Some of you are familiar with my book, “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.” Throughout this book, I stress that it is for all authors of any type of book. I even provide examples for promoting many different genres. But more importantly, I clearly outline the principles of book promotion.
Yet, I still hear from my readers who ask, “Does your book apply to fiction?” “What about a book of poetry?” And so forth.
So let me lay it out for you again. Here are the principles of book promotion:
1: Before writing the book, identify your potential audience and write the book for that audience, whether it is students wanting to learn how to live on a budget, people who adore reading good poetry, folks who devour true crime stories, or children who enjoy adventure stories, for example. Again, identify your audience and write for that audience. Those thousands of authors who fail every year don’t have a clue as to who their audience is or how to reach them. They’re either not promoting their books or they’re using a scattershot method of trying to make book sales.
2: Hire a good book editor to help you tie up any loose ends. We all need an editor. Authors are too close to their own words. I also recommend, in some cases, to have others read your book. Astute readers will let you know if you’ve lost your reader, if the book drags in places, where you might offer more suspense, and so forth.
3: Outline your marketing plan even before your book is finished. Where are your readers? Where do they buy books? What entices them to buy books in this genre/topic? What’s the best way to approach them? There are several things you can do before your book is a book. For example, start a blog, establish a facebook page, build a website and start promoting these to your audience. Also create a massive email list of potential readers.
4: Once the book is a book, implement your plan. Announce your book at your social media accounts, your website, etc. Start contacting appropriate book reviewers. Visit websites and blogsites related to the theme or genre of your book and suggest a cooperative activity. You might be guest blogger, do a blog tour, ask to have your book featured at the site, etc. Locate groups relevant to your book’s theme/genre and arrange to speak to them, provide articles for their newsletter and so forth.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds of ways you can promote your book to your particular audience. All it takes is an understanding of the marketing culture when it comes to selling books and the willingness to step up on behalf of your book.
Read my book, “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.” (Most of the entries are actually NO-cost.) You’ll find this 200-page book at Amazon.com in print, audio, and on Kindle. It is also sold in bookstores everywhere. Or purchase your copy from the author here: http://www.matilijapress.com/PromoteYourBook.html