Successfully marketing a self-published book takes dedication, planning, and strategic execution.
The decision to self-publish a book is both exciting and intimidating. While you have the freedom to create and distribute your work on your terms, you also face the challenge of marketing it to a wide audience.
Fortunately, with the right strategy and a commitment to putting the reader first, you can successfully promote your self-published book and start building a fan base.
In this article, we’ll give you the straight facts on how to market a self-published book.
Understand your goals
The goal when marketing a self-published book should not be to “make money” or to “make it a bestseller.” Using money as the sole criterion to judge your book’s success can lead to extreme stress and dissatisfaction, even when the book was well-written.
Many excellent books did not become known until centuries later.
The right goals for marketing a self-published book are usually things like:
- Build a fan base
- Become more widely known
- Get several good reviews
- Sell additional services through the book (this applies to non-fiction books)
Develop a marketing plan
One of the essential steps in marketing a self-published book is to create a detailed marketing plan.
Some things work in book marketing, and others don’t. Authors also don’t have an endless budget, so adapt the plan according to what matches your current circumstances.
By setting clear objectives and mapping out a timeline for achieving them, you can maintain focus and momentum throughout the marketing process.
Build a strong author platform
Your author platform is your online presence. A strong platform allows you to connect with your target audience.
Step One of creating this platform is to have a beautiful website. If you have no website design experience, use something like Squarespace to put something beautiful together. Otherwise, hire an expert to help you.
But keep your budget within your comfort range.
Make your social media presence consistent. Post genuinely and post personally. Readers will buy books from authors they identify with.
Create book trailers
Book trailers are an innovative and engaging way to capture your audience’s attention and generate interest in your self-published book.
Book trailers use visual storytelling, music, and compelling text to give potential readers a glimpse into what they’re in for if they buy your book.
You can create these trailers yourself or hire a team to get it done, depending on your budget.
Utilize promotional tools and strategies
Many tools exist to help you market your self-published book. Some popular options include:
- Blog tours: Partner with book bloggers to feature your book on their sites through reviews, interviews, and guest posts. This can increase your book’s visibility and generate buzz.
- Book giveaways: Offer free copies of your book through platforms like Goodreads or Amazon to generate interest and encourage reviews.
- Book discount promotions: Temporarily lower the price of your book to attract new readers and boost sales.
- Advertising: Use paid advertising on platforms like Amazon, Facebook, or BookBub to reach a wider audience and drive sales.
Seek book reviews
Book reviews tend to be overrated, and the best way to get them is to write a great book.
But they can indeed help get the motor turning during launch-week.
Reach out to book bloggers, influencers, and readers in your target audience to request honest reviews.
Monitor your progress
Regularly tracking your marketing efforts’ success is crucial to understanding what strategies work and where improvements are needed. Keep an eye on your book’s sales, rankings, reviews, and social media engagement to gauge the effectiveness of your promotional campaigns. Fine-tune your approach based on this data, and make informed decisions about future marketing endeavors.
Experiment with different marketing channels
Every self-published author’s marketing journey is unique, so it’s crucial to experiment with different strategies and platforms. Test various marketing channels and tactics, such as video content, podcasts, guest blogging, or influencer collaborations.
Be persistent and adaptable
Marketing a self-published book requires persistence, dedication, and the willingness to adapt.
What worked before might not work today. Marketing is an entire subject on its own. It takes up a lot of time. That’s why many authors outsource the marketing of their self-published books.
But that isn’t always an option for new authors, so be persistent and adaptable while you learn more about marketing your book.
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