Well, you've come to the right blog then.
1. Authors should get as much knowledge about book marketing/promotions as they possibly can.
Recently, I watched over twenty videos, listened to over thirty podcasts, and am reading one of many many good books on this subject. I am not trying to toot my own horn here, just letting you know that I have done my homework, and encourage you to do likewise. There are more than enough resources out there.
2. Book marketing takes a lot of time, so if you have prepared a plan and know when and how to execute, you will find it a lot less burdensome.
A book marketing plan is the outline of how you are going to sell your book. Make it detailed, include what you want to achieve out of this plan, how you intend to get there, including book packaging (cover, edits, etc.), distribution (where will it be available for sale) and price (how much will you charge for it). Don't forget to include who will be your target market. Who is going to buy and read your book?
3. Understand the difference between marketing and promoting.
There is a gulf here that a lot of authors don't understand. Promoting your work is a piece of the marketing plan. They are a collective. Marketing can be about pricing structures, but promotions is about how to get that buyer to like that structure enough to hit BUY.
To promote a book, you should know what you are selling and who you are selling to. You can go out and talk about your book until the cows come home but until you understand that you are in the midst of bulls and not cows, you will never make a sale.
4.Get started early. Before that book is on the virtual shelf, you should already have plans in place and already actively be using them to sell that book.
It is important to get started with your book marketing plans before you self-publish.
While writing the book, ask yourself who am I writing this for? What do I want them to take away from the reading of my book? These sorts of questions will help you get that book marketing plan rolling.
5. Use promotions wisely. This facet of book marketing takes a lot of savvy and time.
If you are going to promote from your blog, be focused with your posts. You do not have to post all the time about writing the book, and so on - readers love to know the WRITER behind the book too.
A word to the wise: if you are interested in gaining readers for the book pre-publish, don't make everything about you. Readers are readers after all. Give them some excerpts, details about the cover art, like a cover reveal. Keep them interested.
I am happy to answer your questions, and love comments!
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