Being an author comes with a lot of mixed feelings. You’re passionate about your writing and thrilled that you got published, but you’re also a little disappointed that your book hasn’t reached Best Seller status and hasn’t made it to Oprah’s Book Club.
There’s no doubt about it: selling a book can be hard. There’s so much competition out there. Even if your story is completely unique and the most amazing piece of literature since Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights (OK, that may be a stretch), it can easily get lost in the mix of the countless other titles out there.
How can you get your book noticed and sell more copies? Here are five marketing suggestions that will help you move more copies of your title off shelves and drastically increase your sales.
- Do some Research
In order to increase sales of your book, you really have to spend some time researching – before you even start to write. Before you even pick up a pen or open up a laptop, conduct market research. Your research should focus on your topic and your audience. Attempt to find answers to the following questions:
- What keywords are your audience searching for the most?
- What are people saying about books that are similar to yours?
- What is your audience really looking for?
The answers to these questions can help you compose a book that really meets the needs of your audience and craft something that will sell.
- Write a Killer Description
The description is one of the most important parts of a books. It’s what your audience uses to help them determine if they are interested in your topic and if they should invest in purchasing a copy. First, start with a hook that will really draw your readers in, then include a brief synopsis of the best parts, and then include a compelling call to action.
- Make Sure You Have Reviews
Most people rely heavily on reviews to determine if they should purchase something. In fact, reviews are one of the biggest influencers of buying decisions. Make sure you have a good collection of reviews. Ask your friends and family to read your book and write up some reviews for you. The more positive reviews you have, the greater the chances your book will sell.
- Market on Social Media
Social media is one of the most powerful marketing tools for any professional – including authors. Create social media pages for yourself as an author – apart from your personal profiles – and use your pages to promote your book. Compelling posts, eye-catching images, and even videos of you reading excerpts can really help to increase sales.
- Head to Forums
Forum marketing is also super effective. Join forums that relate to the topic of your book, as well as forums where readers gather. Interact with the community and include links to your book in your signature. You could see a significant increase in your sales.