#1 Overlooked Book Marketing Strategy That’s Hurting Authors
“Marketing begins BEFORE your product is created.” —Seth Godwin
When you first set out to market your books, the mere idea of it might keep you up at night. You compare yourself to successful self-published authors on social media and get caught in a cycle of shame.
Why aren’t you there yet? Are you missing some magic secret success ingredient?
Chances are, there’s no one “thing” they’re doing that you aren’t. It’s more likely they just understand where marketing begins… and its way before they begin to write.
So, in this post, I’m going to help you shake off the feeling of being lost when it comes to marketing and start feeling confident in the progress you’re making in your author journey!
I’m breaking down the number one overlooked book marketing strategy to achieve consistent book sales without the overwhelm that always comes with marketing your books.
Make sure you read to the end because I’ve got a highly productive tool that is essential for making real money as a self-published author!
Forget about mastering social media to drive traffic on your way to consistent book sales.
If you want to sell books around the clock and you do not want to be actively marketing them to do so (posting on social media around the clock), then the very first thing you must do is to make sure your books are marketable.
This is the most overlooked book marketing strategy that self-published authors fail to do.
No matter what marketing system(s), apps, organic traffic, or paid ads you implement, if your books do not resonate with your target market on sight, they will not easily sell.
Be careful not to waste your originality on creativity when trying to design your books (book cover, title, and blurb) to appeal to your target market. Other successful authors in your genre have done that for you.
What already works is proven by the top-selling authors in your genre. To cut your marketing efforts in half, just mirror what they have done.
Remember, wasting your creativity on originality is hurting you more than helping you as an author. That’s a hard truth but a truth nonetheless…
Yes, you wanted your book’s cover, title, and blurb to be a certain way. It’s the creator in you, but will that way resonate with your target market?
In no way, shape, or form am I advocating plagiarism (in my very biased opinion, those that do can’t call themselves authors), but what I am calling for is working smarter and not harder.
And one of the smartest ways to work is studying, then implementing the success of other successful authors and then making it your very own.
Below are a few insights on how to mine the success of other authors and make them your own when it comes to making your books marketable when it comes to crafting your book’s cover, its title, and the blurb of your book.
The Key Elements a Book Cover Must Have to Catch the Eye of Your Target Market
Your book cover is the first impression your potential readers will have of your book. It’s essential that it not only looks professional but also appeals to your target audience. Here are the key elements your book cover must have:
Genre Appropriateness: Your cover should immediately convey the genre of your book. For example, romance novels often feature soft colors and romantic imagery, while thrillers might use darker tones and bold, suspenseful visuals. Study the covers of bestselling authors in your genre to identify common themes and elements.
This is the instance where the saying that you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover is wrong. Here is where you impact your readers the most and it’s up to you to make your book covers a fascinating piece of art that screams pick me over the other books in your genre.
Compelling Imagery: Use high-quality images that evoke curiosity and emotion. Whether it’s an intriguing character, a beautiful landscape, or an abstract design, the imagery should draw readers in and make them want to learn more about your book.
Canva has very good to awe inspiring premade covers for its users, but if you still can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, just CLICK HERE to schedule a free consultation call to discuss your book cover desired creation.
Readable Fonts: Choose fonts that are easy to read and fit the tone of your book. Avoid overly decorative fonts that might be hard to decipher. The title and author name should be clear and prominent.
Two designing tips when it comes to font usage on your covers. First, never use more than two differing fonts for your covers.
Second, the title of your book should always be larger than the author’s name.
Why?
Because until you become a renowned author’ it’s the title of your book that’s the selling point, not who you are as an author…. Not yet anyway.
Professional Design: If graphic design isn’t your strength, consider hiring a professional cover designer. A well-designed cover can make a significant difference in how your book is perceived and can increase its chances of being picked up by readers.
Once again, you can CLICK HERE to schedule a free consultation call to discuss your book cover desired creation.
How to Properly Title Your Book to Stand Out in Your Genre
Your book’s title is one of the most important elements of your book marketing strategy. It needs to be catchy, memorable, and reflective of the content. Here’s how to craft a title that stands out:
Keyword Research: Just like with SEO, your book title should include keywords that readers might use when searching for a book in your genre. Tools like Google Keyword Planner and Amazon’s search bar can help you identify popular keywords.
This is an advance strategy and if you feel overwhelmed just by hearing the words SEO, just use Amazon’s search bar to compile a list of 10 or so bestselling book titles in your genre and brainstorm from there to come up with your own.
Clarity and Relevance: Your title should give readers a clear idea of what the book is about. Avoid vague or abstract titles that don’t provide any context. Instead, opt for titles that hint at the plot, setting, or main themes of your book.
Brevity: Shorter titles are generally more memorable and easier to market. Aim for a title that is no more than five words long. If you need to include more detail, consider adding a subtitle.
Using a subtitle alongside your book’s title provides clarity and context, helping potential readers understand the book’s content at a glance. It also enhances the title’s impact by adding specificity, making it more memorable and compelling. Additionally, a well-crafted subtitle can improve searchability and appeal to a broader audience by incorporating relevant keywords.
Uniqueness: While it’s important to use keywords, your title should also stand out from the competition. Avoid generic titles that could easily be confused with other books. Instead, think about what makes your book unique and try to convey that in the title.
Constructing a Blurb That Leaves Your Readers No Choice but to Buy Your Books
Your book blurb is your sales pitch. It needs to be compelling enough to persuade readers to buy your book. Here’s how to write a blurb that sells:
Hook the Reader: Start with a strong opening that grabs the reader’s attention. This could be a provocative question, an intriguing statement, or a brief snippet of action.
Introduce the Main Characters and Conflict: Provide a brief overview of your main characters and the central conflict of your book. Give readers a taste of what to expect without giving away too much.
Build Suspense: Keep the reader’s interest by building suspense and hinting at the stakes involved. What challenges do the characters face? What’s at risk?
End with a Call to Action: Finish your blurb with a call to action that encourages the reader to buy your book. This could be a compelling question, a hint at a plot twist, or a statement about the book’s appeal.
Keep It Concise: Your blurb should be no longer than 150-200 words. It needs to be concise and to the point, providing just enough information to entice readers without overwhelming them.
Implementing the Book Marketing Strategy
Now that you understand the importance of book covers, titles, and blurbs, it’s time to put this book marketing strategy into action. Here’s how you can implement these elements to make your books more marketable:
Analyze Successful Authors: Start by researching successful authors in your genre. Take note of their book covers, titles, and blurbs. What do they have in common? How do they appeal to their target audience?
Apply What You’ve Learned: Use the insights you’ve gained to create a marketable book cover, title, and blurb for your own book. Remember, you’re not copying their work; you’re using it as inspiration to create something that will resonate with your audience.
Test and Iterate: Once you’ve implemented these changes, test them out. Share your new book cover, title, and blurb with your mailing list, social media followers, and other potential readers. Get their feedback and make adjustments as needed.
A great place to do this is with your email list. You can conduct a poll and share with them the poll results as you get closer to launching your book.
Make sure to acknowledge the readers on your list that gave great feedback and find a way to thank them for their valuable input. Maybe a discounted price for your book when it launches.
A place where you don’t want feedback is writer groups. Yes, I said writer’s groups. And here’s why. Fellow authors, first and foremost, are not your target market.
Secondly, in a rush to sound like an authority figure, most self-published authors in these writer’s groups are overly opinionated without the success of consistent book sales to validate them.
Your source of feed back best comes from a group of people who are going to buy your books, not ones who are barely selling any of their own.
Enhancing Your Online Presence
Beyond your book’s cover, title, and blurb, your online presence plays a critical role in your overall book marketing strategy. Here are some ways to enhance your online presence and reach more potential readers:
Build an Author Website: Your author website is your online hub where readers can learn more about you and your books. Make sure it’s professional, easy to navigate, and includes a sales page (a place where to purchase your books), a blog (this is how you attract new readers with new stories that’s exclusive to your blog), an about page (to learn about you), and a contact form ( to get in contact with you).
Leverage Social Media: Use social media platforms to connect with your readers and promote your book. Share engaging content, interact with your followers, and participate in relevant conversations.
Create a Mailing List: Building an email list is a powerful way to stay in touch with your readers. Offer a freebie, such as a free chapter or a short story, to encourage sign-ups. Use your mailing list to share updates, exclusive content, and promotional offers.
Engage with Book Clubs and Reviewers: Reach out to book clubs and reviewers to generate buzz for your book. Offer review copies and participate in discussions to build relationships and gain exposure.
Optimize for Search Engines: Use SEO techniques to optimize your author website and blog for search engines. This will help you attract more organic traffic and increase your visibility online.
This is an advanced book marketing strategy that some self-published authors will avoid due to the work involved. But if you really want to treat your author career as a thriving business, then it’s a step that you need to take if you want to stop relying on Amazon to take over 50% of your profits.
In Conclusion...
Implementing this overlooked book marketing strategy can make a significant difference in your book’s success. By studying and mirroring the book covers, titles, and blurbs of successful authors in your genre, you can create a book that resonates with your target audience and stands out in the market.
Remember, the key to a successful book marketing strategy is to make your book marketable from the start. This involves understanding your audience, analyzing what works in your genre, and applying those insights to your own book. By doing so, you can achieve consistent book sales and build a loyal readership.
So, take the time to study successful authors, implement what you’ve learned, and watch your book sales grow. With the right book marketing strategy, you can turn your passion for writing into a successful career.
And I didn’t forget, the highly productive tool I mentioned earlier: The Hidden Gems of Self-Published Marketing. ‘The Bread Crumb Book Marketing Technique.’ This simple, but highly effective method will teach you an easy to implement a system that will allow you to create marketable books that align with the top five selling books… IN ANY GENRE!
CLCIK HERE to get your copy and start to create the most in demand books in any genre you chose to write in!
Happy marketing, self-published authors! Here’s to your consistent success.
Table of Contents
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