When a reader holds a book in their hands contemplating whether to buy a copy of it or not, couple of things happen simultaneously, almost instinctively. One is, the reader checks out the summary of the story printed on the back cover; the second thing they do is check out the author. The second part, we feel, plays a vital role in the reader’s decision-making process. If a writer has marketed himself or herself in the right manner, nine out of ten times the reader will buy the book.
The decision to buy the book happens in a split second. What pushes the decision along is the marketing word the author has spread, lodged deep in the recess of the reader/consumer’s mind. Read on to find out more about how to market yourself as a writer.
Writing A Book v Marketing Yourself
Developing a story into a full-fledged 80,000-word novel is one thing, promoting yourself to millions of readers in India and worldwide is an entirely different ball game. Writing a book happens in a finite timeframe, marketing yourself is a continuous, ongoing process.
A few of us (writers) believe that completing your novel is a walk in the park compared to the energy and focus required to spread the word that you are an author. Books are written in seclusion, with a writer and his writing pad for company. Marketing yourself needs to take place out in the open, online and in the physical world.
The Smart, Subtle Way To Do It
No one will ever buy a product that tries too hard to sell itself. Apply this branding analogy to yourself, the writer. If you try too hard or seem too eager, it could create a negative first impression which is akin to committing career suicide. We have listed simple, common sense, but key marketing strategies that will help writers market themselves, and not, sell themselves:
1. Your Brand Online
And we are not talking about social media (Facebook, Twitter). We are talking about creating your own website. With the internet just a click away for users across India, a website is the perfect launch pad to spread the word and, more importantly, connect with netizens. The connect will help word-of- mouth, and word-of-mouth spreads rapidly in the Internet domain.
2. Social Media
Clichéd in today’s Internet age, nevertheless, an effective marketing ploy. Writers can post updates about their upcoming books and even build up the book to their followers or the netizens at large. The best way to handle social media functions is to provide short updates in bursts. LinkedIn too can be used to announce major updates, such as a publishing deal, release dates and so forth.
3. Contribute
Not to be confused with charity. Writers should actively participate in forums and discussions that take place on popular sites with a massive following. A word to the wise, do not get over involved in these discussions or forums or guest blogs. Keep it professional and courteous.
It Is A New Day
Some of you may be wondering why we have focused entirely on online strategies. The reason being they save you time, money, and helps you have greater control over your image. We believe readers would prefer someone who speaks from his or her heart than someone who is stage managed by a professional.
Image credit: debs-eye on flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://writingtipsoasis.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/img-109061105-0001.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Anand Changali is a compulsive writer whose first love is cinema. He has written scripts for animation shows, animation films, and also articles for blogs and the digital domain. His book, The Princess in Black – An Unheard Story of the Mughals, has been picked up by Srishti Publishers. [/author_info] [/author]
[…] These insights seem to indicate that the market for short stories across India is big, and perhaps self-published writers need to get into short story writing, to increase the reach of their brands. […]