Your Most Important Marketing Resource Is Your Website or Author Blog
- Grow your email list.
- Engage with your followers.
Your “sales” page must actually SELL your book.
Before or after your description ASK for book reviews. It could be as simple as …
The success of my book depends on book reviews. Can you help?
Get creative … several years ago, I saw a blog post in which the author took a photo of himself down on his knees begging. He did it in such a funny way, I laughed my head off. Sorry … I regret that I can’t remember the name of the website!
.Once you start getting reviews, create a “kudos” or review page for each of your books. Add review excerpts, or the entire review. If they are from blogger or reviews sites, be sure to link back to the original site, because it adds credibility to your book.
DON’T FORGET TO INCLUDE A LINK
TO YOUR AMAZON SALES PAGE.
I know adding a link may seem obvious, but I’ve seen numerous sites where the author forgot to include a link. Your readers are not going to chase down a link … you MUST make it easy for them!
..
Include a “look inside” widget on your book’s sales page.
The look inside widget allows your visitors to take a peek inside your book and then go directly to Amazon to make their purchase.
Here it is in action:
Here’s how to add the LOOK INSIDE widget to your blog.
Launching a NEW BOOK . . .
BLOG and send newsletters about your new book well in advance. Let your audience know it is coming and tell them a bit about it.
When you are ready and have ARCs (Advanced Review Copy) available, ASK ASK ASK for beta-readers. MAKE IT EASY: have your ARC available in both PDF and Kindle e-book versions.
Consider an ARC service. These services can make your job MUCH easier!
ASK your BETA readers if they will read the final edited copy and give you a review. Have them post the review on their website, in social media … or send it to you in an email, with permission to post on YOUR website.
ASK for volunteers for a Promo Team … they can help promote your newly launched book.
Hot off the Press Announcement
When you officially hit the publish button. Write another blog post and newsletter letting your followers know. Be sure to include a BUY button or link to your Amazon sales page.
Run Hot Off The Press announcements in all your social media … link to a longer announcement on your website, OR just include the link straight to your Amazon buy page.
ASK for reviews. ASK, ASK, ASK and then, ASK again.
I KNOW that many authors are very shy about self-promotion and you may be thinking that this is all way too much. Way too aggressive. Sounds way too needy.
First of all, put this into perspective. You are not adding one blog post after another filled with the same information. Presumably there are weeks or even months between new book announcement posts. Even if all your blog posts look the same to you . . . YOU are the only person who cares!
Think COKE. Is Coke shy about asking you to buy their products? Yes, you may get tired of their constant ads, but guess what? They work.
- Ads are everywhere you look:
- TV (TV ads and program placement deals)
- Movies (movie ads and movie placement deals)
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Vending Machines
- Billboards
- YouTube
- Bus billboards (ON the side of the bus, inside the bus)
- What did I miss?
Think Energizer Bunny. He just keeps on going and going and going. He’s been going for over 25 years! Do you think is he about to stop? Neither should you.
ASK and then Make it EASY.
- Beta Readers: Be sure to include information (a special email address or a form) so they can get in touch with you.
- Pre-sales and sales: Make sure you include a BUY button and your Amazon URL.
- Fans: Be sure to let people know how to get in touch with you (email or website form).
- Inside Your Book: ASK for a review right at the end of your book. Include a clickable link that goes directly to your sales page where they can leave their review. I’ve seen many authors ALSO ask at the beginning the the book.
Promote Your FREE Days or 99cent sale days like a CRAZY person! On your blog and in your newsletter.
After Your Book Has Been Published
After your book has been published, never stop marketing it. Keep selling and promoting your book for years or even decades. Update old blog posts or create new ones, linking new publications to your previously published books.
Book reviews are critical to your book’s success, so never hesitate to ask for them!
.Be sure to read the entire How To Get More Book Reviews series:
How To Get More Book Reviews: Your Website
How To Get More Book Reviews: Social Media
How To Get More Book Reviews: Author Groups
How To Get More Book Reviews: Facebook Groups
How To Get More Book Reviews: Reviewer Blogs
How To Get More Book Reviews: Amazon Reviewers
How To Get More Book Reviews: Purchase Reviews (this method is legit)
Another GREAT Article: Asking for Book Reviews
Check out my list of recommended Books on Getting Book Reviews
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I fully agree with you Melanie when you say that “…your Website or Author Blog is your MOST important marketing resource.” Initially I didn’t have a lot of book sales and I didn’t pay much attention to my website. I didn’t realize the importance of the website for book sales, till it actually went down. For those months that my website went down, my book sales dropped to zero! I then realized that whatever few sales were happening, were all driven by my website. I started focusing on growing my site and the book sales increased proportionately. This is a great post. Thank you!
Thanks for your great comment Shannon! In addition to driving sales, your Blog and your List are the only properties you really OWN and have control of. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. can and do change the rules without any warning.