Building An Awesome Audience For Your Book
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Writing Speaking -> subcategory Book Marketing.
Building an Engaging Audience for Your Book
Summary:
"The Book Sistah"
When I sold my novel, I also launched a newsletter, "Living the Dream," for my coaching business. As my subscriber list grew, it became an invaluable platform to pre-sell my book before it hit shelves 18 months later.
I was unknowingly building an audience?"a goldmine for selling and getting noticed by publishers. A large audience can even lead to bigger advances. But how do you build such a list? Here are some actionable tips.
1. Start with Familiar Faces
Most of us have existing contacts, whether through email or holiday card lists. Your starting list might range from 10 to 400 names. Begin by sending a message announcing your plans to share regular updates, and allow people to opt out. Friends and family will likely stay engaged.
2. Gather New Contacts with Permission
Networking is crucial. Attend events, take classes, or give talks?"especially for non-fiction authors who need to establish expertise. Collect business cards or sign-up info, but always ask for permission to add people to your list. Unauthorized additions are spamming!
I learned this from observing successful authors. At an E. Lynn Harris reading, attendees felt a personal connection. When signing books, he required people to sign his list, too, for future updates. Brilliant!
3. Use a List Service
As your list expands, your email may not accommodate mass messages. Avoid solely relying on your computer by using a list service. These services maintain databases, offer templates, and enable professional-looking HTML emails. Popular options include Constant Contact and 1ShoppingCart. If you're not selling products, Constant Contact might be ideal.
4. Engage Regularly with Your Audience
Stay connected so your audience remembers you. E. Lynn Harris used notes and cards; a colleague shares daily inspirational quotes. I prefer email newsletters for sharing updates and valuable content, demonstrating expertise. I've offered discounts, gift certificates, and tips through my newsletter, featuring my book and its glowing reviews.
5. Build Excitement and Anticipation
As your book nears publication, update your audience. Share pre-sale opportunities and reviews. Notify them about speaking events and signings. When my book appeared on Amazon six months before release, I encouraged pre-orders, and it ranked as high as 3,000! This buzz assists distributors in selling your book, showing you have an eager audience.
© 2005 Sophfronia Scott
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Building An Awesome Audience For Your Book.
You can browse and read all the articles for free. If you want to use them and get PLR and MRR rights, you need to buy the pack. Learn more about this pack of over 100 000 MRR and PLR articles.