Many authors hit a roadblock when it comes to putting together and implementing a book marketing plan. You know you need to have one, you have a vague idea of what it needs to include, but pulling it all together into a step-by-step plan of attack is not nearly as easy as it sounds.
A good starting point is to break your plan up into major categories. From there, you can further define and set up strategies for each area of your book marketing plan.
The first thing that comes to mind for most authors and self publishers is book store sales. Makes sense doesn't it? That's where people buy books don't they? It's true that making your book available to the general public through bookstores is a very vital component of your marketing plan.
However, it is just that -- one single component of your plan. There are many elements that will make up your book marketing plan and arranging to have your book available in bookstores is just one of them. Let's call that component #1:
Book Marketing Plan Component #1
Making Books Available in Bookstores
Now, it's one thing to secure placement for your book on the bookstore shelves, but now how are people going to know it's there? Customers can't (and won't) buy something they've never heard of. This is where the publicity component of your Book Marketing Plan comes into play. Setting up and ongoing publicity campaign is the number one way to drive customers to the bookstore to buy your book. We'll call this component #2:
Book Marketing Plan Component #2
Setting up and Implementing a Successful Publicity Campaign
Besides book stores, you can also sell your books to nontraditional book buyers like display retailers, book clubs, catalogs, gift retailers, volume buyers (think Costco and Price Club), corporations, foundations and foreign markets. We sell thousands of self published books to buyers like these all the time and targeting these buyers should make up a good portion of your book marketing plan. This will be component #3:
Book Marketing Plan Component #3
Non-traditional Markets
In this day and age, you would be making a big mistake if you didn't include the internet as a vital component of your Book Marketing Plan. The internet is the best way to directly reach your target customers. It is also the best way to sell to them since you cut out any third parties and retain 100% of the profits. There are many ways to research the internet to ensure that there is a demand for your book and the best ways to fill that demand.
Book Marketing Plan Component #4
The Internet - Your Book Website
These are the four most important components of your Book Marketing Plan. Now you must research each component individually to customize the approach you take for your book.
© Copyright 2004 Ink Tree Ltd.
Ink Tree Ltd. helps authors publish, market and sell books. We have all the tools you need to succeed in book marketing and book promotion. Let us help you make your book a success. http://www.inktreemarketing.com/BookMark etingKit.htm
A clever title is great if it is clear, but... Read More
What you do after you have written your book is... Read More
As a literary publicist I often am asked about publicity... Read More
Have you ever walked into a bookstore when an author... Read More
Hi Noel,I absolutely love your website, As an MS sufferer... Read More
"Are you disappointed and tired of time and money down... Read More
Recently, someone rated my "Online Book Marketing" article a 2... Read More
For many of us, marketing our titles is one of... Read More
Obtaining agency representation is your first step toward getting profitably... Read More
Do you have books sitting in your garage that you... Read More
Have you listened to radio lately? If you have, chances... Read More
After months of scouring the internet, I could not put... Read More
During the past year or so, I have done nearly... Read More
Choosing a publisher probably seems like a complicated task, however,... Read More
There's just something so gratifying about owning your own books... Read More
NOTE: Because many words in this article are likely to... Read More
Your print or ebook is nearly finished. You wonder if... Read More
Imagine you share a huge penny... Read More
If I was asked to describe the perfect book, one... Read More
If you're a new author that has been requested to... Read More
Have you always wanted to write?Are there ideas churning in... Read More
Many writers write for the experience. Others dream of having... Read More
Nowadays it's no longer a matter of whether or not... Read More
Your book cover is the first impression a potential client... Read More
Authors, especially self published, small press and Print on Demand... Read More
During the past year or so, I have done nearly... Read More
The total number of books sold by small, part-time mail... Read More
How would you like to have countless people clamoring for... Read More
If I was asked to describe the perfect book, one... Read More
You've just been notified a review of your book has... Read More
What is your excuse for not being published? "I don't... Read More
Whenever someone suggests you do a book signing and you... Read More
We all have at one time or another had the... Read More
Do you have books sitting in your garage that you... Read More
Some of us write simply because we can't not write.... Read More
How would you like to have countless people clamoring for... Read More
A client wrote me recently and asked what I thought... Read More
Congratulations, you've written a book and even gotten it published!... Read More
Make your book stand out from the crowd! Test your... Read More
What you do after you have written your book is... Read More
To know what to do at the right time in... Read More
Review Your Reviewer: You will be sorry if you do... Read More
Self-publishing is not for the faint of heart. The publication... Read More
If Random House pulls up to your house with a... Read More
Why write an introduction? Nobody reads it anyway. Up until... Read More
Many self-publishing authors plan on eventually selling their book to... Read More
A book event (a book signing) is a popular way... Read More
A flyer is an excellent, inexpensive way to promote your... Read More
NOTE: Because many words in this article are likely to... Read More
Many of us are trying to do business and don't... Read More
Book Marketing Book Marketing |