The business of an author is not just about being able to write a good book. The discipline and organization that writing a novel or non-fiction book takes is one of the many good qualities that are going to help successful authors.
When I looked at the possibility to write for a living, never in my wildest dreams did I think about marketing. I wanted to write a good book, worthy of publication and one that my readers will love and tell others about it. That will be the ideal situation for us as writers, a book that sell itself. Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way.
The truth of the matter is that there is certain marketing knowledge that every author should possess in order to succeed. But I don’t want to discourage you here, I just want you to know what it is expected in the industry since now more than ever publishers take in more consideration authors who knows their writing, their competitors, its readers and how to promote their own work. Authors who have this knowledge have a greater chance to be offered a publishing contract than those who don’t.The number of books published daily is just too big for publishers to promote all of them. Most likely those authors with good sales tracking records will be promoted first.
Before you write your book research the topic and its competition. Can you write something that it hasn’t been covered and need to or can you write a book on a popular theme better than it has been written before?
Be ready to spend money. As an authorpreneur, like any other business, you will incur in expenses in order to put the book in front of its audience. Be ready to invest in your book promotion with time and money.
Do something to promote your book on a daily basis. It could be as simple as writing a press release, making promotional fliers, passing out your business cards to people you know and meet when you do your errands. Visit writers group in your are or online and get to know others who like you like or write your genre.
Be creative. Just like you are creative in your writing you need to be creative when it comes in the ways to promote your work. Since you know your audience you can think of effective ways to attract their interest. Look in magazines, newspapers, book reviews at the bookstore or online and see how they do their promotions, stories, articles, etc. When you publish your next book there must be away to include your previous published work in your promotions.
Don’t ignore technology. These days a lot is done online and you shouldn’t disregard the opportunity to use it to spread the word about your book and with it, it’s message.Websites, blogs, forums, e-mail and newsletters or e-zines can be the vehicle to let the world know about your book.Do your best to create a community around the main purpose of your writing efforts in that way you’ll have a captive and growing audience that is interested in your work.
Keep perfecting your craft. I don’t have to tell you how to be a better writer, it’s being an authorpreneur that is a daunting task for many of us. Make it your task to study successful authors, read their memoirs and how they went about their success and how they continue to reach their audience. Read about marketing in all areas an aspects that are applicable today. Get together with others artists in your own and exchange ideas and resources off and online.
