Why Book Marketing and Publicity Is Important For Authors

In today’s digital era, not everyone may find books interesting anymore. Many have thoughts that it’s not necessary to purchase books anymore since everything they want to know can be found on the internet. That is why it’s critical for authors to create a marketing plan for them to sell their books. 

A solid strategy is key

It doesn’t matter if you publish your books traditionally with the help of a publisher or if you are trying to self-publish your own piece. Book writers who have set up a book marketing campaign or an advertising tactic will most likely sell more copies of their books rather than those authors who have not.

 Having a strategy in book publicity and a book marketing campaign is essential in spreading the word about your piece. If you are working with a publisher, it is still obvious that you formulate a detailed plan for your book advertising.  Remember, even if you work with a professional publisher team in releasing your books, you would still need to pay close attention to your book’s advertising and book marketing campaign. Traditional publishers often work with dozens of books that they need to be concerned with too, thus, your efforts as the book writer are still critical for your book publication success.

Understanding pre-publications

Since your book’s launching is very important to enable your sales momentum, you have to set up a successful launch. As early as six months to a year before your book’s launch date, start working on the groundwork like building an online presence like creating a social media account for your book. Take advantage of social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to build connections with influencers who can help you promote your book. Create an account on sites where you can showcase your book’s visuals, like Pinterest. You can also consider digital marketing by doing guest blogging and podcast interviews that can alight with your niche and your audience.

Create a network

When working with publishers, they often recommend the authors to maximize all their contacts and use a tool like “Author Questionnaire”. This helps them to get all the resources and the connections that the author has to involve them in the publicity of the book’s launching. You can either work with renowned media platforms like news sites, radio shows, or local publications like an alumni magazine who are willing to advertise your book’s launching. Creating a network is beneficial since you are maximizing the connections you already have, for example, you may have a friend working on a local newspaper who can include featuring your work or you may know someone who owns a bar and can help you out by hosting a launching event.

Create a publicity plan

If you plan to do your own marketing and publicity, make sure you do something unique to spark the interest of the press. Even if you published your own material and you were already successful in other things, this will not make you qualified to be featured in most media. You can start by using an existing event as a media magnet for your book marketing campaign. Launch interesting press releases and compile a list of media outlets who can be interested. Lastly, get involved in major book conference events nearby and be on board.

Don’t forget your promotional materials

Your digital presence is one of the most important things to consider. Consider doing some video book trailers, it doesn’t require much of a budget to produce and it’s practically easy to distribute through social share. You can maximize your social platforms and share it on social media groups, those who find your book interesting and appealing can also spread the word about it and share it on their own networks.

Don’t be afraid to be creative, you’ll never know who you might run across. Make sure you are always prepared and have all the information about your book and you as the author at all times. A card with your website address, phone number, and socials may come in handy. In advertising, promotional materials are still critical in defining your marketing success. Visuals-  more often than not can create a recall for many audiences. Get noticed by printing appealing flyers or do a postcard distribution to your family, friends, and to some media channels. Believe me, all of these things will help your books get easily noticed.

Final Thoughts

Creating a strategic pre-publication publicity plan and marketing campaign and making sure to follow through may not bring that same glam as writing your own book. However, they are an essential part in making sure that the world would know about your book.