Over 1 million books are self-published each year. With so many books entering the market on an annual basis, the competition is fierce. Consumers have more options now than ever. So what is a self-published author to do? Once upon a time, book publicity firms worked exclusively with traditionally published books, but nowadays there are many book publicity and marketing services offered to self-published authors as well. If a self-published author wants to achieve success, hiring a publicity company is probably the best course of action.
Self-published book marketing for authors can consist of social media marketing, online ads, email marketing and more. Book PR services usually include press release creation and distribution, PR coverage and placements, and interviews. But where does a self-published author start? What are the best book publicity and marketing services available to you? See the list below and choose the option that best suits you and your book.
MindStir Media
MindStir Media is the top choice for book publicity and marketing according to many self-published authors. As the best book publicity firm, MindStir has been helping self-published authors for over 15 years. Their most popular book PR service is the 3-month book publicity package. The package is composed of author website design and development, guaranteed book reviews, book trailer creation and promo on YouTube, PR placements on NBC, CBS and FOX, and guaranteed interviews and book spotlights. Last year, MindStir Media also rolled out a separate influencer package through which Shark Tank’s Kevin Harrington will promote your book through a video endorsement and social media shout outs.
“I had a great experience with J.J. Hebert and his team at Mindstir Media. Thoughtful, attentive, responsive, I couldn’t be happier. J.J. and his team went above and beyond, top-notch. Really terrific.”
“MindStir Media is led by #1 bestselling author J.J. Hebert, so you know you’ll be in good hands. Check out MindStir Media, the company you can trust to help you get to the next level with your book.”
MindStir Media’s 3-Month Publicity & Marketing Plan
Guaranteed deliverables including PR placements on NBC, CBS and FOX websites!
Manhattan Book Group
Manhattan Book Group (MBG) is located on Broadway in New York City and provides self-published authors with full-fledged book publicity and marketing support. New York Weekly raves: “Manhattan Book Group is a reliable and viable option operated by a bestselling author with clear expertise in publishing. Highly recommended.” Kev’s Best rated Manhattan Book Group as the #1 independent book publisher in New York City.
MBG specializes in Best Seller Campaigns and guaranteed media placements on major news outlets. Authors can purchase MBG’s Author Program to leverage the Best Seller Campaign or buy marketing and PR services a la carte. Manhattan Book Group is a great option if you’re looking for NYC-based publicity and book marketing support and services.
Seacoast Press
Seacoast Press is one of the top book publishers in New England. They provide Amazon best-seller promotions and aggressive social media marketing. As an example, they promote books through a network of Twitter accounts that reach over 500,000 targeted followers. If becoming an Amazon best-selling author is appealing to you, this is a solid option to consider.
Kelley & Hall
As per the Kelley & Hall website, they are a literary publicity company that is dedicated to helping authors and publishers with their promotion, marketing, and media relations. They create effective book buzz as well as author recognition that will increase book sales. Kelley & Hall helps writers build their author brand. Book marketing and book promotion are the cornerstones of Kelley & Hall. One of their major success stories comes from Lisa Genova, author of Still Alice. Genova, with the help of Kelley & Hall, was featured on TV, radio, newspapers and blogs and was the recipient of literary awards.
Smith Publicity
With decades of experience, Smith Publicity is one of the top book publicity companies. They’ve worked with a wide array of published authors, from self-published to traditionally published. Smith Publicity prides itself in creating customized, personalized book publicity services. According to their website, their campaigns focus on sparking sales, building and enhancing your author brand, creating interest for speaking engagements and helping you use your book as a tool to attract media coverage and new business/clients.
Written Word Media
Written Word Media offers a unique approach to book publicity and marketing. The company owns five brands that can promote your book to millions of readers. Most of their 20,000 clients are self-published authors. They promote authors through their brands Bargain Booksy, Free Booksy, Red Feather Romance, New In Books and Audio Thicket. Each site caters to a different demographic and helps authors reach a specific audience.
This site contains affiliate links to products and services. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
Book Publicist FAQs
How much does a book publicist or book publicity firm cost?
Many book publicists charge a monthly retainer. Average retainers are about $3000 to $5000 per month and many publicists want you to commit to a certain number of months. There are some publicity agencies such as MindStir Media that just charge a one-time flat fee and stay away from retainers.
Should I hire a book publicist?
If you want to increase your chance of commercial success, yes, you should hire a publicist. A good publicist or book publicity company will position you as an expert in your field or topic, boosting your credibility and sales.
If you just want to see your book in print and don’t care about your authority or sales, then it wouldn’t make sense to invest in a publicist.
How does a publicist get paid?
Most publicists get paid in full upfront or on a monthly basis. Publicists rarely work on commission or based on a percentage of book sales.
What does a book publicist do?
A professional book publicist will create a buzz for your book by attracting media coverage. This PR coverage should result in sales and a boost in authority. Many book publicists will also help you garner book reviews and handle your social media and overall online presence for you.
How do I get publicity for my book?
A good publicist will help perform outreach to the media to help attract publicity coverage. You can also reach out to media contacts on your own through self-service press release distribution services, but doing this on your own generally appears amateurish.