Byline Articles for Book Marketing

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How Authors Can Market Their Books with Byline Articles

By Sandra Poirier Smith

Whether you’re self-promoting your book or working with a publicist, writing a byline article is an excellent book marketing tactic. It helps to extend your expertise, credibility, and author brand. An ideal byline article for book publicity is 700-900 words and filled with actionable items, ideas, how-to, case studies, etc. The article is typically published in its entirety by print or online outlets, with the author given full credit as the writer, usually with a brief bio and book title included.

Byline articles are highly useful in book publicity because they entice readers to want to learn more. After reading an article, readers can share it on social media, buy the book, follow the author on social media, sign up for a newsletter, visit the author’s website, or hire the author to speak, consult, etc. Also, byline article links are incredibly valuable to add to an author’s website, retweet/post on social media platforms, and use for credibility in marketing efforts “as featured in TIME magazine.” In the long run, they can help with search engine optimization of an author’s name and brand.

Targeting a Byline Article to Promote Your Book

There are two essential items to consider before writing an article: who is the target audience, and what information do you want to share with them? For the best chance of securing placements, the article needs to be tailored to the demographics of the media outlet. For example:

  • If you have a health/nutrition book and want to reach parenting interest readers to build your brand with new moms, then gear tips just for them, perhaps “exercising with infants” or “healthy food choices that will entice both adults and”
  • If you are a small business tax expert and want to get the attention of restaurant owners, then write an article with information geared just for this audience. Even if the advice is the same basic principles that may be offered to other small business owners, tailor the article to the needs of this specific reader.

How and Where to Submit Byline Articles

If you are working with a book publicist, he or she then presents articles to editors at print and online media outlets for consideration. While household name media is always welcomed, don’t forget the power of the smaller, highly focused online and trade publications. If authors are pitching directly, research the outlet, the demographic, and send an introduction email. Here is an article from Contently.net with tips to help writers pitch on their own.

Byline Articles for Non-Fiction Authors

Non-fiction titles lend themselves beautifully to articles. For inspiration, authors can look to chapters in their book (sometimes chapter titles make great article titles), or expand on popular blog entries, which are typically shorter in length. Popular articles themes, across all genres, include:

  • Productivity tips—doing things better or more efficiently,
  • Learning the inside secrets of experts; and,
  • Specific and actionable tips that result in increasing personal happiness/decreasing stress

Byline Articles for Fiction Authors

For fiction titles, authors and publicists need to be a bit more creative. For example, a romance book could offer an article to a local newspaper on the seven most romantic locations in the city name. If a book is set in New Orleans with a chef as the main character, a byline article geared for travel and food media outlets could be ten cafes to sample New Orleans’ best coffee or an article on recipes from the region, perhaps sent before Mardi Gras for a nice tie-in. If the fiction project is a children’s picture book about bullying and self-esteem, a byline article could feature specific tips parents can share with their five to seven-year-olds.

Author Guideline for Writing Byline Articles

There is a general format and style that editors look for when reviewing byline article submissions. Here are the guidelines:

  • The article should be 700-900 words.
  • The article should NOT be self-promoting in any way. Don’t use “I”, “me”, “my,” etc.
  • The book should not be mentioned in the body of the article. However, include the book, author website, etc. should be part of the author’s bio. Also, offer an author photo and book cover.
  • The article should be strictly fact-based and not opinion-based (that’s an op-ed).
  • The article should provide the reader with actionable information they can easily apply.
  • The article should be well organized.
  • Tips, how-to, or numbers articles are favorites among the media as they keep an article organized.
  • Use bullet points to make it easy for the reader to find valuable information to take with them. Example: 5 exercises to do at your desk to get you in tip-top shape for summer, ten steps to save for your toddler’s college education, seven biggest mistakes authors make when designing their book cover
  • The article should provide new information to the media, something that isn’t obvious.
  • Going against conventional wisdom makes an article appealing.
  • The topic should apply to all different types of people (unless writing an article for a particular niche market) and easy to understand.
  • It should be catchy, and, unless dealing with a serious subject, don’t be afraid to have fun with the topic.
  • Be honest. Some media outlets want exclusive, never before published articles. Never lie. If the article has already been published, offer the outlet ideas for a new and unique article.

The goal of byline articles to market a book is to get an author’s name and expertise out to their target audiences and entice people to want to learn more. The key to successful placements is to think about the media outlet’s target reader and gear the article specifically for this audience to make it as easy as possible for editors to say yes to running the article. Once published, byline article links are excellent, credential- building assets to add to an author’s website and social media platforms, and also helps to grow the author’s digital footprint and brand.