You love to write, we know that. We also know that it is your decision where to go from there.
Maybe you wrote a book because you wanted to say you did – and now with so many self-publishing options out there you don’t even need to sell your idea to a publisher. Just maybe you wrote a book because you want to deliver a message to the public. Just please do not say you write a book to get rich – the percentage of authors who make a living from their writing is quite low, getting rich is far less.
Let’s assume you want your message out there and wouldn’t mind earning an income and maybe some fame, you need to get your book noticed and convince folks to buy it. Now is the time to make a concise book marketing plan. If you plan to do the self-published route, you need to know which way to go – And if you want a traditional publisher to take notice of you and invest the time and money necessary to publish you, you will need to prove that you can be a part of the team and work towards your book’s success. A book publishing plan also helps you focus and stay on topic when you are writing a non-fiction book.
Here are some of the components of a book marketing plan (put it down on paper so you have a guide when you need direction), this is not in any specific order: Know your audience, who is going to benefit by reading your book; where will you be able to find your target audience, where will they see news about your book, what websites, magazines, and even other books will they be able to see your book promoted; what is your marketing budget; where can you guest blog (what topics can you blog about), who can you get to interview you, where can you make in-person appearances (speaking or book signing); organize a group of people (street team?) who will help spread the news of your book via email and conversation; get your book to a few potential reviewers, don’t limit it to professional reviewing sites (and do not pay for reviews); compile an email list where you can blast news about your book; post a book trailer on YouTube; and start gathering your SWAG (bookmarks, pens, labeled candies, etc) to give away to readers at in-person events.
Make sure that you have established a solid web-presence – use social media to interact with potential readers and other writers, maintain an up-to-date and informative website, start a blog where you can demonstrate your creativity on a regular basis (two to three times a week is comfortable), and keep writing. Writing more is always going to be the best way to spread your name and interest your readers in everything you write. Use your web presence to help announce appearances, contests, new reviews and new writing material. Let your readers “touch you” by giving them a place where they can post questions and comments and be sure to respond. Use Twitter to help keep the discussion going. Plan to donate a few books, giveaway books in contests and post sample chapters on places like BookBuzzr.
Have a plan, write it down, and follow it.
Writing Exercise: Describe a recurring nightmare that your hero has had since his childhood. How does he cope when he wakes from this nightmare?
Writing Prompt: List the colors of up to 10 of your frequently worn outfits. Next to each color write the type of occasion you would wear it for and how the color makes you feel when wearing it.
