Virtual Assistants are fantastic help for those who need assistance promoting, writing, and even editing their book. This is especially true for those Virtual Assistants that specialize in book marketing.  So many first-time authors think that once their book is done and it lands on Amazon their work is over.  But that’s just the beginning.  No one will know about your amazing book unless you do some heavy duty PR and marketing and let them know.  Or, of course, hire a great Virtual Assistant who specializes in this and they can do it for you. Let’s dive into all they can do as far as book marketing.

How Virtual Assistants Can Help With Book Marketing for Authors

• Creating Targeted Databases – It’s important with your book marketing efforts to send out your pitch to the right places. This is how you can get major media mentions and also so much more.  We use Cision and it’s a game changer.  It allows us to find the right people at the right publications that would be interested in knowing more about our client’s books.  From magazines and newspapers to radio, TV and online, we are able to create killer targeted databases.  We even have a great list of book reviewers and that should be on every author’s list of “to do’s.”
• Writing Fabulous Pitches – What makes the author and their book stand out? What is their unique story?  Whether it’s a business book, fiction, memoir, it doesn’t matter. You need to know their story in order to successfully market for them.  What sets them apart?  What makes them the expert?  Or in the case of a memoir, why would their story be something of interest to an audience.  Virtual Assistants are instrumental in helping author’s discover their unique story and provide the best ways to get their message out.  They have a pulse on what’s important and newsworthy and how a particular book would be able to fit in.  That is truly when the magic happens.
• Discovering Newsworthy Topics – What’s happening in the news now? Can it be something that an author’s book or speaking would be perfect for? Virtual Assistants keep an eye on everything that’s going on and then are best able to promote their author clients.  They also become familiar with the different topics and monthly themes.  From Black History Month to Nurses Month and more there’s always an angle to explore.  And the good news is that publications really do need this information so it will be better received.
• Sending to the Right Places. Want to really leave a bad impression?  Send your client’s business book on starting a business to a health and wellness database.  Or your client’s memoir on recovery to a sports editor.  Bad form for sure.  A Virtual Assistant specializing in book marketing will make sure that your pitch goes to the right people so you look good and so does your book.
• Providing Superior Follow-up: After sending out a pitch, it’s imperative to be ready and available for follow-up and interviews or sending additional information. If not, authors can miss numerous opportunities.  Most often the publication or radio or TV stations are going to want to interview the author immediately or have the content they are requesting available ASAP.  You definitely want to be ready.  Think too about book reviews.  You absolutely want to send out your book promptly so they are still familiar with why they requested it.  Also, send along the pitch rewritten to thank them for reviewing your book and/or a media kit.  By providing the book information, it makes it easier for them to share it.
• Providing the Consistency That Is So Key. So many authors make the mistake of only planning for a month or two of book marketing assistance and that’s a critical mistake that leads to disappointment.  You need to plan to be in this for the long haul.  You and your book are worth it! (Cue the commercial! – We’re worth it!)  What happens is if you start getting press or positive attention and you and your book are out there and attracting the interest of others, but then you disappear, you lose all that momentum.  So often publications don’t bite on the first pitch sent to them, but if it interests them, their radar is up and they are looking for additional things from you. If you keep on their radar, there’s a really good chance they will reach out.  So keep marketing.  A qualified Virtual Assistant will know how to do that so authors always have newsworthy topics and materials. That’s where the fun just keeps on going.
• Sharing the Message – Another mistake many authors make is not getting the most out of the media they receive. Go ahead and shout it from the roof tops!  Well that might be extreme, but you do want to be sure and share it on all your social media channels, in your newsletter, in your bio and all new pitches, on your media page, etc.  Remember these are the people that already know and love you!  Let them see what you are up to.  Also don’t be afraid to ask them to share it.  It’s not an inconvenience.  Most are happy to do so.

Virtual Assistants can be instrumental in helping authors with their book marketing.  The key is finding the right ones who are committed to authors and making them successful and love what they do.

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Please feel free to share this article.  And if you need help with book marketing or any marketing or virtual assistant work email me at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com.  Also, I’d love to write additional articles or be interviewed for you.  Let’s chat!!