Going indie with their books is something a lot of authors are doing today. While it’s awesome that you get to keep all of the profits with an indie book, much of getting an indie book out there is the marketing. That’s true of any book. But with an indie book, you have to do a lot of it yourself or outsource some or all of the work. Outsourcing can get expensive, so let’s focus on the things you can do yourself to successfully market your indie book.
Great Teaser
Just like with anything you market, a great teaser is what gets people to pay attention to your book and hopefully consider buying it. You don’t need to stick to one teaser, either. Different teasers of various lengths can be used in different ways to successfully market a book. These can be used when sharing on social media, for the description in various marketplaces, to guest post on blogs, and more.
Standout Cover
Of course, the prettier or more memorable your book’s cover is, the better it will do as far as sales. That’s because it will catch more eyes. In order to successfully market your indie book, it needs to stand out from the crowd in a good way. It’s also not unusual for the same book to have several different covers, either, so if you can’t decide on just one, it’s perfectly fine to start off with multiple covers. Then, see which one performs the best as far as sales.
Great Teaser
Just like with anything you market, a great teaser is what gets people to pay attention to your book and hopefully consider buying it. You don’t need to stick to one teaser, either. Different teasers of various lengths can be used in different ways to successfully market a book. These can be used when sharing on social media, for the description in various marketplaces, to guest post on blogs, and more.
Standout Cover
Of course, the prettier or more memorable your book’s cover is, the better it will do as far as sales. That’s because it will catch more eyes. In order to successfully market your indie book, it needs to stand out from the crowd in a good way. It’s also not unusual for the same book to have several different covers, either, so if you can’t decide on just one, it’s perfectly fine to start off with multiple covers. Then, see which one performs the best as far as sales.
Social Media
Obviously, Facebook and Twitter are a good way to get the word out about books. Google Plus and Linkedin are good for promoting books in certain genres, too, although some more than others. Be sure to know the right hashtags that your target audience frequents and be sure to vary the types of posts that you have. Be sure to share other authors’ posts to show you’re part of the team. It’s also good to find Facebook groups and niche forums that cater to those who would want to read your book.
Word of Mouth
Give the books to friends and family. It’s the old fashioned way to market anything, and it still works! Who knows. They may go on social media and say something, too! Others to give books to include book bloggers and reviewers. These are people willing to give their honest feedback in exchange for a copy of the book. Be sure to target the ones who will be honest, rather than give a glowing review just because they received the book. Honest reviews are best for marketing, as readers are more likely to trust authenticity.
Amazon Ads
The last thing to think about is Amazon ads. While these can be pricey, they may be beneficial for the first two weeks of your book advertising campaign, especially if you choose great keywords. The most popular keywords are the ones that correspond with book categories, including thriller, romance, erotica, historical and sci-fi. Amazon ads allow you to set a daily budget as well as a max budget for each keyword click, which helps make the ads more affordable. You can also pause an ad at any time if it becomes too expensive.
Marketing an indie book can be challenging. But if you put your best foot forward and be sure to cover the most important areas, you’re more likely to be successful. Some of this advice may seem simple, but it is often the simple things people overlook when trying to successfully market an indie book.
Obviously, Facebook and Twitter are a good way to get the word out about books. Google Plus and Linkedin are good for promoting books in certain genres, too, although some more than others. Be sure to know the right hashtags that your target audience frequents and be sure to vary the types of posts that you have. Be sure to share other authors’ posts to show you’re part of the team. It’s also good to find Facebook groups and niche forums that cater to those who would want to read your book.
Word of Mouth
Give the books to friends and family. It’s the old fashioned way to market anything, and it still works! Who knows. They may go on social media and say something, too! Others to give books to include book bloggers and reviewers. These are people willing to give their honest feedback in exchange for a copy of the book. Be sure to target the ones who will be honest, rather than give a glowing review just because they received the book. Honest reviews are best for marketing, as readers are more likely to trust authenticity.
Amazon Ads
The last thing to think about is Amazon ads. While these can be pricey, they may be beneficial for the first two weeks of your book advertising campaign, especially if you choose great keywords. The most popular keywords are the ones that correspond with book categories, including thriller, romance, erotica, historical and sci-fi. Amazon ads allow you to set a daily budget as well as a max budget for each keyword click, which helps make the ads more affordable. You can also pause an ad at any time if it becomes too expensive.
Marketing an indie book can be challenging. But if you put your best foot forward and be sure to cover the most important areas, you’re more likely to be successful. Some of this advice may seem simple, but it is often the simple things people overlook when trying to successfully market an indie book.
