Have you included multiple promotional hooks in your book? This is something I and other professionals suggest. “Build promotion into your book,” we say, “so you can market to a wider audience.” Did you do this and now are you confused about where to promote your book?
Maybe you’ve written a romance novel set in the Middle East and a key character owns a race horse. Is this a romance that should be promoted to the large number of voracious romance readers, an ethnic novel that would interest people from and interested in the Middle Eastern culture or those who love horses and/or are intrigued by horse racing? Actually, you would pursue all three audiences.
Maybe your book shows how a family can live more green on a budget and it includes tips for homeschooling, family activities that requires only people-energy, etc. This book could be “cross promoted” to people who are interested in adopting a more green lifestyle, parents who are homeschooling or who are considering it and families who seek fun and unique togetherness activities.
I know one author (a college professor) who is writing his childhood story of struggles and strife in hopes that it will inspire young people to make better decisions. So his book is a memoir and his audience might include young adults. It might be considered inspirational and there is a how-to element. So he could market it to educators who are interested in his story and young adult readers as well as those seeking help and direction. He may even convince family therapists and recommend it to their young clients.
Cross promotion is not uncommon and, in this time of extreme competition, should be pursued by authors and their publicists.
Promote to each of your potential audiences. If your local independent bookstores accept your historical novel set in your state, suggest that they stock it with other novels as well as in the regional publicaitons section.
For your book on green living on a budget for families, go out and speak to general audiences, ecology groups, parents, educators and so forth. Do you see how you could create a different presentation for each group?
Sell this book through local flea markets/book festivals, gift shops, museum gift shops, home building supply stores, clothing stores that feature earth-friendly fabrics, natural food stores and more.
Today, sit down and think about the many ways that you can cross promote your book. If you are still in the writing stages, even better. Start adding aspects that will compute into marketing opportunities. Build promotion into your book—add those marketing hooks.
For more on book promotion as well as writing, editing, publishing, distributing, etc. your book, read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
Don’t forget, my online Book Promotion Workshop began yesterday. It’s not too late to join in. Learn more at http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookpromotion.htm