, frequently talks about how “all the rules have changed.” David was one of the first to profit from pre-publication distribution of his book. Paul Gillin obviously listened, and is paving the way for a similar success. We hope Paul will keep Published & Profitable informed!

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Takeaway: it’s never too early to begin promoting your book!

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