Social Networking - one way to build a following pre release

If you plan to write a book and have it published, you should start social networking now rather than later. Social networking is by all accounts a brilliant way to build your name, your image and anticipation for your upcoming book long before it becomes available. The key is consistency of effort and to give just as much, if not more, than you get. The most common ways to take advantage of social networking are to use sites like Twitter and Facebook to let folks know what's going on throughout the process. All this is free and costs you only time.

Show an interest in others too! If all you do is talk about you and your book, you'll soon find you'll be talking to yourself. Take the time to comment on other authors' blogs, ask questions, get opinions, reply to their Tweets, sign up for newsletters, offer solutions to what's troubling another writer. Be genuinely helpful and you won't be forgotten.