Digital Marketing Strategies for Authors

E-publishing has revolutionized the world of fiction and non-fiction. Thanks to free services like Amazon Kindle, anyone can publish a book. All you have to do is write, use a book cover maker to create a compelling visual, and upload your work. That’s the easy part, but what’s not quite so easy is finding an audience for your books. In this post, we have some great tips for new and experienced authors to promote their work.

Self-promotion may be an anathema to a shy author, but unless you get on the promotional trail (figuratively speaking) very few people other than family and friends are going to come across your work. The e-book market is incredibly crowded and most books disappear to the bottom of Amazon’s sales list very quickly. There are some exceptions, of course, but success stories like Fifty Shades of Grey are rare.

Obscurity is a painful condition. After sweating blood for months, it is only natural that you want an audience for your talent. The good news is that content marketing is your new best friend and it requires zero experience.

Blogging

As a writer, blogging should come naturally to you. After all, blogging is writing, but on a more personal level. Set up a blog and start building an audience. The aim is not to shove your books down the reader’s throat. Instead, be engaging and offer the reader a glimpse into your world so they can relate to you. If the reader feels a connection, they are more likely to check out your work (via a handy link).

Guest Blogging

Guest blogging is an extension of personal blogging. Look for guest blogging opportunities on writing websites or websites owned by your fellow authors. Write posts about your life, your work, and perhaps where you find your inspiration. Include a link back to your website or Amazon Kindle page in the bio.

Become a Mentor

Teaching others how to write may seem like a strange way to promote your work, but it all helps to boost exposure. Offer a writing course via newsletter or post helpful vlogs on YouTube. People love something for nothing, especially if it is useful, it won’t be difficult to persuade readers to sign up. Once you have their email address, you can market your past, present and future books directly to their inbox.

Be Active on Social Media

You seriously can’t avoid social media. Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks are valuable marketing channels, irrespective of what type of work you publish. Create a Facebook page and start talking about your work. Post your book covers on Instagram and Tumblr. Use social media to engage with your audience and answer any questions they may have. Host a question and answer session on Twitter or show off your most irreverent side. You could even become the queen of the put-down like J. K. Rowling.

However you approach digital and content marketing, the golden rule is to always include a call-to-action in every post, tweet, or anything else you post online.

Jacqueline

Community manager at Visual Contenting. Jacqueline loves to talk about social media trends, new technology and how they help businesses accelerate their marketing efforts.

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