4 Ways to Find Your Book's Audience

Today, our sponsors at Smith Publicity share how to build a great marketing platform for your novel—when it’s ready, of course.  (And if your novel is ready to find an audience, Smith Publicity is offering a chance for one Wrimo to win a free hour with one of their marketing gurus. Find more details here.)

Veteran authors often say writing the book is the easy part. Creating an effective marketing and publicity plan to gain attention for your book is often the hardest part.

Make no mistake, the competition is fierce and methods to enhance discoverability—the ways readers are finding new books—are constantly evolving. Here is an overview of action items to start promoting your book:

List your book on Amazon and other sites. 

In order to make it as easy as possible for people to buy your book, list your book at familiar retail outlets such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Make your pages as robust as possible by uploading your book cover, author photo, author bio, and detailed book description. Utilize the “look inside” feature to give potential readers a sense of your writing. Invite as many friends and family as possible to post reviews. Visit your favorite authors in similar genres for ideas.

Perfect your author website.

Author websites are a great way to introduce audiences to you and your book(s), and provide different ways for you to interact with potential readers, fans, and reviewers. It’s your book headquarters. Some information to have on your website:

Links to buy your book. Let readers know all the formats available (hardcover, e-book, etc.). Have simple “buy now” buttons on every page.
About the Author. Feature your bio to help the reader get to know you and your author brand.
About the Book/Bonus Material. Offer sample chapters, which are key for novels. Testimonials, professional reviews and reader reviews add credibility to your book. Give people a reason to visit your website with sign ups for newsletters, events, insider information, contests/giveaways, etc.
Media. List links to radio, television, newspaper, magazine, online and blog placements.
Appearances and Events. Make sure the upcoming events you will be at are current.
Blog. Showcase your personality, provide insights into your writing process, share opinions about other books (keep it positive!), and comment on topics related to your book or expertise. But remember, fresh content—some say weekly or more—is key to a successful blog.

Introduce yourself to your local library and bookstores.

Introduce yourself to the managers of your local bookstores. Ask them to display your book in the local author section, find out how to host a book signing, and offer autographed copies of your book (which increases the value).

Libraries are excellent resources to help promote your book. Once on board, librarians can hand-sell books, just like bookstores do. Libraries host book groups and author events, and may feature a review of your book on their website. Some libraries post a list of what the librarians were reading each month, which is often a key resource for patrons looking for new book recommendations. Visit your library to ask how to begin.

Create a book pitch.

Whether you hire a professional or contact media on your own, securing book reviews, feature stories, interviews, blog tours, and other publicity is a great way to attract attention for you and your novel. Local media often features local authors and books, especially when tied to a local bookstore or library event.

When contacting media (start with an email), briefly explain your book, its genre, why it is different, then include links to retail pages and your website, your contact information, and offer a review copy. Be polite and, when possible, show a connection with the outlet or journalist’s past work.

If your background is related to the theme of your book, work that into your pitch. Think of current events, trends, breaking news… anything that you can tie your novel and/or your experience and background to—and grab media attention.

Writing the book is just the beginning! Building an author brand takes time. Set a plan, discover the tasks you enjoy doing, and start connecting with readers and influencers.

Sandra Poirier Diaz is the president of Smith Publicity, Inc., an international book marketing company dedicated to helping authors create awareness about their books and expertise through media coverage. Smith Publicity has promoted thousands of authors/publishers since 1997—from New York Times best sellers to first time, self-published books.

Top photo by Flickr user im_on_tambourine.