Awful book marketing: My book will be published on December 1st, 2015!
Why? Because nobody cares. (Well, okay, a few of you might, but that’s just because you are awesome!) For most people the first instinct is just to look away thinking, “Oh, just another ad.”
So, how do you market your book?
1-Branding. You have to brand yourself. What does that mean? It means you have to let people know who you are and why you’re awesome. For most bibliophiles this is really hard (we’re often shy, overly sensitive creatures). Talking from experience I can tell you it becomes much easier once you realize you are talking to other bibliophiles :)
So, how do you market your book?
1-Branding. You have to brand yourself. What does that mean? It means you have to let people know who you are and why you’re awesome. For most bibliophiles this is really hard (we’re often shy, overly sensitive creatures). Talking from experience I can tell you it becomes much easier once you realize you are talking to other bibliophiles :)
Bad branding: I am an awesome writer. Please, buy my book.
Why is this bad? Like in your books, show, don’t tell. Never beg. If your book is really awesome people will want to read it. Never ask anyone to buy your book. You buy something because you want it, you’re curious, intrigued, not because someone begs you to.
Good branding: someone else says, “Wow, this person is such an awesome writer! Buy their book!”
How do you get there? Be yourself, believe, repeat. Find a way to show you’re capable and interesting. Rob Brezsny started a hilarious horoscope column and ended up becoming a bestselling author. The oatmeal guy, Matt Inman, started a great comic blog, I try to help writers become awesome by sharing my experience with them and in a month I got over three-thousand followers. You? Blow my mind!
2-Build an online network of followers and like-minded people. Do social media. I launched my social media endeavor 6 weeks ago. I already had instagram (I love taking pictures) but I started this blog, twitter, goodreads, linkedin and tumblr. Personally I love tumblr , but I’m still doing all of the others too, even if I don’t love them as much. It’s a learning curve, it takes time, go at it!
Why is this bad? Like in your books, show, don’t tell. Never beg. If your book is really awesome people will want to read it. Never ask anyone to buy your book. You buy something because you want it, you’re curious, intrigued, not because someone begs you to.
Good branding: someone else says, “Wow, this person is such an awesome writer! Buy their book!”
How do you get there? Be yourself, believe, repeat. Find a way to show you’re capable and interesting. Rob Brezsny started a hilarious horoscope column and ended up becoming a bestselling author. The oatmeal guy, Matt Inman, started a great comic blog, I try to help writers become awesome by sharing my experience with them and in a month I got over three-thousand followers. You? Blow my mind!
2-Build an online network of followers and like-minded people. Do social media. I launched my social media endeavor 6 weeks ago. I already had instagram (I love taking pictures) but I started this blog, twitter, goodreads, linkedin and tumblr. Personally I love tumblr , but I’m still doing all of the others too, even if I don’t love them as much. It’s a learning curve, it takes time, go at it!
3-I started a newsletter. I hate bugging people, so I only send them once a month with major updates: release dates, new art for the cover, blog articles etc. I personally use madmimi because it’s awesome, but there are plenty out there. (Sign up on the right to receive an example.)
4-Make your website/blog awesome. Create an author page. You can make it better with addthis, which allows you to add social icons and other fancy features for free.
5-Start tracking your improvement. Start a google analytics account (for free).
6-Google anything you don’t know how to do and learn. YES YOU CAN!
7-Make a promo video! I made the one below in twenty minutes (for free, you guessed) with PowToon and I am also working on one or two book trailers :)
4-Make your website/blog awesome. Create an author page. You can make it better with addthis, which allows you to add social icons and other fancy features for free.
5-Start tracking your improvement. Start a google analytics account (for free).
6-Google anything you don’t know how to do and learn. YES YOU CAN!
7-Make a promo video! I made the one below in twenty minutes (for free, you guessed) with PowToon and I am also working on one or two book trailers :)
8-Prepare a press release. This is a short announcement that your book is published for the press to pick up. They won’t unless it’s sensational and different. Check this link for good advice
9-Find your niche. What’s your genre? What makes you different? My books take place in Italy so when the time comes I’ll start browsing blogs of Italy lovers just to say hey :)
10-Get out there! Ask people to interview you, host you and your book. Most things can be done from your couch in the age of the internet!
11-Get local! Start writing down local events, fairs, shows where you could sell your books. Talk to your local bookstores, libraries, and schools, organize book signing events
12-Get your novel into bookstores by following these instructions. I’m not quite there yet, I’ll tell you more when I gather the experience!
Thank you so much for reading, I can’t wait to read your books! ^_^
9-Find your niche. What’s your genre? What makes you different? My books take place in Italy so when the time comes I’ll start browsing blogs of Italy lovers just to say hey :)
10-Get out there! Ask people to interview you, host you and your book. Most things can be done from your couch in the age of the internet!
11-Get local! Start writing down local events, fairs, shows where you could sell your books. Talk to your local bookstores, libraries, and schools, organize book signing events
12-Get your novel into bookstores by following these instructions. I’m not quite there yet, I’ll tell you more when I gather the experience!
Thank you so much for reading, I can’t wait to read your books! ^_^
