No matter what career path you choose later in life, at the primary level of education, everybody has had that one teacher who loves perfecting your writing skills. Every week she or he would make you write essays, narratives and even letters to a friend to hone your craft at writing.
At least one out of these 26 students of a class then gets inspired to become an author. However, without them choosing a major in marketing, no one ever teaches them how to market the script they write. There are no short courses for authors, but worry no more. Here is a guide with six verified ways to self-promote your book for you, to excel in your career!
Proven Book Marketing Tips for Authors
- Trailer of the Book
Books are no less enticing than movies so, let us spice up the promotion for both, in the same way through trailers. Imagine a motion poster, revealing the cover of the book with an energetic soundtrack in the background that amplifies the drama. This captivating visual experience is sure to build excitement in the bibliophiles and draw them to buy the book.
All book lovers will find this very stimulating but this is quite a painstaking task as compared to simply sharing cover images. You will need a seamless script, a theme and some plot points. This exhilarating idea of the grand unveiling video is sure to intrigue everyone. Moreover, this might even become an internet sensation.
- Author Website with Blog
For a strong and loyal fandom, the book publishing houses in Qatar suggest connecting with them regularly. There have to be live sessions, posts and Q&A sessions to maintain a streak of interaction. So, what could be a better place for this than the author’s official website? Of course, nothing else can match this practice’s exclusivity.
The website should have information about you, your books and the upcoming events. Then, when you add a blog using relevant keywords, it will further boost your book’s visibility on the internet. In addition, the blog will uncover interesting insights into the author’s writing process, character development and BTS – Behind the Scenes. Such regular updates are beneficial in keeping the readers hooked.
- Leveraging Social Media
At the end of those blogs, you can add links to your social media accounts or integrate buttons for direct access. This is additional support for authors in self-promoting their books. For those who are unaware, social media is like a magic wand. It is a highly powerful platform where your target audience spends hours and hours. The list comprises Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok and even Goodreads.
Make an account on all of these sites and share engaging content like quotes from your book, behind-the-scenes, sneak-peaks of book covers and updates on the book completion. There you can also interact with your followers by responding to comments and messages. Besides that, you can make use of hashtags to boost your presence on the internet.
- Write Exciting Blurbs
A blurb is a brief description of writing that illustrates something deeper and complicated. You often come across a few of those while searching for something in the library, on the back of the books. Authors also write burbs to sell or promote their unreleased scripts. Thus, a well-written piece can either make or break a book sale.
You have to be careful with it. It should be neither lengthy nor dull. Instead, make sure it is crisp and gives readers a taste of the story without revealing too much. Within a few sentences, you have to cover the main conflict, hint about the climax and expose the characters of the story. A great blurb is one of the many ways to self-promote your book. It entices readers to pick up your book and read what happens next.
- Giveaways and Contests
An entertaining way to increase your fan following without a major investment is organizing giveaways and contests online. Keep your upcoming book or a related element as a prize and ask people to like and comment to enter the competition. No one dislikes free prizes, so everyone will dive right in, trust us.
All you have to do is promote the giveaway on your freshly out-of-the-oven social media accounts and website. You may also send some invites through email. For a creative twist, you can arrange a fan art competition. This will help engage the audience on a large scale. So, hurry up, hire a Gulf publisher now if you live in any of the Gulf countries and get ready to rock.
- Book Signing & Reading
To connect with your readers’ clan, you need to organize book signings and readings. Choose places that attract the target for these events, like nice cafes, local bookstores, or libraries where bibliophiles feel at home.
You can design attractive invites for these events and share them on your social media handles. For example, an Instagram poll can be used to decide the venue, or an invite can be shared on Facebook groups for greater reach. Then on the day of the meetup talk generally about your inspiration, provide intellectual nourishment and answer a few questions.
Q. How to make my self-published book look professional?
For a professional outlook, you need to invest in a high-quality cover design, hire an experienced editor and ensure error-free content in the book. Hence, every nook and corner of the book has to be seamless.
Q. What is a shortcut to making a book go viral?
The most effective but pricey shortcut to a viral book is calling for a celebrity endorsement. Using their fame and fan following, you can boost the credibility of your script. However, the results can be short-lived.
Q. What kind of books sell the most?
The best-selling book usually belongs to the thriller, romance and self-help genres. They attract the reader’s interest because of their engaging plots, relatable characters and timely topics.
Q. Three foolproof ways of marketing yourself as an author?
- Attend Events – participate in book fairs and host reading sessions for interaction.
- Book Reviews – reviews from reputable sources are a great way of building credibility.
- An Author Platform – could be a website or social media account for engagement and updates.
Six Great Ways of Promoting a Book – A Summary
Poring your heart to finish the draft of your book is tough, but selling it is tougher. The issue usually lies within the effectiveness of marketing rather than the plot. So, forget about traditional publishers and do your stunts yourself.
We know promoting a self-published book can be daunting, but you are not alone. We are your escort, and here is a guide that will bring you six epic solutions to your problems.
- Launch a ‘Brailer’ (Book Trailer)
- Have a social media existence
- Write some engaging blogs
- Initiate giveaways
- Experiment with blurbs
- Arrange public events to build connection
Pick any one of these six Ways to Self-Promote Your Book or suit yourself with a productive combination to boost the visibility of your script in the market. However, whatever you do just stay proactive and persistent.