How to Market Your First Book

Whether it’s your first novel and you’re self-publishing, or you’re working with a traditional publisher, you will need to market your book to ensure it is seen by potential buyers.

It is up to you to market your book, and it can be an arduous task if you’re a new author with no proven track record. Thankfully, there is a wealth of technology that can help you write, publish and market your book. 

We have a look at some tips to help get you started.

Create Your Brand

Creating a brand is an important step for all writers, and it is essential when you’re preparing to release a book. Potential readers will be interested in learning more about you, your background, any other work you have done, and even what you like to read.

Creating your brand helps forge a relationship with your audience, and cultivating a brand persona is a means to control what people see and know about you.

Create a Website

You will need a website to establish your newfound brand persona, where you can invite people to learn more about you and your work. An author’s website should include:

• Your bio
• Your photo
• Excerpts from your book
• A link to buy your book
• A way to contact you
• Links to find you on social media
• A downloadable media kit (includes your photo, a short bio, a blurb about your book, and a few reviews)

Your website doesn’t need to be huge or elaborate to get the job done, it can be a one-page information sheet with all things related to you included.

Create an Email List

People tend not to go back and check on websites for updates, but by creating an email newsletter, you can keep in touch with interested parties. An email marketing service such as MailChimp will allow you to add an email signup box to your website with minimal to no coding involved.

Remember to send out monthly email updates to stay top of mind with your customers. You can share news about your upcoming book signings or promotions. Try to be consistent with sending your monthly newsletters because this is how you’ll establish a loyal audience.

Choose the Right Audience for Marketing

How do you plan to promote your book? Think about who would want to read your book, and look into where they go to find suggestions for new books. Do they shop online or in-store? Do they peruse the latest releases, or would they be persuaded by ads on their social media and internet communities?

Reach Out to Book Reviewers

It’s essential to get as many book reviews as possible, especially if you’re selling on platforms such as Amazon. The more reviews you get, the higher the visibility of the book.

Look for book reviewers and bloggers who read work from your genre. Ask them and convince them to read your book and leave a review. When marketing your first book, you need to check your pride at the door and be a little bit shameless.

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