Dear Fellow Writer,
You know that much-loved song by The Byrds, “Turn! Turn! Turn!”?
Think about the lyrics …
To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn …
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap …
Today, let’s add our own verse:
A time to write, a time to edit
A time to market, don’t dare forget it …
Like it? Okay, poet and lyricist am I not! But, marketing your book, especially if you want to experience “the time to reap,” is essential in the New Year.
Embrace the clean slate and start the year off right with a solid marketing plan. It could include any — or all — of the following resolutions.
6 Resolutions to Help You Market Your Book Online
1) Commit to content. It’s common among copywriters to say, “Content is king.” Good copy outperforms graphics and gimmicks. It gets you noticed by the search engines. It makes readers more likely to take you seriously. So plan your social media posts. Write your blog. Respond to reviewers. Add content that supports your book at every turn.
2) Get to know your readers better. We’ve talked about the importance of finding your ideal reader. Commit to doing that if you haven’t yet. And if you have, keep interacting with those readers. Learn as much as you can about them. Make friends with them. Ask them questions. Always dig deeper.
3) Build your email list. There’s a lot of power in having your own go-to list of eager fans and readers. It only takes a little effort to start and maintain it. Once you do that, nurture your list by sharing genuine information, tips, and maybe even the occasional freebie or contest. Your list will always be your number one marketing tool.
4) Hire a Virtual Assistant. Just watch — as your book sales grow, so too will your need to handle administrative issues. You’ll get fan email and social media comments that need responses. You’ll have book signings to arrange. Then there’s the accounting side of making money from your own book business. Decide where your time should be invested (probably in writing another book) and hire someone to do the rest. You’ll thank yourself many times over.
5) Invest in your marketing strategy. Many successful writers I know invest as much as 50% of their writing profits right back into their careers. Why? Because the investment will grow your reputation and your reach much faster than you could ever do on your own. Beyond a Virtual Assistant, invest in a quality website. Invest in an email marketing service. Invest in a top-rated proofreader. If money or recognition are your goals, investing in yourself will get you there fastest.
6) Be grateful for feedback. The more you market your book and get your name out there, the more comments you’ll get in response. Some will be positive. Some could be negative. It’s your job to be gracious and grateful at every turn. Learn from every response you get. It’ll make you a better writer.
Possibly the Most Important Resolutions You’ll Ever Make for Your Author Career!
Remember, how well you market your book online could literally change the course of your destiny as an author. Instead of struggling to find readers and get reviews, you could be basking in glowing praise from readers and editors alike.
So renew your commitment in the New Year: Market your book online and get your message heard.
To your marketing success,
