Huge thanks to Amanda S John for providing a great post on Marketing for Novels. Agreed that there are lots of posts out there that give tips on marketing, but I have to take my hat off to the succinct joy this post gives.

Chasing sales…

It’s launch day. The much-anticipated moment has arrived; your book is on sale. Resting hopefully on the virtual shelves of Amazon, it’s there to be found and discovered. The cover is inviting, the blurb irresistible. But how do you make sure it is seen and, most importantly, read?

Pre-launch

Ideally, you will have started a marketing campaign before the launch of your book. Keeping your contacts updated with the release date, perhaps organising an online event, and generally creating a hype are essential in the weeks leading up to the big day. The hard work doesn’t stop there, though; it’s just the beginning.

Target the right market

Networking and socialising with other like-minded writers and authors is valuable (and, some would argue, essential for your sanity!), but don’t expect to reach the bestsellers list by rubbing shoulders with others with books to promote. Yes, Indie authors are usually supportive of each other, and the opportunity to provide opportunities for one another to write guest blogs, help promote a new book, etc, should be utilised. When it comes to the hard sell, however, bear in mind that writers may not necessarily be the right audience for all of your marketing efforts – you need to make yourself visible to readers in general, not just those who happen to write as well.

I’m not suggesting you hunt down every online Kindle forum you can and spam them with constant links to your book (unlikely to win you any support or respect). Instead, do everything you can to make yourself available to readers – join sites like Goodreads (www.goodreads.com), where readers actively seek new books to read, set up an author page on Amazon and link it to a blog or website, and remember the old-fashioned ways of promoting a book. Book signings may not be an option for ebooks, but there are still plenty of ways to arrange readings and events, whether they are online or in ‘real life’!

Keep in contact

If a reader contacts you, reply to them. The more genuine relationships and interest you build in your writing career, the more potential readers you have waiting for your next book. If you have a website, set up an option for fans to join a mailing list. It’s an effective, personal way of letting them know of any news and future releases.

Spare the time

As much as it would be lovely to finish a novel, put it on sale, and begin work immediately on the next one, it won’t quite work that way if you are self-publishing and managing your promotion. Marketing your book needs careful time management – there’s no denying that networking, blogging, and keeping your readers updated will take up a significant chunk of your schedule. Accept that this promotion stage is just another essential part of the writing process, and set aside a decent amount of time to do your campaign justice.

I’m currently trying to put all of the above techniques into practice with a promotion campaign for my new novel, ‘She & I’, which is available via Amazon and in paperback via Feedaread (www.feedaread.com).

How long does it take for a family to unravel when it’s built on a foundation of deceit and mistrust?

Sarah is caught in emotional turmoil following a violent first marriage and the realisation that her second is a sham. Her eldest daughter, Lindsey, is fighting against the expectations of both her mother and society and finding she is capable of actions that are shocking, even to her. As their relationships begin to fall apart, the two women embark on the most defining and revealing week of their lives, discovering that nothing is as it seems, and everything will change. Forever.

You can find out more about me and my writing at www.amandasjohn.weebly.com

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