How are you marketing your books? What are you doing to grow your audience? Here’s a few tips that might get you thinking in a new direction! Good luck!
1) Networking Your Sales Team: Every writer has a sales team. Figuring out who your best sales people are is the trick. Here’s some examples of where you might find them.
- Social Media friends and acquaintances
- Personal Family, Friends, & Co-workers
- Writers Organizations and Critique Groups
2) Posting on Social Media Sites: What are you posting on Social Media sites? Buy my book? Or, this is who I am and these are my books? These examples help to market you and your books.
- New releases coming soon
- Summary of individual books
- Talk about links on your website
- Share an author bio
- Pictures of what you find interesting
- Book Covers
- Info on Appearances/Conferences.
- Character interview
- Tips on writing
- Guest writers or other professionals on your blog
- Links to where your books can be purchased
3) Promoting Yourself at Community Events: Meet new people and talk about what it’s like to be a writer. Pair up with other local authors to cross-promote one another.
- Talk with independent book store owners & librarians (ask them to add you to their event newsletter, if they have one and willing to)
- Readings/book signings
- Presentation for the local writer’s group or book club
- Donate books to the book store/library
- Presentations/Readings at University & High School libraries or in the classroom
- Presentations/Readings at Senior Citizen Centers/Wellness Centers/Community Events/Church Events
4) Use Promotional Materials that have your book title, book series, or your author name on them: Why? Because people will remember you if they’re holding something with your book title or name on it. It’s also a great way to get new readers unintentionally. Think–useful items.
- Book marks
- Bumper stickers
- Magnets
- Tote bags
- T-shirts
- Pens
- Coffee Mugs
5) Mailings: Again, be creative in how you contact your fan base. If you’re sending out an e-newsletter, have tips other people would like to learn or fun facts about your books or characters.
- Newsletters and E-Newsletters
- Postcards
- Fan letters
- Mass E-mails
6) Traditional Media Marketing: Use an old idea and make it new–by promoting who you are and your book(s) locally and nationally.
- Interviews on: radio, television, newspaper and blogs
- Commercials/Ads on radio, television, newspaper, streaming radio, and billboards
- Live Broadcasts at an event
Of course this isn’t a complete list, but it’s a good start. Don’t be afraid to step out of the box when thinking of how to market your books. There are readers just waiting to discover your stories!
