{"id":20900,"date":"2019-02-27T03:00:54","date_gmt":"2019-02-27T11:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=20900"},"modified":"2024-09-04T10:16:52","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T17:16:52","slug":"a-roadmap-for-book-marketing-for-novelists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/27\/a-roadmap-for-book-marketing-for-novelists\/","title":{"rendered":"A Roadmap for Book Marketing for Novelists"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Yes, there is a roadmap for book marketing!<\/p>\n

We novelists want to be read.<\/p>\n

Otherwise why would we publish our work?<\/p>\n

Well, it is so gratifying to hold the book and see it on the shelf. But it’s the readers’ joy in reading is what it’s all about. Otherwise, why publish?<\/p>\n

To be read, we need to market our books.<\/h3>\n

But how to do that can be overwhelming and feel like a big black box you can’t open because 1) there are so many choices out there on how to market; 2) there are so much advice on the “right” way to market that clashes — confusing!; and 3) you may be afraid to actually to do the work because of well, many reasons. (I’ll address this aspect more below.)<\/p>\n

To bring some clarity and offer an overview roadmap, let’s start by defining our terms.<\/p>\n

What is book marketing?<\/h2>\n

Marketing in the broadest sense is reaching those who you wouldn’t normally connect with and sharing your message with them.<\/p>\n

Marketing is a relationship.<\/h3>\n

You’re putting a message out there in the hopes that people will see it, connect with it, and take an action or see it and feel something. Ideally both.<\/p>\n

In today’s world, we can do this for free. (Nothing against ads, if that’s what you enjoy doing and have the resources to do so.)<\/p>\n

All it requires is our time, attention, focus, and desire.<\/p>\n

Your marketing message as a novelist can be many things specifically (more on that later), but in its essence you’re inviting potential readers and fans into the experience of your book, and they want that experience — whether they were actively (consciously) searching for it or not (subconscious desire).<\/p>\n

As in all relationships, marketing requires that you know who you’re communicating with, why you’re communicating with them, and what the give\/take relationship is.<\/p>\n

By give and take, I mean that all healthy relationships are in balance. You give; the other one receives. They give; you receive. It feels good, reciprocal, and fair.<\/p>\n

We want readers to buy (or borrow) our books and read them, but we can’t control that part of the equation. We don’t hit that BUY button; the reader does.<\/p>\n

Your Marketing Message<\/h2>\n

Your marketing message requirements:<\/p>\n