It's tempting to chase after all the newest marketing tactics when trying to promote your ebook. Marketing experts tout the latest techniques, pushing a new way to market every few months. But marketing ebooks, like just about everything else, depends on having a solid base to build on. You've got to do the basics before you move on to the more elaborate techniques. Be successful at these ten book marketing methods and you won't need anything more elaborate to promote your book.
- Find your audience. No book appeals to every reader. Whether it's model train fans or romance readers, find your tribe and aim your marketing efforts in their direction.
- Create a great website. Include information about current and future books, an author bio, a way for readers to contact you, and multiple spots where readers can sign up for your email list.
- Grow your email list. Use a list server like MailChimp or Aweber to collect an email list and send out newsletters on a regular basis. Keep in touch with fans, tell them about upcoming work, whatever it takes to keep them interested.
- Pick the right social media. Find out where your fans go and start hanging out there. Crafters stay on Pinterest, romance readers are known to haunt Facebook, and every other fan base has its social media of choice. Start working the right one for your fans.
- Use the right keywords. Study keyword strings and find the correct ones before you list your book. Having the right keywords attached to your ebook is one of the best ways to ensure readers will find your work.
- Write guest blog posts. Find blogs in your niche and offer to write guest posts. Most bloggers will be more than happy to let you do their work for one day, and you'll be able to show off your expertise while pushing your newest book.
- Use Dropcards. Dropcards are personalized gift cards good for one ebook downloads. Sell them in bookstores and gift shops, give them away as contest prizes, and use them as extra merchandise on book tours or signing events.
- Discoverability. This isn't just the latest marketing buzzword, it's an important concept. It means making sure it's easy for readers to buy your books. If it takes work for them to find your work, most people won't bother. Add links to your sales page in your email, your website, your blog posts, and everywhere else you appear online.
- Reviews. Fair or not, the more reviews you have the more books you will sell. Unfortunately, getting reviews on a new book is tough. Offer to give free copies of your book to friends, writers in your forums, online friends, and anyone else who will take one, and ask them for an honest review. Eventually you'll hit that tipping point where readers will add reviews on their own.
- Be consistent. If you write a blog, post on a website, or use social media, do it on a schedule. You'll do a lot better posting something small three times a week than doing a huge promotion once and then forgetting it for weeks.
Keep the Faith and may the Force be with You!