How to Promote a Book: Learn 8 Tips Offered by the Bestseller Authors
Wrote a book and want it to be a bestseller? Well, publishers just publish. They do not necessarily promote your book. So, if you want a bestseller, you got to make it one by rolling your sleeves and engaging in the field of book promotion. All you need to do is to think from the perspective of a smart marketer than just an author.
If you are wondering how to promote a book; first of all, it is not rocket science, and even you can get fruitful results with consistency and effective marketing strategies. Here are some lessons that you need to know, offered by the bestseller authors who took things into their own hands and generated more sales.
1. The Old Norms are Gone. Break the Rules and Be the ‘New’
Just like technological advancements, the elements of writing a book are also changing. And so, there is no need to stick by the older norms that do not offer fruitful results by the end of the campaign. For example, the acclaimed author of The Legend of Bagger Vance, Steven Pressfield wrote a book that is apt for emerging authors like you. The book is titled, ‘Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t.’ Do not go with the title as many readers, and authors definitely want to read it. However, it might not get respect in bookstores or an Oprah’s Book Club sticker. So, does it matter? No.
The norms for book promotion do not exist anymore. Instead, every author makes a targeted niche approach that offers drastically improved results. Michael Ellsberg is one of those writers who tried the traditional ways of Radio interviews, National Media, Email blasts, and many others; but finally gained more exposure and popularity with a simple blog post that helped to gain attention from the niche.
2. Benefits of the ‘Halo Effect
The Halo Effect is referred to a cognitive bias that makes some people, brands, or products seen as more attractive, more credible, and smarter than the rest. For example, Apple always gets this benefit of doubt over the Microsoft, Google, Samsung, or any other competitors in the field. The halo effect is mostly applied to people with a devoted following.
Due to this effect, many authors still try to get featured in the biggest radio interview or a famous TV show. However, seen from the audience's perspective; someone has to be present to watch or listen to a show to know about your book. Instead of the traditional ways, if you approach online, there will be less friction between devoted readers and the Amazon One-Click to Purchase. Make sure to go through little research to find high-traffic blogs in the niche. Online marketer Beth Hayden suggests that there should be a few topic ideas that help the blog connect with the readers.
3. The Title of the Book is the Greatest Tool for Promotion
Life is harsh and understand the fact that no one really cares about or wants to understand the name of the book when it is too obscure or kitschy. While you might think it is quirky or makes an engaging wordplay; it just makes readers lose their interest. When it comes to book marketing, picking a bad or confusing title can be disastrous. Instead of thinking of a book title, think of an article or blog headline that is written on the same topic. This is probably one of the best book promotion tips that you can ever get. Such headline-like titles can offer an idea about the book while enticing people to read what is inside.
4. Find the Source of Your Most Devoted Target Audience
Lewis Howes, the author of the famous ‘The School of Greatness’ did an amazing job in identifying his target audiences which helped him gain more success in the field. He basically outlined the areas of interest of the readers along with basic information like their occupation, residential area, etc. He defined a customer person for his books and then embarked on a plan tailored to audiences’ interests. Just like him, if you are able to identify your target audiences and their features; there is a better chance to get to the sources and gain more potential readers for your book.
5. Offer Incentives to the People whom You Want to Work For you
One of the greatest reasons for marketing your book is to gain more readers and so, the people here are not referred to marketers or your assistant (considering you are an independent author), but the readers who can help you gain more success in the field. So, how will you incentivize them?
Renowned author James Altucher did that well with a too-good-to-be-true incentive. He offered a special Slideshare to promote his book where he allowed people to upload their PowerPoint presentations based on his book. In the end, he put a call to action that people will get their money if they can prove they bought and read the book. What a smart strategy! He created his own echo chamber while cultivating a strong bond with the readers.
6. Record an Audiobook and Create Your Own Halo Effect
In this age of AI-driven technologies, creating an audiobook is not a big deal. But it can be when you go take things in your hand and record it yourself. Well, it might sound a bit weird to read your own book and record an audiobook; it actually works since you add the intimacy of emotions exactly the way you wanted. Geraldine DeRuiter was the first author to do this as she didn’t like the “standard procedure.” It actually took around 18-23 hours of studio recording time and a lot of obstacles but the sales of the audiobook rose 30% in 2016. She even witnessed a rise in sales for the physical copy.
7. Boost Sales by Offering a Compelling Visual Book Trailer
You might already know that visual impact plays a huge role in marketing and promotion. The influence is noticeable in case book marketing as well, and it is not just the print on the cover. Just like, trailers for movies help to create anticipation and buzz in the market before their release; you can do the same with a compelling book trailer. There are a lot of reasons videos are the best option for this task.
• Videos are popular and easy to share
• A lot of people watch videos including potential readers
• Helps readers to get an idea of you and your book
• Creates brand awareness and a fresh image in readers’ heads
8. Get Reviews (As Many As Possible)
Let’s be honest! Everyone purchases an item after getting through the comments and reviews to know what other people say. This goes for books as well and matters the most since one cannot read the book without buying it. So, make sure to get as many reviews as possible which makes the book stand out. Sales can drastically improve if more than 90% of the total reviews are positive and relatable. Good reviews can also help your book rank better on Amazon, a step towards getting the best-seller.
Bottom line
It can be frustrating if you have to write the next book while you are still promoting the old one. So, start recognizing the ramifications and find solo author blogs that can inspire you and offer better sources to gain attention. Best-seller does not happen overnight but it requires patience and consistency.
