Hey Bibliophiles!
So, you’ve finally written that book, we presume. Or are you still making up your mind? Well, whatever the case might be, you will have to be ready with a plan of action to market your book when it finally hits the stands.
Why bother marketing the book? Isn’t my publishing house supposed to do so? There is a good chance, these questions have already occupied your headspace. News flash! There is only so much a publisher can do to market your book. There are a couple of things we’ve got to understand…
- Yours is not the only book the publisher is printing, and…
- Even if it were, the book is your baby, not the publisher’s
Right of the bat, we can name for you some very good books that despite their underlying qualities, failed to sell many copies. The reason, lack of proper marketing.
So let’s dive in and discover ways to market your masterpiece appropriately, pronto!
Start a Blog
Blogging regularly is an exercise that benefits authors in more ways than one. For starters, it helps them write more often than they otherwise would. After all, the pen is an author’s weapon of choice and cannot be wielded with a dull edge. Blogging also helps authors compile an email list of individuals who like reading their work. This is achieved by asking blog visitors to subscribe to a newsletter from you by entering their email ids. Regular blogging also helps authors build a social media presence, which brings us to our next point.
Build a Social Media Presence
If done properly, your social media account can double up as a showcase for your work.A good social media presence can help you connect with readers, and in turn, cultivate a community that responds to you. Also, it serves as a vehicle for getting noticed by journalists, bloggers, and content producers, who are always on the lookout for interviewing interesting individuals. Long story short, creating social media presence can help get your book noticed and, eventually, breakthrough.
Share Excerpts from Your Book
Authors can share aspects and portions of their upcoming book in forums, their blog, and on social media platforms to generate anticipation among readers. This could be the image of an interesting quote from the book, or an excerpt. This, however, needs to be done in a refrained capacity and with great care. The aspect shared should conceal more about the book than it reveals, and in turn, fuel reader curiosity.
Organize Giveaways
Organizing a book giveaway is probably one of the most efficient ways to market a book. Authors can announce contests through the various social media platforms they are active on to create a buzz around their upcoming release, be it on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Such promotions can accomplish many objectives. Besides creating a buzz around the book, these giveaways can also create awareness about them and their previous works.
Get Your Book Reviewed
Remember that old proverb, “you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover?” People still do that. Like it or not, there is a majority that flips through a book only if attracted by the cover. What may be a good book cover in your eyes, maybe despicable to the next man? There is no accounting for someone’s taste, to be honest. This is why reviews are important for selling books.
Reach out to bloggers and influencers who read and review books. Ask them to review your book, in exchange for payment, if necessary. This will help create a positive buzz about your book through word of mouth, which can eventually translate into decent sales figures.
So there you have it guys, “Marketing Strategies for Selling Self-published Books’. Do let us know your thoughts about this post by leaving a comment below. You can also reach out to us by visiting the Contact Us section of our website –
Name: Vineet
says:Marketing is an important part after the publishing of the book.