Strategies to Increase Book Sales
Preparing a Marketing Plan is Key to successful Selling
Sep 15, 2008
Every book, whether self-published or produced by a third party publisher, should have a well thought-out marketing plan accompanying it. Ask anyone who has a book in print, and almost to a person they’ll agree that selling books is much more difficult than writing them. A well-developed marketing plan makes this job a lot easier, however.
Prospective Buyers
A key element your plan should include is a discussion of who your prospective buyers are:
- Will your book appeal to readers of all ages?
- Or is it targeted more for women?
- Suspense novel readers?
- A niche market audience?
- What is it about the plot and setting that makes you think these people will want to read your book?
Deciding who your prospective buyers are is important because this will ultimately help you decide how you will market your book. For example, there’s no point in going to an arts and crafts event to sell your book if you’ve penned a technical work on computer repair. Clearly knowing your prospective buyers will help when it comes to designing your advertising campaign.
Comparisons
Making comparisons of your book to other well known titles is especially important if you are wooing a publisher or agent. How is your book similar to other, well known books on this subject? For example, if you’ve written a sailing book, would it be comparable to Lyn Pardey’s Cruising Under Sail? Or Robin Graham’s Dove?
If your book is a suspense novel or a mystery, is it comparable to a work by Stephen King? Tony Hillerman? Jonathan Kellerman?
It’s important not just to say the book is similar to another book, but explain in what way your book is similar. Are the settings similar? Are there similarities in the protagonists or antagonists? Is the plot reminiscent of another story? You can also discuss key differences here too.
Marketing Links
This is the section where you will get into the nitty gritty of your book sales. Begin by referencing any professional groups you belong to that will be of help in publicizing your work, like Sisters in Crime, or Mystery Writers of America. It’s likely that early in your career you may only belong to local writing clubs, but by all means, list these.
Will you be providing news releases? If so, to whom? Name the periodicals and/or newspapers that you’ll be sending news releases to. Will you make a press packet available? If other media coverage is part of your program, how will you obtain this coverage? What specific radio/television stations will you approach for this opportunity?
Will book signings or group presentations be part of your campaign? Where will these be? How often will you be signing or presenting? How far are you willing to travel to do these signings or presentations?
Will you have a website for your book? Business cards? Stationary? Posters? Flyers? Brochures?
For even more marketing ideas and strategies, see John Kremer’s 1001 Ways to Market Your Books or Marilyn and Tom Ross’ Jump Start Your Book Sales.
Marketing Plans Help Sales
Whether you submit this plan to a prospective publisher, or you write it for yourself, it should not be neglected or skipped over. Writing this document is key for the ultimate success of your project and is an important step in achieving your goal of selling your book!
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