Blogger: Rachel Zurakowski
Location: Books & Such main office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Today we’re going to explore the tools a writer needs to master for marketing a book. Marketing has become a huge part of the author’s job both before and after a book is published. A writer is responsible for building a platform before the book is even contracted with a publishing house, and after the book is published, the author must be the key force in the marketing of the project. Even New York Times bestselling authors market their books.
Here are some marketing tools that you need to master:
1) The Internet— Keep up on the latest buzz and try new things online. The internet is a worldwide marketing tool that’s practically free, and it’s getting easier to use and access! (*Wave iPhone or Kindle in the air*)
2) Social Networking— Facebook, Myspace, blogging, Twitter and more! Find out what works best for you and your audience and keep it up. Fans and friends enjoy receiving frequent, informative updates. They don’t want to know what you’re eating as an afternoon snack unless it relates to your next project.
3) Address Books— Remember to use your address book! Stay organized so that your communications and promotions can reach the largest number of people. Make sure you follow the rules with how you get your contacts. You don’t want to be a spammer.
4) E-newsletters– Learn how to put together an e-newsletter and send them out frequently. Many online programs make it easy. Do any of you have recommendations of online newsletter sites for those who are new to marketing?
5) Interviews– Volunteer to be on radio programs or to be interviewed for a blog. Each time you are interviewed, your name gets out to a new group of people. Lots of radio hosts and bloggers are open to author interviews.
6) Your Imagination & Creativity– This is the MOST IMPORTANT marketing tool. The key to good marketing is creativity. If you can come up with something unique, your audience will enjoy it, and your efforts will result in a bigger return.
Do you have any idea to share? What other marketing tools are out there?
Great post. These are fantastic ideas. Boy the one that scares me the most is the newsletter . . . Need to delve into that realm very soon. 🙂
Have a great day.
I’m definitely slanted to the non-fiction side in my writing, but I think one of the main things that can benefit any writer is for your platform or networking to have a direct or indirect benefit to others.
Regardless of your book, if everything you do listed above is about “buy my book” (however slant that is taken) it will quickly be ignored or hidden.
If you do an e-newsletter, what can you include (whether directly related to the book or not) that the reader can gain from.
Few things are more annoying than the author whose every post and note is all about buy the book, share the book, and latest sales numbers about the book. What is exciting for the author is not necessarily what will make the next potential reader want to bump the book to the top of the reading stack.
Rather than purely social networking, take what you are passionate about and network based on that. As people get to know YOU, and feel your passion in something they share, then that connection will drive interest in your book.
In the past couple years I’ve had people express interest in my book before even hearing the specific details. The personal connection is the best marketing because they’ve bought into YOU, and not just words on a page (or screen nowadays!)
Just my opinions, take them at your own risk, published in magazines but not yet a book deal! 🙂