Marketing: Go Where Your Readers Are

Now you have a book in your hands! It’s been written, edited, designed, and printed. What a glorious feeling! Congratulations! And then the question sets in: what do you do with it now? There are many places you can market your book such as bookstores, events, in magazines, and online. I have found the most success when I have the closest direct contact with readers. Ask yourself, “Where are the Courtesy of Marko Ercegović, EXIT Photo Team on Wikimediapeople who would be interested in reading this book?” Is your book about the Civil War? Try the Civil War reenactment groups. Perhaps they have a regular meeting in your area you can speak at or an event where you could have a booth. Did you write a book about someone in your family? Arrange a family reunion to remember this person and bring copies of the book. Maybe there is a school nearby teaching the subject you’ve written about. If your book is spiritually based, try contacting the churches you’re acquainted with and market yourself as a potential speaker. Don’t forget to bring your books and a pocket full of change! When people ask what you do for a living, always include being an author and have a box of books in your car for when they ask to see one. Having a book readily accessible like this when you’re out and about is one the best things any author can do for their book.

            So who is your audience? As Joanna Penn writes in 5 Tips on How to Identify Your Target Audience, ask yourself these five questions:

1. Isolate what types and/or groups of people the content of the book would interest.

2. Identify other books that are comparable to your book and look at the profiles of those books’ main buyers/readers.

3. Pinpoint what is special about your book.

4. Determine some demographics.

5. Feed the previous four tips into each other to gain even more insight and narrow down who your target audience/s is/are. 

When you do get a speaking engagement, bring along a friend or spouse who can handle the sales while you answer questions and sign the books sold. In addition to freeing you up to talk with potential customers, having someone along also gives you some company to help keep you grounded in what can be a tiring yet very fulfilling day. Most of all – believe in yourself and the words you’ve written. Your enthusiasm for the book will be contagious to the people you meet.