I often say that it’s important to make it easy for people to help you promote your book. One great way to do that is to offer to send them a free copy! I know that sounds obvious, but given how many emails I receive from authors asking me to review their books without offering to send me one, I think it is worth repeating. (I’ve also said many times here that I don’t review books, so now I’m wondering if anyone is actually reading my blog. Hmm….)

Request the book rate to keep shipping costs down!

Anyhow, when reaching out to people/organizations with news about your book, offering to send a copy isn’t required, but I highly recommend it. You never know what might happen if the right person reads your book – and loves it!

Some examples:

• Alumni magazine of your alma mater
• Regional alumni clubs of your alma mater (and their newsletters and book clubs)
• Fraternity/sorority national magazine
• Fraternity/sorority regional alumni clubs (and their newsletters and book clubs)
• Local newspapers
• Other book club organizers (www.meetup.com is a great way to find them)

While “gifting” a book to an e-reader is possible, I much prefer sending a signed physical copy along with an old-fashioned note. This way the recipient’s experience is much more personal. And who doesn’t love receiving a package in the mail? Note: when sending books from the post office, be sure to request the book postage rate. It’s much cheaper that way.

In my personal experience, it’s much easier to ignore a book on my Kindle than one on my desk or nightstand. Plus, a signed book is special, period. So there’s another reason to go the old-fashioned route if I hadn’t already convinced you.

Now get signing – and sending!

-Maria

This blog post originally appeared on CreateSpace.com. Reprinted with permission. © 2016 CreateSpace, a DBA of On-Demand Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.