If you're a first-time author wondering how to market your book , you likely have many more questions than answers. But don't worry because it's a natural part of the process; once you learn more, you'll understand how to go about it. For at least the past 20 years, the internet has been upending and revolutionizing the media and PR landscape. It affects book promotion just as it has other industries. There are fewer "rules" today than in the past and the opportunities. But many of the best ones aren't free or easy, and you'll need to be organized in your approach to be the winner.
Book sales are up, but more titles are being published in every genre than ever. So you have good prospects when yours is the book people want to buy and read. Creating a buzz around yourself and your book(s) is essential. Some authors do it naturally, while others need to engineer their success a bit more strategically. As you write your book, keep these things in mind, along with the imperative to appeal to your target audience – and be clear about who they are from the start. Many successful books today have multiple target audiences, each coming to the topic or story for different reasons.
Deciding where and how to sell your book also matters. If you're in a consumer-oriented genre that will appeal to all booksellers, you can think and plan broadly. But if you inhabit a more niche genre (which can be a good thing for sales), you may need to think more specifically. For example, if you're a non-fiction writer and a trade group exists about your topic, its members are potentially in your target audience. Niche marketing is highly effective and more efficient than casting a wider net. Finding creative ways to reach the people you need will ensure success and power your future book sales.
Professional marketing support, most often with a paid publicist, gives any book an advantage. If you research the most highly successful titles, they have marketers working on their behalf. Doing things DIY is possible, but it's slower and less efficient. When a publicist with an established contact list comes on board, they can hit the ground running. Someone who has pitched media before understands where their interests lie and can strike a chord more effectively. You can try working on your own and promoting through social media, but you'll seldom out-perform a publicist.
If you're an author about to publish your work for the first time, you've likely been researching how to promote my book . Launching a website is one of the most essential of all the steps you can take to bring your book to the attention of target readers. Upon hearing about you, nearly everyone will check for more information online, and when they search, they're looking for a site. There's no reason to feel intimidated about launching a site because it can be straightforward. In fact, some of the most successful authors' websites are noticeably simple, but they look good and have the right content.
By now, most people are familiar with "user experience" (UX), and your website must provide it. The site must be easy to navigate, read, and contain the needed information. It includes a web page about your book and one with your biographical information. It is an excellent idea to include a page with links to coverage about you and your book, both written and on video. You can compare against competing author's sites for inspiration about other content to include; it varies by genre. If you're an established author with multiple books, you'll have a more extensive than a writer publishing their first one.
Give strong consideration to launching a blog to accompany your website. The site content is more fixed, while the blog carries more frequent posts. Well-written blog articles have an excellent chance of coming up in online search results and bringing people to your site. You can keep posts tightly on your book's topic or add things connected to current events, seasons, etc. There's no right or wrong, and once you see what people respond to well, you can take your posts in that direction. Podcasting also provides a way to connect with your audience. It has become increasingly popular with authors.
You may choose to produce extras for your website, such as videos. If you do, Ensure you work with professionals who can help you post it without affecting your site's loading speed – people are impatient and won't wait while a video loads. The trick is to offer information and imagery that heightens people's interest in reading your book. There's a fine line between providing insufficient information or too much (that gives away the book's point). Your site can also be linked to other places where people may read about you, and you must link to places where your books or eBooks are being sold.
