Self-publishing has made publishing more accessible, dynamic and even more competitive. There are literally millions of books out there now, available in paperback and e-book format. Anyone who completes a manuscript has the authority and right to publish the book. For authors, this is a golden era because publishing houses and agents have nearly become redundant. At the same time, the need to promote and market a work has become the sole responsibility of the self-published authors. A new writer needs to spend just as much time marketing and promoting the book as he does on writing.
A website or a blog is a necessity. That is the starting point for your marketing campaign. Given that, here are five tips to promote your book in the easiest possible way.
Book Price Is a Major Tool for a Self-Published Author
Self-published authors have a clear advantage over authors of publishing houses. Self-published authors can set more reasonable prices, especially in e-books. Also, once you have set a price, track your sales figure and reduce your price for promotional periods. If the reduction in price corresponds to a hike in sales, you might consider reducing the price on a permanent basis.
The Cover and Blurb Are Two Important Tools for a Self-Published Author’s Marketing Plan
If your book is not doing well in terms of sales, consider tweaking the blurb. Most self-published books sell themselves short in this area. If you are going to spend a few months writing the book, spend at least a few days working on the blurb. Although I believe that every self-published author should hire an editor who not only edits the book but the blurb also, if you have not done it, then make sure your blurb is as interesting as you can make it. Sometimes just by changing a blurb, you can improve sales. Also, give special attention to cover design. That is the first thing a reader sees, and if the design is not eye-catching, no one is likely to read the blurb.
Offer Giveaways and Run Contests
Self-published authors can give away as many free books as they like in contests and giveaways. Although it may seem self-defeating to give away your precious book, in actuality this is the best thing you can do for your writing career. Readers who get your book will read it, and most likely review the book on different sites. This will generate a buzz around your book. Reader reviews are the best indication of a books’ success. The more ratings and reviews you receive, the higher the credibility of your book.
Publish more Books in the Same Genre
It is not possible to stress the importance of having as many books as possible on your shelf as an author. The more the better. A reader who reads one book and likes it is going to buy the rest of your books, so it is best to publish your books in rapid succession, especially early on in your career. By no means should you compromise on the quality of your work. Also, as much as possible, try to work in the same genre. If you have the talent of writing in different genres, have separate pen names and first establish yourself in one genre by writing at least two books – and then work in the other genre.
A Self-Published Author Should Allow Readers to Sample the Book
It is crucial that you allow the readers to sample your book by letting them read the first chapter for free. This will help the discerning reader to decide if he actually likes your book well enough to read the rest of it. Most readers can judge a book by its blurb, but others need more to figure out if it is money well worth spending for them. An unhappy reader is twice as likely than a happy reader to leave a bad review or rating, so it’s important to let him have a taste of the book before reading it.
Sabine A. Reed - Sabine A. Reed is the author of fantasy ebook The Black Orb. She has has her own Writing and Publishing blog.
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