The #AtoZChallenge 2017 Theme at Operation Awesome is the Publishing Journey.
Authors spend most of their free time in their characters’
point of view. In order to think like a book marketer, consider a book marketer’s
point of view. A book marketer’s job is to reach the people who are most
interested in your book, and persuade them to buy it. As I’ve said many times
before, writing is art but publishing is business and marketing is part of that
business.
The problem for many authors is that they view their book as
they view one of their children—beautiful and wonderful and loved by all. Of
course, authors feel this way. They’ve labored for years and invested their
heart and soul into their book.
The truth is, not everyone is going to like your book.
Marketers seek to find a niche market and go after it. They
aim to reach the book’s target audience and so should you. That means admitting
that your chick lit romance will not be everyone’s cup of tea. You must refine
who your audience is. What gender and how old are they? What media and social
media outlets do they use and how do they get their information? What do they
do in their spare time? Where are they spending their money? How do they
usually buy their books? As anti-intuitive as it sounds, you need to narrow
your audience to reach your audience. Less is more.
By honing in on your target audience, you spend your time
and resources on endeavours that actually reach the specific audience who is interested in your type of book. So, take off your author hat and put on your
business hat. While your passion for your book can surely be a great tool in
your marketing toolbox, it can also get in the way. Your book is a product with
a specific audience. Put together social media posts that appeal to them. Go to
events and conferences they attend. Find bloggers and podcasters who your
audience follows.
Now, go find your readers!
* * *
Melinda Marshall Friesen writes sci-fi books for teens and
adults. Daily, she removes her author hat, and dons her business hat as the
marketing director at Rebelight Publishing Inc..
Marketing is something I struggle with. I've found a small box of techniques that seem to improve book sales, but they're not always something I can do every day. Those things I can do every day don't seem to do much in the way of lifting brand awareness.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wish a simple email blast to my mailing list, "I've got a new book out" and the occasional BookBub advert could be enough.
Her Grace, HeidiRomance Spinners
I really dislike marketing at the best of times. I find if I devote time to it, the word gets out, but my other writing grinds to a halt. How do you get round that? We need way longer days! T is for Tempting Titles as you Build a Better Blog. #AtoZchallenge.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice. Marketing is so intimidating. It seems impossible. But there are smart ways to tackling it and narrowing down your audience certainly applies.
ReplyDeleteT is for the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis
Marketing is the hell of all writers... and still we need to master the skill.
ReplyDeleteI'm very far from it... :-(
@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter - 1940s Film Noir
This is timely advice for me. My novel was just accepted by a publisher during the a-z, due out in July. As exciting as that makes me feel I find the whole marketing process daunting. I'll be looking to other bloggers for sage advice!
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