Selling your books is your responsibility even if you are traditionally published. Gone are the days authors write and publishers promote.
Traditional vs. Self-Published
Traditional publishers want authors to have a network of followers. They will expect you, as the author, to connect with your people and sell your book to them based on your relationships and your influence.
So whether you publish through a traditional publisher, or whether you self-publish, a successful author has a positive marketing mindset. Let’s dig into what that means.
Create a Remarkable Product
First, you need to create a product that will wow people. Go for remarkable. Why? If your book is remarkable, worth remarking on, then people will talk about it, pass it on, refer it to friends. Every marketing dollar you spend will double or treble if you take the time to create a remarkable product. Bloggers will want to blog about it. Podcasters will want to talk about it. Media will shout it out.
Ensure the content helps promote the book. First you need to have remarkable content. Then, you need to ask people to refer it to a friend, leave a review, and share it on social media. Make sure these asks are in the book. It is too late once it is published. These are things you think about when planning and producing your wow book.
Book Packaging Matters
Package it well. A book is a product. And a product is packaged. In fact, packaging is one of the strongest factors in a purchasing decision so your book packaging matters. That includes the book cover image, book cover design, font choices, title, copy, and the back cover, description, about the authors, rave reviews – including who reviews your book. The spine, the inside cover, all of this matters. You want your book to be attention-grabbing and exciting while still representing the content well.
Distribution Matters
Distribution matters. If you are self-published, you want people to be able to buy your book, wherever they shop. Don’t make them come to you, you get your book in front of them. The good news is that distribution is something that you can hand off to others, even if you are self-published. Check out my video on distribution channels.
What about Marketing?
You are probably thinking, I thought this post was about marketing. It is. That is the point. Too many authors come to me after the book is written and published and ask me about promotion. Promoting your book starts when you are planning the book. That is the successful author marketing mindset.
Promote a Better Product
Once you have done the work to create a remarkable product, you can learn promotion strategies and become an author who sells books. Selling sound icky? It doesn’t need to be. Selling is about an exchange. You give value and in return, you receive value. Nothing icky about that.
Now that we have an open and positive author marketing mindset, check out Author Nation’s promotion checklist to make the most out of your promotion efforts.
How have you made your book an outstanding product?
– Keep writing
Melody Ann
Author Nation is your go-to resource for becoming a successful nonfiction author, from planning to promotion and everything in between. Download the resource for the stage you are in.