5 Strategies for Marketing the Book You’ve Just Published

How much thought have you put into marketing the book you've just published? Selling your book(s) will open up a world of business opportunities you may have never thought of. If you leave the marketing of your book to chance…you leave opportunities at the door.

For instance, I used a focused marketing strategy to sell my book, Power Up for Profits: The Smart Woman’s Guide to Online Marketing. Not only was I able to sell thousands of copies and make a lot of money, but many incredible consulting and speaking opportunities also opened up.

Even four years later, I still market my book. The information in that book is as relevant today as it was when I wrote it. Just look at the example I’m using in this post.

But I still find that many “authorpreneurs” do very little marketing, if any, of their books. There are numerous strategies to market your book. For example, my friend, John Kremer, identified and wrote about 1001 Ways to Market Your Books. (His book is currently out of print, but you can purchase a used copy off of Amazon.)

I poured over that book and implemented dozens of ideas. You know what? I GOT results!

Here are five focused activities you can use to get your books into the hands of anxious readers.

1. Build an Email List – or Message Your Existing List

This is critical! Every author needs a targeted email list. It gives you control over what you send to your audience.

Don’t miss out on opportunities. Build your list.

To get started, you will need an email database management system like AWeber.

Once you have that setup, create something of value that people will gladly give you their name and email address for.  For instance, a favorite opt-in my with my community is my complementary report, Hit#1 on Amazon.

Gather those names and keep engaging with your audience.

2. Focus on 3-5 Social Media Platforms…Only!

When it comes to social media, less is more. Figure out where your target audience hangs out and focus on those social media channels – but only use 3-5.

Personally, I’ve found the most success on Facebook and Instagram versus Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.

Once you’ve determined the channels, you will center your attention around, post regularly. I post pictures, videos and blog articles to keep my community in the loop on what I’m doing.

Consistency is the key. When you’re consistently posting, your name becomes familiar. People recognize you. When it’s time to promote your book, you’ve got a captive audience.

3. Send Out Media Releases

Even though media releases are underutilized, they are a fantastic way to put your book out to various media sources. Here's what Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases, says:

“All businesses can benefit from press release distribution. No matter what industry you’re in and no matter how big or small your company is, you can benefit from press release distribution. Even if you don’t have that “Oprah story,” you do have stories that can get you coverage in trade journals, magazines, blogs, podcasts, and other publications that cover your industry. Of course, you can’t get that publicity unless you tell your story.”

Use media releases as a regular part of your business marketing to get your message out to your ideal market. Just make sure you target the right outlets – if you release a book on robotics, don’t send your information to pet editors.

As with other forms of marketing, the more targeted, the better. So be strategic to get your book discovered by the media.

4. Participate in a Blog Tour

Blog tours are basically virtual book tours. It’s an opportunity to get your book and message out to tons of potential readers just by being featured as an expert on different blogs.

As I’ve mentioned before, you have to be very focused. Create a “wish list” of those blogs you’d love to be featured on. Do your homework and figure out what the benefit to the blog owner and their readers would be if you promoted your book to them. This proves to them that you’ve thought through this process.

Keep in mind – the more blogs you reach out to, the better your results.

5. Get Up and Speak

This is one of my absolute favorites!

When you get up on the platform to speak, you have the opportunity to talk about your topic and then sell books on the backend.

Sometimes you can get paid. Sometimes you can make more money – not being by paid to speak – but by selling your books and information products afterward.

It's also possible to negotiate and have the media planner buy books for all the attendees. There might even be sponsors that will buy the book in bulk for the attendees.

There are many ways to utilize the platform to make money. More than I have room for here. So, if you’re ready to learn how you can make money speaking, check out my course Speak, Sell, Profit – Insider Secrets to Making Six Figures from Speaking on the Platform.

It’s Time to Focus Your Book Marketing Strategies

Decide today to get focused and market your books. Implement these ideas and see great results.

Actions today result in sales tomorrow!