Marketing Tips for Authors
This worked for me!
My novel sold out of a bookstore in
40 minutes the day it was released.
1
First off, build up your social media presence on FB, Twitter and Instagram.
There may be special FB groups of writers you can join. For example, I’ve made lots of good connections around the world from a group called Fiction Writing. Aim to get as many likes and followers as you can over the course of 6 to12 months. Do this by liking and commenting on as many posts/tweets as you can. This will take time! You want to build friendships with people, so make interesting, funny or philosophical comments whenever possible. Find things you have in common and comment on them.
2
Writer’s groups are a great way to find beta readers who may be willing to read drafts of your novel, usually in return for you reading their work in progress. Post a request for beta readers in your specific genre.
3
Be thoughtful and constructive in your comments on works you may read by other writers. They are just rough drafts. At the same time, be helpful by pointing out areas that need work. Frame your suggestions constructively. It won’t help to make comments like “the novel falls apart after chapter 6.” Instead, say “I found the first 6 chapters compelling and well-detailed; perhaps you can flesh out the following chapters the same way.”
4
When you get feedback, try not to be defensive. Consider all ideas and see how they resonate with you. Not everyone will be helpful with their thoughts and opinions, but some may be. Work to make your novel or non-fiction piece reach its full potential.
5
Follow bloggers and book reviewers on social media. Do not start by asking them to read your book! Spend a good amount of time giving genuine, thoughtful comments on their posts.
6
Start compiling a list of people on Twitter and Instagram who are interested in your genre. These are people you will eventually approach to review your book.
7
Have a professional edit your work and design a sleek, minimalistic cover. Keep it simple and it will stand out. A professional editor won’t be inexpensive, but is always worth the money.
8
Look for an agent. There are plenty of resources out there on how to write a good query letter that will stand out from the rest. Be prepared that most agents will say “no.” Or just ignore your query completely.
9
If you can’t find an agent, look for smaller presses – they are out there! Start with a Google search, then research, research, research. Again, write an excellent query letter and follow their submission rules precisely.
10
When your book is ready, send out a press release to all local newspapers that it has been published. Find a “hook.” Say you are a local writer and why your book is worth a mention. Maybe it’s romance and the genre is hitting an all-time high. Maybe you’ve written a non-fiction account of a local historical site or person. Maybe it’s about gardening, and it’s the right season to start a garden. If you just write a generic press release that you are releasing a book, it will most likely not make it into press. When you send a press release, make sure you send it to the editor of the pages you’re trying to get into. The city news editor won’t be interested in a story that belongs in Arts and Entertainment.
11
Never Give Up! Keep working on marketing efforts, but realize it takes time. Keep up with social media and post plenty of photos of your book with interesting dates. Please resist the urge to post chapters of your work. They won’t be read and could quickly become annoying. Only show chapters to people who have agreed to be readers.
12
At the same time, post about other subjects besides your book. Find things that are funny, touching and true to life. You want to let your contacts see you have a full life besides being a writer. Pet photos are particularly popular.
13
Believe it will happen! The Law of Attraction is a very strong force. To understand it better, I recommend the book “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne. Or just Google articles about the Law of Attraction. I use a guided meditation on YouTube to reinforce these principles.