I had an idea in another thread. How about we put together a "Marketing for author dummies" guide? One that answers all of the basic questions that either a starting out writer or a professional writer who never self marketed before can use as a starting point. I will start in hopes others will contribute. Step 1. Create an author websites Step 2. ??? Step 3. Reap a lot of sales So, the guide is now close to complete. If someone can just expand on that step 2 a little.
The principles are exactly the same as any other marketing, so you could just pick up a book on marketing. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Marketing-Dummies-Business-Personal-Finance/dp/1119894875/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=54696484033&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.goZRr0CcoEh5S3RGxKaKcP0nZvJex3SkPDLuIm9EEH3VzDWx1OpxcU9SmLxCAx_4y6EeXNKC1ESqkHmKBpDS-jnB8iLDD2KgBNh_XDgvt31Py-pmgg_yCoZS-vh2LZlfunK4A-Ir7-8cK9j9Ngf1hpJa3BlcMz3YKOowVDW0rYRX4Bnfla8HoVkLlT-OINQbR-QicEl5DUZn8erHt6lj_skoDjRa7_qcOt6mVkjX9D0.wpSFkbb6VeekcuxzNb4FWotVxKI5gtoSff26a6M0Zxw&dib_tag=se&hvadid=605939900562&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9046316&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=13262025330602329815&hvtargid=kwd-300062407122&hydadcr=18488_2288042&keywords=marketing+for+dummies&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1731859062&sr=8-1
Thank you @Naomasa298, I will check it out. Though I was thinking something more specific to authors, like a basic guide of what to do to get started. (maybe the don't as well, that might be useful) Something simpler, shorter and more specific. I appreciate that this may not be a simple task.
At the end of the day, it's marketing a product, with your writing being the product. Then you have to market the product on the platform that it's being released on, but that's also the same as marketing any other product.
I've tried to write a book about marketting for authors a couple of times but the probable is that its a fast moving area and things would be out of date almost before the book it the shelves the first steps are ever green (I'm assuming self pub here, if you're trad the publisher should take car of most of this) Make sure the product is as good as it possibly can be...edditing, proof reading, internal formatting, good cover, good sales blurb. If you can't do it yourself pay someone who can. There after it gets sticky but the basics are write more books - just one is very hard to market and get positive RoI author website - again pro presentation including a bespoke url author facebook page - with regular updates Advertising via Facebook ads, AMS, Bookbub (if you're wide Kobo marketing services etc). My advice is to learn on AMS and only go to FB when you know what you're doing as you can waste a lot of money otherwise... also ignore their suggested bids. Learn about keywords (its far too big to cover here, lots of good stuff on dave chessons kindlepreneur site) Email collection and newsletter - a lot of people swear by it but i'm too introvert to make it work. Theres a book called newsletter ninja that lays out the basics if you want to go this way. see also newsletter swaps with other authors blast services like freebooksy etc - find the ones that fit to your genre Book magnet - where you give away a free book in return for am email. Mark Dawson swears by this, but my experience was that it added lots of freebie leeches who never bought a damn thing to the list. organic promo, getting on podcasts and blogs and stuff - big in the romance and fantasy spheres, and also christian books, in my experience deader than a dead dodo for thriller. You can also forget getting big influencer names to plug your book - they'll want paying a lot more than moist authors can afford
Not to dampen the spirit here but this might help with the marketing question. Book Marketing: The 1 Strategy That Works
I watched this guy's video on marketing, which was good and then went straight to his other videos with general advise on writing. Which was even better! Thank you for sharing.
As was pointed out, the best seller lists are similar to a fad, hits hard but fades quickly. While a more word of mouth approach, is much slower in growing sales, but lasts much longer.
