With so many book marketing strategies available that can be used to promote your book, it is not an easy task. You might be overwhelmed and face difficulty in deciding what to do and when to do it. What is the best way to give your book the best chance?
Marketing a book is a complex part of the overall publishing process and requires proper planning. This blog is designed to provide various marketing ideas that can help you find the best match.
Book marketing ideas for authors that can help promote the book
Online image
Visually appearing authors are essential in the digital age. Writers need to work on all these areas:
Create their websites
One strategy for online presence is a professionally and visually appealing website. It should include an ‘about the author’ section with information about your books, contact details, and a link to your social pages. This will make it easy for readers to find more information.
Upload blog
Another way to stay connected to your audience is to update them regularly. Add content related to the behind-the-scene process, an overlook of the book’s theme, and all that readers need to know.
Set up social handles
Create an online image by launching pages on social media platforms. Try to add details about the book and your professional presence. Keep all your personal information far from the readers. Moreover, you can use these platforms to share updates, interact with the fans, and run promotions.
Start vlogging
You can talk to the audience visually by uploading vlogs on your channel. Share all the videos about your books, the writing process, and other relevant topics. This will help you stay connected to avid readers on a deeper level. You can provide content that can be shared widely.
Market content
Authors need to provide valuable and relevant content related to their book to attract and retain readers. This can be achieved through either hiring affordable book marketing services or doing it on your own by:
Generating guest post
Visibility can be improved by writing guest posts on popular blogs related to their genre. Share valuable insights and connect them to your website or the book to attract new readers from established platforms.
Taking part in a podcast
Move with the flow of the latest technology. Become part of podcasts that are linked with the themes of your book. Share your experiences. This is the best chance to promote your book.
Designing book trailer videos
Create creative videos discussing the insides of the book to create traffic. Upload these videos on different social platforms and capture the interest of potential readers.
Hosting webinars and live streams
Make use of online platforms and arrange webinars or live streams. Interact with the audience, discuss about book, answer their questions, and share your writing experience with some tips. This way, you will be successful in building healthy relationships.
Use various social media strategies
Social media is the direct one-on-one connection with your audience. Look into some of these social media strategies like:
Share videos and photos
Your content will be viewed by different types of audiences. Therefore, don’t just stick to the written part. Make it different from others by sharing photos, graphics, and videos. There might be some audiences who would engage better with the visual content than other categories. This will increase traffic on your sites and let more audiences know about your book.
Make use of posting calendar
Design and plan the social media. Set a calendar to post that content at intervals. One of the successful ways to connect to your audience. These calendars will make you feel organized and update your customers with regular updates.
Announce contests and giveaways
Audiences are more attracted when they receive a reward for investing their time. Host contests and giveaways to create excitement and increase the number of followers on your material. For gifts, you can offer signed copies, an exclusive pass to meet you, or something that is related to the book.
Join hands with the influencers
One of the book marketing ideas for authors is Collaborating with social media influencers who have a large fan following. With their help, you can introduce your book to a wider audience who might be interested in your genre but didn’t know about it.
Traditional media still exists!
There are still people, who promote traditional media. You should know the technique to connect to them. Some of the possible ways are:
Distribute press release
Write an engaging press release distribute them locally and run ads about your book’s release, events, or other updates on media. A way to generate interest in the public and media coverage.
Write about the book in newspaper articles
Craft content for the local and national newspapers highlighting the themes from your book. This will set your position as an expert and promote your book to a larger audience.
Book a slot for a radio interview
Go to a radio station and take advantage of the interview opportunity. Talk about your book and share your story with the listeners. This will expand your credibility as an author and let others know about your book.
Accept invitations of the TV show
Don’t miss the opportunity to appear on local and national TV where you can discuss your book. The people will remember your face and listen eagerly to your book discussion.
Engage the community
Get in connection with the local community and build relations with a loyal reader base. You can achieve this by:
Organizing the library events
Book an event at the local library. Arrange a reading corner, a book signing event, and a discussion session. These events will bring you closer to the readers in person and build a local fan base.
Stay in connection with the book clubs
Become part of the book clubs. Ask them to feature your book in their discussions. Attend meetings and seminars (in-person and visually) talk about books and answer questions.
Visit schools and colleges
Pay a visit to the schools, colleges, and universities. Let the students know about your book, share your writing experience with them, and inspire them to become future writers. These visits will become fruitful for younger generations, creating a lasting impression.
Work with local bookstores
Apart from all these book marketing ideas for authors, one of the easiest and pocket-friendly is arranging a session with the local bookstore. Here, you can host readings, signings, and other events. These partnerships will promote your book within the community.
Become part of the community festivals
Take part in the local events near you, such as book expos or any festivals. Here you can set up a stall showcasing your book and meeting readers. An excellent way of networking and increasing visibility.
Choose an online book promotion campaign
With the new trends on an everyday basis, look for a book marketing consultancy to guide you with the latest ongoing trends. Check for some of the ways how the book can be promoted online to increase sales and visibility.
Reach out to book bloggers
Ask different book bloggers to review your book. Their words can help you spread the knowledge of the material and attract new readers.
Offer free e-book download for a limited time
Avid readers are always in search of books and the digital era has given a spark to e-books. If you allow those readers to download the electronic book version for free (a limited-time offer). This will help you reach a larger audience and invite new readers.
Run paid advertisements
Initially, to achieve something, you need to invest some of the money. The ideas are:
Run ads on different social handles
You can reach potential readers by running paid advertisements. These advertisements will be broadcast on different social channels, and people will click on them for more details. This way you can increase traffic on your main website and social channels.
Increase networking
When you connect with other authors and industry professionals, you open doors to new connections. Learn how this can be achieved:
Build a friendship with other authors
You can partner with your fellow authors and ask them for cross-promotions like joint giveaways, or hosting events. This will help you reach potential readers.
Participate in writing conferences
Take part in writing conferences. This is a healthy option to build networking with industry professionals, learn new marketing strategies, and promote your book.
Build a connection with literary agents
Look for a literary agent that can help you to promote your book and explore new opportunities.
Organize events and appearances
Have you ever thought that when your readers know you by face, this can leave a lasting impression? Readers can judge your personality by talking to you and figuring out your writing style. Therefore, you can:
Host a book launching ceremony
Plan a day when you can invite your readers to come and attend the memorable day of your life. Also sent an invitation to the friends and family members to celebrate the achievement. Media coverage will add more life to the event.
Become part of literary panels
Take part in the panel discussion at different literary events organized at local and international levels. Over there, share your expert advice and promote your book.
Arrange writing workshops
Conduct workshops for the interested ones where you can share your knowledge about the writing and publishing process. You can also invite other authors to talk there. You will also learn through them.
Plan an idea for a mobile library
Rent a camper van and fill it with copies of your books. Take this van on a tour to different cities and promote your book. You can park your van at a public spot of each city and distribute signed books, or arrange a short event. This will help you to reach a new audience through media appearances.
Promote yourself as a brand
Building yourself as a strong brand is important for long-term success. If you want yourself to be viewed and read by an audience for a long time, then follow some of these suggestions:
Share your personal story
Tell your readers about you as an author. Share your journey to connect to them. A compelling story will make you more relatable to your writing and remembered by the people.
Launch a professional media kit
Create a professional kit for the media outlets including your biography, book summaries, press release, an HD photo, and contact details. This will make it easy for the media houses to cover your story.
Click a professional photo and generate a tagline
Invest your amount to click a professional picture. This photo can be used in promotional materials, on the author’s website, in media, and in all the places where you need to be known as an author. Moreover, show your creativity in creating a tagline that aligns with your personality. A memorable tagline will make your audience remember you.
FAQs
What is the advantage of marketing a book?
While marketing your book, your goal should be to generate awareness of the book to attract the attention of the booksellers and readers. This can be achieved by running advertisements, creating an author website, managing social media pages, and engaging more readers.
How can authors market their books?
The option to market books is by building connections. This can lead to various opportunities apart from spreading the details of the book. Authors can arrange book-launching events and become part of conferences that promote their books. Moreover, a meeting with the locals can help the audience know about the book’s themes.
How can authors promote a self-published book?
Some of the powerful ways to promote a self-published book are by creating a website, increasing the online presence by visually interacting with readers, and using different social platforms. Ask the readers to review the book and promote it to others.
What strategies can be used to increase the sales of the book?
If you are looking for ways to increase the sales of the book. Some of the techniques you can use are:
- Search for your target audience.
- Build your image.
- Design a creative book cover.
- Run a proper book marketing campaign.
- Ask your loyal customers to get book reviews.
The bottom line
Marketing a book is a difficult task, especially if the author chooses to self-publish. With all these book marketing ideas for authors, you can achieve your goals by targeting an audience.
No matter if you choose to enhance your online presence or tell the audience about the book through creative content using social platforms or traditional marketing. The key is to choose an idea that you believe will match with your readers. Don’t hesitate to take risks and create traffic around your book.