November 13, 2024
Looking for more book buyers? Every writer wants to sell more books. Even if you’re not motivated by money, you want the success that comes with knowing your book has moved people. Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, you can find readers who will pay to read your words. That’s the goal of every writer. How do you make it happen? It starts with understanding what book buyers want and creating a solid marketing plan.
Fiction book buyers want what they have always wanted. Fashions in fiction and nonfiction may come and go, certain genres can become popular at certain times, but overall, the basics of what makes a good book haven’t changed.
Fiction writers want:
Buyers of nonfiction books want:
Buyers of self-help books want:
If you’ve authored a high-quality book, you can sell it. You just need to understand how to get the word out to potential book buyers.
You can’t overestimate the power of a book’s visual appeal. Book buyers spend only a few seconds scanning the books on a shelf or on an online page. They want to know that a book fits their chosen genre. They also want to know that something about this title makes it better than everything else that’s currently available.
The way the book looks is a big part of their decision-making. Remember, you’re not basing this on what you personally like.
Put yourself in the shoes of your book buyers. Romance readers want to see a cover that depicts an idyllic setting like the beach or a small village, or they want to see a good-looking couple on the cover. True crime readers are drawn to blood splatters and words like “shocking” or “brutal.” Someone looking for a self-help book cares less about pretty pictures or the cover art. They want a title that spells out exactly what the book will help them do.
Your marketing plan must include an author website. Your website should have information about your upcoming book and include a way to engage with your audience. Use your website to market your book and begin building your email list.
Does building a website sound like an impossible task? Fortunately, it is easy to build a website, even if you have no technical skills, with the help of DIY website builders. They provide templates that you can customize. Some of these sites use AI(artificial intelligence) to do most of the designing and building work for you.
Monthly subscription rates are affordable, and many of them offer free plans. There are some downsides to consider with a free plan.
These plans may limit what you can do with your website, and you’ll have to host the site’s advertisement on your site. Also, you won’t get your own domain name but a shared domain name. If you don’t mind those slight inconveniences, a free plan is a great choice for an author on a budget. You can always start with a free plan and then upgrade later if you build a large following.
Here are some well-known DIY website builders that make it easy for any writer to build a professional-looking website:
Does it feel like you’re always hearing about the “hottest new book” just as it enters the market? That’s because book marketers know it’ s important to build anticipation and start with a strong launch.
If you want to make a strong impact, you must start planning your book’s marketing campaign before you publish it. Most experts recommend starting at least six months before the official publication date. If you start strong, you give your book the best possible chance of catching the interest of reviewers and book buyers.
While you’re marketing the book, offer pre-orders. These allow you to start making sales, and making sales will help you climb up the rankings. Use your pre-order time to fine-tune your marketing strategy as you discover what works.
Building an email list is one of the best ways to connect with book buyers, reviewers, and the public. It’s essential for anyone who’s marketing a product or service.
Doing this also ensures that you—not a social media platform or a direct-to-publishing platform—control how you promote your book and how you interact with your book buyers. You can say what you want, when you want to, and in the manner that’s most appealing to the book buyers you want to reach.
So, how do you build a strong mailing list?
Yes, it’s a lot of work. But it’s work that pays off. You can’t control what the publishing houses, Amazon, or social media platforms do with your book. If you build engagement on a social media site, that’s a plus for the site—not necessarily for you. With your own email list, you can control an important part of your marketing plan: your reader engagement.
If there is a book club at your library or other venue, get in touch with the organizers. Explain that you’re a local writer who’s interested in meeting with the readers in the area. Offer to join the book club for a discussion. Most readers will respond positively to this idea. You’ll have a new set of potential book buyers who already have a positive impression of you.
By running a price promotion, you can jump ahead of the crowd. Put your book on a price discount to get some first sales going. These will push your visibility and increase the chances of getting reviewed. Some writers have had success offering their books for free during the initial promotional launch. Once you’ve started to gain attention, you can return to full pricing.
This is a tricky area because nobody wants to work for pennies—or for free. But it can pay off in getting you the visibility you need, especially on crowded sites like the direct-to-print formats.
If you’ve had success with one book, follow the route of many successful authors by creating a series. Create new stories or settings for your characters, and allow readers to enter your fictional world again. Some writers don’t intend to write serials, but the popularity of a book takes off, and readers demand more. If you’re in that situation, make the most of it by giving readers what they want.
Professional printing is the key to a great-looking book you’ll be proud to market. At Publishing Xpress, we are proud to count many first-time writers among our customers. Contact us for more information.
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