Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by L. Drew Gerber. Please read bio below for more information on L. Drew.
So you’ve written a book, had it published and now you want to sell it… but there’s just one problem: You’re a writer, not a salesperson! Just like the writing process, marketing your book should be a fun endeavor. But it’s important not to let it break your bank, nor drain your time and resources.
Using the Internet as a platform for book promotion offers endless economical and time saving possibilities.
Online Marketing Resources
Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn allow you to deliver your message and connect with thousands of potential readers with the ease of a few mouse clicks. Video portal sites like YouTube and Vimeo make it easy to publish promotional videos or trailers for your book so readers can get a taste of the person behind the words.
Online press kits make it easy for the media to find you and at the same time increase your online presence. And then you have bloggers to connect with who may want to review your book or give you a guest blog spot, giving you an opportunity to reach an even wider audience.
The time will come when you can have a bestseller without ever having to go down the traditional PR route of television, print and radio — you’ll be able to do it all online!
Research your Target Market
Increasing your readership and boosting book sales is all about getting the word out. Creating awareness is crucial and can’t be done unless you give your audience what they want, so it’s safe to say promoting a book online can’t be done without a little prep work — you have to know their needs. Before you begin, you’ll have to research. Start in the social networking communities and find out what your target market is already reading, watching and listening to.
Everyone is sharing what he or she is interested in these days. Get on Twitter and you’ll see “so and so is currently reading this.” Visit social bookmarking sites like Digg! or Delicious, type in the keyword related to your book and see what comes up. You’ll easily find out who your competition is, but most importantly you’ll be able to figure out what you can offer readers that others aren’t. Do your research, then have at it!
Build your Credibility
If you can successfully promote your book online, then you shouldn’t have any problem landing media coverage. The best and most cost-effective way to increase your book’s sales, what media coverage does, that no ad can do, is build your credibility among your target audience.
When they hear an interview with you on a local radio program, read a newspaper article where you’ve been used as an expert source or watch a television segment featuring you, your book and your expertise, the audience is engaged. Most people skim right over ads in magazines or newspapers, not paying any attention to them.
But interviews and stories — people read them because they want to; because they trust the source; and because they want to broaden their horizons. These are the people you want to read your words; these are the people who will buy your book.
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