Frustrated with marketing? Help is on the way!

Marketing. For many authors it’s a dirty word. When I go to RMFW events and talk to aspiring authors, I get the distinct impression that the real reason so many people pitch to agents and chase a traditional contract is because they just don’t want to do the marketing. They want to be pretty writer fairies who sing Disney numbers and have magical books pop up wherever their wand touches the ground. (Do I sound bitter?)

Here is the truth. Unless you have created a great book that agents, editors, and publishing houses all agree will change the world, the safest hands your marketing plan can be in are your own. I’ve spoken with dozens of traditionally published authors who told me their books got little to no push. I’ve spoken to other authors who had minor pushes for a limited amount of time and then suddenly no adds, no campaign, no swag.

But do not fret, true believers. I am here to help. Now, before you roll your eyes at me, let me just say I am not a great marketing genius. I do not know everything about marketing your book. I cannot tell you where to find an audience, or how to convert add clicks into book sales. I’m just a humble guy who likes to write and read. What I do have is a list of books that I’ve read that I think can help you build your author platform.

What is an author platform?

I am glad you asked. The definition I like comes from author, coach, and speaker Jane Friedman. She says an author platform is your ability to sell books because of who you are or who you can reach. You know what I’m talking about, right? J.K. Rowling, George R.R. Martin, Stephen King, and Neil Gaiman are all authors whose followers are so loyal that they act as if they know the author personally. When these authors publish a new book, people buy them religiously.

Now, no one is claiming any of us will be as big as they are. But you can start, in little ways, to build that platform by doing your research. Here are some great author platform resources I recommend.

Write. Publish. Repeat.

This is an oldie but a goodie. Written and indie published in 2014, this book put me on the path to self-publishing. The three writers share their acerbic wit and dark humor. While some of the information is dated and probably wouldn’t work today, many of the concepts, like a sales pipeline and a marketing funnel, are still spot-on. They talk about their email lists and how they keep readers engaged. You can absolutely disregard their concepts of project management when it comes to producing fiction. I would, however, pay close attention to their ideas on marketing and sales strategy.

Buzz! 2: Your Super Sticky Book Marketing Plan

I met the author, Polly Letofsky, at the Pikes Peak Writers Conference this year. I was so impressed with her seminar that I immediately walked over to the conference bookstore and bought her book. If you are intimidated by the entire idea of marketing your fiction, buy this book first. Polly lays down the steps you need to take, one by one, to plan and successfully launch your next book while building your author platform.

 

 

 

 

Establishing a Brand

Local independent author Thomas Fowler has had a career in marketing. He knows his way around social media. Once you’ve implemented the ideas in Buzz! 2 and digested the concepts in Write.Publish.Repeat., read Thomas’s book next. He will show you actionable steps to expand your presence in social media, from when to tweet to what to post on Facebook. I highly recommend it.

 

 

 

 

The Book Reviewer Yellow Pages, 9^th Edition

If you want to get your feet wet early, read this one after you’ve read Buzz! 2. Have you ever wondered how to get 20, 30, or even 50 reviews of your novel on Amazon without having a massive email list? This book is the secret. The author, David Wogahn, has compiled a list of 200 book review blogs. He gives you their URLs and shows you how to compile a personalized query letter that will introduce you and your upcoming novel. He shows you the person to contact on each website, their email address (if applicable), and what genres they will and will not review. If your novel gets chosen by the group of bloggers you’ve asked, then most of them will not only give you an honest review on their website but also place that review on Amazon once your book is out. I do have to warn you, this book came out in 2017; some of the blog sites are no longer up, and others are now hard to contact. But if you’re serious about your marketing and your author platform, this book is a game changer.

I hope you find this information helpful. Continue to have a great summer, and happy writing!