By Adam Cothes

What’s your book’s market? A market is the audience you want to reach. If you don’t know who your market is you’ll have a hard time reaching them.

Many authors tell me, “I want to reach the whole world.” That’s a great goal, but every trip starts with one step. Start by reaching one market. Build to reaching the world.

If you’ve got a homeschool book, how do you get the homeschool groups on board? How do you get them emailing each other, posting on their blogs, and talking it up?

If you’ve got a business book, how do you get the business groups, the business radio shows, and the business online bookstores excited?

Here are a few steps to get you moving in the right direction:

Determine best market to go for.

• Brainstorm the influencers in that market, and build a list of contact information.
• Send them something. Maybe the book, maybe an email; definitely include your professional media kit.
• Most importantly: follow up by phone.
• Once some of these influencers get on board with your book, be sure to forward their endorsement or review to groups of likeminded people so they can get on board as well.

While there are no “cookie cutter” methods to reaching a target market, these steps will get you started. If you find yourself striking out, consider hiring a publicist who knows the ins and outs of book promotion. Having a third party involved helps you present professionally.

The WinePress Group has a great Publicity Department for this very reason. Check out these links for a small sample of the media coverage we’ve helped our authors get:

• How to promote your book at festivals & street fairs
• Author News
• Author Interview News

Adam Cothes works in various aspects of publicity, advertising and marketing in the WinePress Publicity Department. He also helps new authors get starting with the publishing process.