Rolling Out a Book Marketing Plan

by Tim Kellis
(Florida, US)

My self-publishing experience?

Now that is a pretty funny question. My background is an engineering undergraduate degree, an MBA and 10 years as a semiconductor analyst on Wall Street. The motivation for writing this book was a relationship that didn’t work out followed by work with a therapist that really didn’t help. This is an example that if you want to get something done you have to do it yourself.

After the breakup and as a result of that pain I decided to write a relationship book. The research that went into writing this book included over 100 books over a 10-month period, or 2 ½ books a week, straight for 10 months. This is probably one of the most researched books every written. Then I spent 9 months writing the book. I figured after I finished writing the book that I would simply call up a publisher or agent, tell them that I have solved the marriage problem, and they would get it published. The truth is I only got one agent to look at my manuscript. He read the first couple of pages, told me the average American reads one book a year, this book was too deep and wouldn’t sell, so he decided he wouldn’t be able to sell it to a publisher. So I decided to self-publish.

And then money started running short, so I got another job working as a semiconductor analyst on Wall Street, in Southeast Florida. I finally got into a better financial position to leave my Wall Street career in January 2008 to focus full time on promoting my book. Since that time I have basically focused my publicity locally here in Southeast Florida. Activities include the use of 2 local PR firms, a 13-week radio show, numerous local TV appearances, one national TV appearance on Lifetime’s “A Balancing Act”, numerous radio interviews, radio ads, TV commercials, newspaper ads, numerous local appearances, completion of work with my first couple and the subsequent recording of an interview with them, accumulation of over 1,100 friends on my Facebook page, over 500 friends on my MySpace page, along with numerous other social networks, continuous work on my blog.

I am in the process of interviewing new PR firms for a national campaign. Upcoming activities include a virtual blog tour, a promotional speaking tour, blog interviews, a meeting with Rachel Ray, and other pertinent promotional activities. I am in the process of moving from a local campaign to a national campaign.

Visit Happy Relationships.

Visit Tim Kellis's blog.