If you’re an author who wants to sell books, you need readers. A good way to get readers is to reach out to those who would be interested in your book with something they want, such as information and techniques. I often recommend that authors of nonfiction books teach workshops on topics related to the theme of their book—dog grooming, making a living wreath, coping with loss, antique-collecting, staging a home for sale, animal photography, and so forth.
If you write novels, you can offer workshops or go out and speak on aspects of fiction-writing—how to format a short-story, self-editing, creating believable characters, how to come up with ideas for a series, and how to color inside the lines when identifying your genre, for example.
Maybe you’ve discovered a unique way to keep track of your story timeline and storyline as you’re writing it, you know some storytelling techniques you could share, or you have experience in cover-design. Why not set up classes in person or online? Go out and discuss your expertise at writers’ conferences or conferences related to the topic or theme of your book. This might be mysteries, travel, a craft, aviation, auto restoration, skin care…
If your book has readers, you could presumably attract students for your workshops or an audience for your presentations. You could charge for your lessons or not. Keep in mind that when you offer your skills to the public, not only will you become known to your students, but your promotion will reach dozens or thousands of others—depending on the scope of your marketing campaign. You can arrange for publicity during your workshops and after. Be sure to talk about the success of your speech or workshop after the fact in your blog, at your social media sites, to your list, and so forth.
You have choices. You can produce a book and wait for someone to notice it. Or you can go out in front of your book and start creating waves of promotion to attract attention. Teaching is just one way to do that.
I’d like to hear from those of you who are already successfully using this method to sell more copies of your book.
Thank you, Beverly. It’s gratifying to know that others are enjoying them, perhaps, almost as much as I am enjoying producing them. Good news. Book 7, The Corral Cat Caper, is coming soon!!! It’s completed, just waiting for the formatting gal to complete her magic. I’ll let you know when it’s published.
Patricia