Wondering how to market your book? After hours spent putting your blood, sweat, and tears into your creation you’re ready to send your baby out into the world. Everyone has to start somewhere and for most writers, that thought alone can be terrifying to ponder. It’s hard to get where you’re going without a map to guide you. When you’re preparing to take on the challenge of how to market your book, here are a few tactics that will help you connect with your readers.
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1. Social Media
Social media can be your best friend or your worst enemy depending on how you do or don’t use it. It's one of the broadest circles to reach people if you use it to your advantage. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can help you get your message across quickly and accurately. One tip - know your target audience and cater to their interests. If the tagline doesn’t catch their attention they aren’t likely to keep reading. Social media is one of the best answers for how to market your book.
2. Book Signings
A signature makes a book more unique and occasionally it might become a collectible. Book signings are a great way to have one on one contact with your readers and to acquire new fans using the most powerful marketing tool you have - yourself.
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3. Book Launch
The sooner you get the book out there the better. Nothing creates a little buzz like a celebratory book launch! Tea and truffles aren’t exactly the recipe for a great launch. Sure, this helps, but you don’t have to be rich to hold a book launch. Look for an inexpensive venue, or throw a neighborhood party, invite your friends and acquaintances, and have someone film the event. Share the video to your timeline.
4. Newsletters
I know I enjoy keeping up to date on the things that interest me. A newsletter will perform the dual task of keeping readers up on the latest information and drawing more people to your events.
5. Author Webpage
The strongest weapon you have in your virtual arsenal is your webpage. All manner of people, from editors and reviewers to readers, look to this page to help them gauge your level of professionalism. If you design if right it can also be the largest and most convenient source for all the information you want to provide them. Try including a media kit along with information about your books and yourself. Everyone appreciates a timesaver, especially in a perpetually running business mill such as marketing or publishing.
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6. Business Cards
A great tool to spread your name around, business cards are relatively inexpensive and easy to carry. Maybe you find yourself in a conversation about books. Instead of simply imparting the fact that you’re an author, consider handing them your card as well. A self-driven angle, this can nonetheless help to get your name around.
7. Webinars
Though not the first choice for everyone, webinars are an effective way to interact with your audience. These are not reserved for non-fiction writers. Think of a plot factor woven into the storyline of your book and use it for a topic. Perhaps your main character has trouble getting work. Create a webinar focused on people reaching for their dreams. The ability to connect with the writer of the book never fails to increase a person’s interest in the book itself.
8. Blogs
Blogs are a good way to keep readers up to date and give them a peek at your private world. Who you are as a person is just as interesting as who you are as a writer, in some cases even more so.
9. Family, Friends, and Acquaintances
You have just released your book or maybe you’re about to release it. It took ages to write and you’re thrilled to have reached this point. Share your news with family and friends. Don’t be ashamed to ask them to spread the word. These people are your greatest allies. They’ll be happy to help you out. Especially in a small town, this can gain you some ground in a relatively short period of time.
10. Cold Pitching
This term, especially in the beginning, frightens most authors to death! Don’t let this fear deter you. When you don’t have any contacts the only way to get connected is to exert a little effort. I won’t sugar coat it, the answer isn’t always going to be yes, but neither will it be a constant no. The more effort you put in, the stronger platform you will build.