I've been in this game for a while now and found some things are really helpful in raising my profile (not easy when you basically want to stay in your cave and write most of the time). Some very generous people have shared their ideas with me, so now I pass on what I know to you. And you don't have to pay a fee to know my secrets. Your platform - what is it? How you market yourself will open doors. What do you want to be known for? Have a media release ready (and regularly polished) to send out. Contact other bloggers in your field of expertise/interest and offer to send a copy of your book for them to review, in exchange for reviewing theirs. Promotional materials , for business cards, posters of your book covers, bookmarks, banners, freebees. Being an author is a business and you need the promotional tools handy. I use Vistaprint or make my own using MS publisher and Powerpoint. A flyer with what you offer, ie: author talks, writing workshops, school ...