50 Usable Marketing Tips for Authors 1-10

The first 10 To-Do’s are more about getting organized. The next 40 To-Do’s are specific and simple ways to market yourself and your books to gain book sales.

Okay, now we can get started!

To-Do Number 1:

Create a 20-word pitch.

This will help with ALL your marketing and sales approach along with simplifying the process. You’ll find many ways to use this 20-word pitch, so make sure to write it in your Book Kit.

Type this sentence and fill in the blank about your story, “After reading this book, you’ll never look at [blank] the same way again!”

Example: “After reading this book, you’ll never look at author marketing the same way again!”

Example 2: “After reading this book, you’ll never look at zombies the same way again!”

Fill in the blank for your book as your new simplified marketing and sales foundation begins to quickly take shape.

Tip

Studies have shown that people are initially interested in the “big picture” rather than the details. Authors tend to drag out describing the main points of their book because they’re worried that people won’t understand.

This is why your 20-word pitch is so important!

Look over the online description of your book and make sure it’s one or two small paragraphs with powerful and exciting details.

To-Do Number 2:

Test your 20-word pitch on social media.

Here’s an example, “After reading this book, you’ll never look at romance the same way again! Click on link to learn more.”

This is simple…right?

To-Do Number 3:

Create a 2^nd 20-word pitch.

Here’s a pitch that author Michael Crichton used in a meeting with Steven Spielberg for Jurassic Park, “Dinosaurs and DNA.”

Crichton wasn’t even finished writing Jurassic Park, but Spielberg made Crichton promise not to show the book to anyone else!

To help you, write this sentence in your Book Kit and fill in the blank, “This book provides a better way to [Blank].”

Let’s use Jurassic Park in our 20-word pitch example. “This book provides a better way to create dinosaurs using a simple DNA process.”

Wow!!!

Now fill in the blank for YOUR pitch.

Log this into your Book Kit. We’ll find other ways to use it later.

Note: Being different is the only edge you have over thousands of unproven authors that are doing the same thing.

To-Do Number 4:

Test your second 20-word pitch on social media.

Here’s an example, “This book provides a better way fight vampires. Click on link for more!”

Tip

Remember if you have multiple books, you can certainly double the process for each of your books.

To-Do Number 5:

Create an Excerpt.

Your story should have an amazing start that will have the reader begging to see more. Using 500 words or less, create an excerpt using the beginning of your book.

Write it in your Book Kit. That way it’s handy for when you need to use it for other areas in your marketing.

The more your Target Audience sees, the more they will want!

This is also a proven way to find your Ideal Reader.

To-Do Number 6:

Using a blog or PDF attachment, post your excerpt and promote on social media.

Use a 20-word pitch when you post.

Example, “After reading this book, you’ll never look at romantic relationships the same way again! Click on link to view a FREE sample and find out if this book is perfect for you!”

To-Do Number 7:

Create a Book Trailer.

You can spend a lot of time and money putting together a Book Trailer, but I suggest something easier and more simplified.

Film a 15-30 second message from you. This builds trust with your Ideal Reader and may have more of an impact than anything else. Just make sure the video is about your Ideal Reader, not about you.

Example: “Hey I’m Jane Smith, author of Romance in the Village. After reading this story, you’ll never view romance the same way again. The characters provide a better way to take your romance to a new level. Go to (link) to and read my free expert while making sure this book is perfect for you.”

Notice that you used both of your 20-word pitches and your excerpt while coming off as “human” to your potential readers. It’s simple marketing that leads to simplified sales.

Tip

Every message you convey on the Internet or in an email must be quick and on point, whether it’s the description on the back of your book, a query letter, web content, pitch, or book trailer.

To-Do Number 8:

Keep this in mind during your marketing and promotions.

•          Children and young adults love receiving gifts because they crave enjoyment.

•          Moms are always looking for books to purchase for themselves and for their children.

•          Grandparents love to purchase gifts for their grandchildren, especially when it’s a book.

Consider those Target Audience possibilities to simplify your marketing. Make a list of how you can reach that target audience to simplify your sales.

To-Do Number 9:

If you have a website, go over every page and make sure the content is about your Target Audience and less about you.

For blogs, you should be engaging and focusing on your Target Audience while creating a benefit in each blog.

When authors focus more on their Target Audience and less on themselves, it simplifies the marketing and sales.

To-Do Number 10:

To simplify the “creating a benefit for your Target Audience,” here’s how to get started.

Based on statistics, “Readers make five times more money than non-readers.”

You can personalize that statistic by saying in a social media post, “People who read my book, Heart and Diamonds, are on the path to making five times more money that those who don’t!”

Add the link to your book at the bottom of your post or a link to your free excerpt.