Category: Marketing Tips

Ten Ways to Market a Book

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

I’m a debut author. My first book, a contemporary romance, will hit shelves May, 2012. And as soon as I signed that I-could-kiss-you-you’re-so-lovely contract, my mind jumped from “How can I get published?” to “How can I get read?”

Last Monday, I wrote a post about my marketing philosophy, titled How May I Serve You?

Philosophy is good. Philosophy is fun. But today, let’s get practical.

I’d like to share ten things I’ve done or will do to market my upcoming book.

As you read through the list, I hope you feel encouraged. None of these things are difficult. Many are practical. Most are free. And I’m willing to bet you’re doing some already.

I’ve defined my target audience.
Nobody can write for everyone and the minute we try is the minute we write for no one. Defining our target audience is a prerequisite if we’re going to market effectively.

I blog.
Ever since I signed my contract, I’ve put more thought and time into blogging. Consistency and content is key. I’ve tried to consistently post three times a week about topics that will appeal to my target audience.

I created a Facebook page.
I have to be honest here. I’m not utilizing my page as well I could. But I’m hoping, as my book gets closer to release and then hits the shelves, that my page will be an easy place to connect with readers.

I tweet. (Oh, how I love Twitter.)
If you don’t have a Twitter account yet, get thee to Twitter right now. It’s a great way to meet new people and as Thomas Umstaddt pointed out in a recent webinar, it’s a great place to listen. Listening is key. If you sign up for Twitter, make sure to download Tweetdeck.

I joined a writing community.
Because I write contemporary romance for the Christian market, the best organization for me to join was ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). I can’t tell you how many amazing, supportive, encouraging people I’ve met within this community, many of whom will help promote my book when it releases.

I’m in the process of creating a website.
If a reader finishes my book and Googles my name, I want her to be able to find me easily. A website is like a cyber office. It gives readers an easy way to find information about us and our books. I also hired a professional photographer to take some high-quality photos that I can use on my website.

I’m establishing (I hope) positive relationships.
With readers, yes. But also with the people at my publishing house. I listened to a workshop given by Colleen Coble and she believes one of the smartest things a writer can do to gain a readership is establish positive relationships with their publisher. Sounds weird, maybe, but it makes sense. I want to be a blessing to the people at my publishing house.

I’ve done interviews.
I recently completed a telephone interview with my publishing house. They recorded it and will use it for promotional purposes. More information on this fun adventure is coming soon!

I completed a questionnaire for marketing.
Not a quick one either, but nine pages of questions. I answered as thoroughly as possible in order to best help the marketing department market my book.

I will take advantage of local connections.
I have a friend who writes for the newspaper and a family member who works for a local news station. As my release gets closer, we’re planning on doing an article in the paper and an interview on the news.

So there you go. Ten things I’ve done or will do in order to market my debut novel.

As my release date approaches, I’m sure I’ll give other things a try. Some of which might help. Some of which might not. And that’s okay. Marketing is a try-and-see adventure. One that can be as stressful or as fun as we make it.

Let’s Talk: What are you doing right now to market your work? What marketing strategies have you seen authors do that have been effective?

I drafted this post a few weeks ago, and since then, Jody Hedlund published an amazing post that goes well with this one, titled 10 Ways to Prepare in Advance for Publication.


The clients of WordServe Literary Agency have launched a new blog, The WordServe Water Cooler, where we hope to build community and discuss all things writing and publishing. Please come say hi!removetweetmeme

How May I Serve You?

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

I participated in my first-ever webinar last week, given by social media guru Thomas Umstaddt. I don’t know about you, but when I think social media, the two names that come to mind are Mr. Umstaddt and Kristen Lamb. And although he said some things that oppose what Kristen Lamb might advise, the core of their philosophy remains the same.

Serve the reader. Whether that be book readers, blog readers, or people who read our Facebook or Twitter updates. 

In a post titled Making Marketing More About Them and Less About Us, Jody Hedlund says, “The needs of the reader should be at the heart of our marketing and publicity efforts.”

I love this message.

It’s a message that is near and dear to my heart. Because to be quite honest, focusing on myself is exhausting. The more I focus on myself, the more self-conscious and insecure I feel. I start to second-guess everything I tweet. Everything I post. I start to worry, “What if nobody likes me? What if nobody even notices me!?”

The whole thing becomes very draining. Very….unfun.

The only cure I’ve found is the one Jody Hedlund, Kristen Lamb, and Thomas Umstaddt offer.

Take our eyes off ourselves and focus outward.

Which is no natural thing.

We are self-centered creatures. Or let me back that train up. I am a self-centered creature. It’s so, so, so easy for me to get wrapped up in my little world. But then I read a blog post like Jody’s or listen to a webinar from Thomas or read a book by Kristen and I receive a much needed slap in the face.

Switch gears, Katie.

Marketing is about being a blessing. Marketing is about serving. Marketing is not about me. 

And as soon as I start looking outward again, it’s like a sharp pin pops my growing tension and this whole thing turns fun again. Energizing, even.

My newest endeavor, as I wade these waters of debut authorship, is creating an author website. And as I start to think about what I want my website to look like and what types of pages I want it to have and what information I want to provide and what colors I want to use, I’m taking this advice to heart.

How can I create a website that is less about me and more about my reader?

It’s an important question for any of us, no matter what we’re doing. It’s a question I haven’t figured out yet. But will continue to ponder as I work with my web designer.

Let’s Talk: What features do you enjoy in an author website? In what ways can an author make their website more about the reader and less about themselves? Please share!removetweetmeme

A Social Media Plan

Posted on by Katie Ganshert



I don’t mind when you’re working on your writing. But when you’re Twittering or emailing, sometimes that bothers me.

These words came from my husband a couple months ago. A husband who is ridiculously supportive and excited about my writing career. A husband who would do the laundry, shop for groceries, and cook dinner all so I could have some extra time to write.

But when he came upstairs and I was busy getting my Tweet on, that bothered him.

You see, two months ago, writing to him, meant…..well, writing. Pounding out the words on my latest manuscript or marking up the pages in red pen.

Writing did not mean replying to people’s status updates.

And if I’m being honest, spending the precious little time I did have on social media always left me feeling guilty.

Until I met Kristen Lamb. Well….I didn’t actually meet her. I read her stuff. And she said, “If we are just goofing off and sending people farm animals, then yes, we are goofing off. But if we are blogging and spending time on Twitter and FB networking with other writers, published authors and people in the publishing industry, that is called marketing.”

Marketing.
 
But wait a minute. Marketing intimidates me. I don’t know how to market. But chatting on Twitter and connecting with others on Facebook? That’s fun. I like doing that stuff.
So is it really marketing?
 
Kristen would say yes. As long as we’re being intentional about it.
 
So here’s my question for you: How intentional are you when it comes to social media? Do you have a plan? Or are you just winging it?
 
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for winging the less important things in life. But let’s not wing social media.
 
Because love it or hate it, social media is an integral part of being a successful author. It’s the way we connect with others, establish our brand, and learn more about the industry. Used intelligently, social media can be a huge ally.
 
This is what I explained to my husband. This is what I explained to my guilty conscience.  
 
Once I got that out of the way, I made a plan. Maybe you would like to make one too. In that case….
 
First things first. Repeat after me.
“This is part of being an author…..this is part of being an author….this is part of being an author….” Repeat until you start to believe it.

Second, carve out time.
We carve out time to write, right? Why not do the same for social media? It doesn’t have to be a huge time block, or even a medium-sized time block. But we should make purposeful time for it. We should make it a habit. And maybe, by giving social media its own slot, we will be less inclined to let it bleed into our writing time.

Third, write goals.
Twitter goals, blogging goals, FB goals, and any other type of social media goals. What do you hope to accomplish through each of these? How will you measure success? There’s not a right or a wrong answer to these, but how you answer them should affect how you use social media.

Fourth, strategize. 
What steps can you take each day to accomplish these goals?

Fifth, observe, copy, but be yourself.
Look at authors who use social media effectively. See what they do that works and copy them. Only make sure you’re being you. Copy their methods, not their personality.

Sixth, read Kristen Lamb’s book
Are You There Blog? It’s Me, Writer. Truly, if you want to laugh out loud while learning how to take full advantage of social media and create a killer plan for yourself, then there is no substitute for reading Kristen’s book. I finished it in two days and I can’t even tell you how much I learned.

Let’s Talk: How intentional are you when it comes to social media? Any tips you want to share? Do your loved ones have a hard time understanding why you need to spend time Tweeting? removetweetmeme