That being said, here are:
1. Perfect Your Product
No matter how great your salesmanship is, or how many places you get to distribute your book, all your efforts are pointless if you don't have the perfect product. In fact, idealistically, a perfect novel should sell itself through word of mouth and rave reviews.
That being said, I recommend you push yourself to make the best book possible rather than push yourself to sell sell sell.
What this means is not only making sure your story is awesome and written as best as possible, but that you've paid attention to even the SMALLEST of details. It's these details that show you care about your readers who are investing money and time to read your story, and also create a seamless and CONSISTENT experience so that they are not thrown out of the story you spent so long to create.
I will do a future blog going into more detail about creating the perfect book layout, inside and out. This will focus on things that create a better experience, such as proper page formatting, chapter headings, drop caps, and all things to do with the cover jacket.
In the meantime, push yourself to craft the perfect product so that your book can REPLACE your sales team.
That being said, I recommend you push yourself to make the best book possible rather than push yourself to sell sell sell.
What this means is not only making sure your story is awesome and written as best as possible, but that you've paid attention to even the SMALLEST of details. It's these details that show you care about your readers who are investing money and time to read your story, and also create a seamless and CONSISTENT experience so that they are not thrown out of the story you spent so long to create.
I will do a future blog going into more detail about creating the perfect book layout, inside and out. This will focus on things that create a better experience, such as proper page formatting, chapter headings, drop caps, and all things to do with the cover jacket.
In the meantime, push yourself to craft the perfect product so that your book can REPLACE your sales team.
2. Reviews and Press
As soon as you finish your novel, start researching opportunities for free press. Whether getting written up in a news article or having someone review your work, all of this will start to lend to your novel's worth and credibility. Unfortunately, not many people want to read a book nobody has heard or written about.
If you're looking for press, try reaching out to your town's newspaper, or your old college campus's paper. Usually, they are more than willing to feature an interview for a local resident or an alumni. Maybe even your library has a weekly bulletin. Either way, you're going to have to start close to home before you make it big and schedule your first international book tour.
As for bloggers and reviewers, your book NEEDS to be reviewed. Sure, you're risking receiving a bad review, but just about everyone in the world reads at least a few amazon reviews before they BUY the product. Your novel is no different. On the plus side, there are many reviewers who will do this for no charge.
Check the The Indie View for more info. Just be sure to carefully read through each reviewer's website to make sure they review your genre (Along with what formats they accept!) And, just as you'd send out query letters to an agent, there is a review process and a chance your book will be rejected. So the more letters you send out is usually better.
The same process goes for Youtubers (or Booktubers). Just type book reviews into youtube, see which vloggers accept your genre and then see if they have a website where you can read more about them. Also make sure they accept submissions as some do not, or are just filled up at the moment.
If you're looking for press, try reaching out to your town's newspaper, or your old college campus's paper. Usually, they are more than willing to feature an interview for a local resident or an alumni. Maybe even your library has a weekly bulletin. Either way, you're going to have to start close to home before you make it big and schedule your first international book tour.
As for bloggers and reviewers, your book NEEDS to be reviewed. Sure, you're risking receiving a bad review, but just about everyone in the world reads at least a few amazon reviews before they BUY the product. Your novel is no different. On the plus side, there are many reviewers who will do this for no charge.
Check the The Indie View for more info. Just be sure to carefully read through each reviewer's website to make sure they review your genre (Along with what formats they accept!) And, just as you'd send out query letters to an agent, there is a review process and a chance your book will be rejected. So the more letters you send out is usually better.
The same process goes for Youtubers (or Booktubers). Just type book reviews into youtube, see which vloggers accept your genre and then see if they have a website where you can read more about them. Also make sure they accept submissions as some do not, or are just filled up at the moment.
3. Promotions, Sweepstakes and Giveaways
This is pretty self explanatory. Maybe not everyone wants to read your book just yet (because they haven't heard of it) but everyone loves to be apart of a promotion!
Some cool things to give away could be book related materials such as your novel, iPads or kindles. Also merchandise is always fun, assuming you've created some, which if you haven't head on over to Spread Shirt where you can start creating your own customized T-shirts! (And open your own storefront!)
Also, as a side note, do be sure that your contests are not actually lotteries, as these are illegal! Basically, the safest way to do this is to write "no purchase necessary." People shouldn't have to BUY your book to receive a prize (aka like buying a lotto ticket to win a jackpot) If anything, go the safe route and just have people enter there name and pick someone randomly. Once you get more well known, maybe do a contest like who can make the coolest book cover? Or who can draw your character the best?
These are all fun, LEGAL ways to do a promotion. And everyone loves being randomly given a prize. It builds brand recognition and it's fun for everyone.
Some cool things to give away could be book related materials such as your novel, iPads or kindles. Also merchandise is always fun, assuming you've created some, which if you haven't head on over to Spread Shirt where you can start creating your own customized T-shirts! (And open your own storefront!)
Also, as a side note, do be sure that your contests are not actually lotteries, as these are illegal! Basically, the safest way to do this is to write "no purchase necessary." People shouldn't have to BUY your book to receive a prize (aka like buying a lotto ticket to win a jackpot) If anything, go the safe route and just have people enter there name and pick someone randomly. Once you get more well known, maybe do a contest like who can make the coolest book cover? Or who can draw your character the best?
These are all fun, LEGAL ways to do a promotion. And everyone loves being randomly given a prize. It builds brand recognition and it's fun for everyone.
4. Build a Web Presence (Or Platform)
If you don't have a Twitter or Facebook, go get one! (And also a website, obviously - which I highly recommend Weebly because of their easy, intuitive interface and FREE, basic hosting)
As far as other social media sites, you could do instagram, google+, etc, but I'm really basic and I think no more than three things going on at once is fine. Because keep in mind, the more social media accounts you have the more you need to juggle. I think focusing on three things and making sure you do them PERFECTLY is better than having a million social media pages. (Okay, I lied because I just realized I have a youtube page too.)
Either way, I guess the moral is use social media often to reach your fans, post links, blogs and videos, and make sure you don't spread yourself to thin. Just like your book needs to be the perfect product, you should follow the same advice with your webpage. It should be as high quality as it can get, and if it isn't, figure out one thing you would change to make it one step BETTER.
As far as other social media sites, you could do instagram, google+, etc, but I'm really basic and I think no more than three things going on at once is fine. Because keep in mind, the more social media accounts you have the more you need to juggle. I think focusing on three things and making sure you do them PERFECTLY is better than having a million social media pages. (Okay, I lied because I just realized I have a youtube page too.)
Either way, I guess the moral is use social media often to reach your fans, post links, blogs and videos, and make sure you don't spread yourself to thin. Just like your book needs to be the perfect product, you should follow the same advice with your webpage. It should be as high quality as it can get, and if it isn't, figure out one thing you would change to make it one step BETTER.
5. Target Specific Demographics
Last but not least (and probably the most important one actually) is make sure you are targeting your demographic. Yes there are billions of people in the world, but not all of those billions want to read your book, and you shouldn't waste your time trying to get them to.
You're going to figure out, the more you research and focus on your product, that your book has a pretty SPECIFIC demographic. This means age, geographic location, gender and individual interests. For example, I think it's safe to say fantasy is geared more towards a younger generation and maybe mysteries and crime novels are better for an older generation (just going off what my dad reads here).
Either way, you need to find out WHO reads your book and HOW you can get your book in their hands.
One easy way to do this is actually through social media, as Facebook keeps an ENTIRE DATABASE on people's personal interests. So basically, if you wanted to set up a fan page, and advertise for that fan page on Facebook, you can pay Facebook to target 17-30 year olds who LOVE dragons and talking gnomes. It's just that simple people.
So figure out your book's demographic, find out how to reach them and get that perfect product of yours in their hands.
You're going to figure out, the more you research and focus on your product, that your book has a pretty SPECIFIC demographic. This means age, geographic location, gender and individual interests. For example, I think it's safe to say fantasy is geared more towards a younger generation and maybe mysteries and crime novels are better for an older generation (just going off what my dad reads here).
Either way, you need to find out WHO reads your book and HOW you can get your book in their hands.
One easy way to do this is actually through social media, as Facebook keeps an ENTIRE DATABASE on people's personal interests. So basically, if you wanted to set up a fan page, and advertise for that fan page on Facebook, you can pay Facebook to target 17-30 year olds who LOVE dragons and talking gnomes. It's just that simple people.
So figure out your book's demographic, find out how to reach them and get that perfect product of yours in their hands.