Suggestions Regarding Marketing

            The following are a few suggestions I’ve collected over the past weeks for self-published authors to market their books. I’d love to hear if you’ve tried any of them and if so, how they’ve worked.

1. Write a great book. As writers, we need to develop doorways for readers to walk through. Once inside, they don’t seek an exit but a path deeper into our saga. We want the reader to lay aside his/her responsibilities and live for the moment in the world we’ve created.
2. Shift from promoting yourself to serving others. Ask, “how can I improve the lives of readers through my work?”
3. Offer opt-in incentives and on-going value for readers to sign up for your email list.
4. Follow other books in your genre.
5. Follow reviewers of your book.
6. Market via free ebooks.
7. Tempt readers with more, such as sample chapters from your next book at the end of your current book.
8. Advertise previous works in each book you publish.
9. Repurpose content to reach more people. Share on SlideShare or on a short video on YouTube.
10. Collaborate with other authors.
11. Guest blogging and author interviews

WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR PRESS KIT

1. Your contact information, including social media
2. A professional headshot
3. Your biography – 75-100 words
4. Your book blurb – 75-100 words
5. Sample interview questions

MY BOOK IS ON AMAZON. NOW WHAT DO I DO?

1. Get reviews. I know, easier said than done. When you send a copy to others, ask them to write a review.
2. Don’t skip Author Central.
3. Don’t forget “Look Inside”.
4. Use metadata and keywords. Be wise in choosing the categories for your book and keywords in the title/subtitle and book description.
5. Provide cover art and images on your Amazon Author Page
6. Write an interesting Amazon Author page

​        That’s it for now. I’ll pass on more marketing tips as I gather them. In the meantime, never stop writing and never stop marketing your book(s).