Pub Light: A Publisher's Introduction to Selling Your Book in 10 Easy Steps

By Kaitlin Albers and Elizabeth Turnbull

Pub Light provides a concise, comprehensive guide to assist authors in the daunting task of properly marketing their books. We've compiled the best tips and tricks in the industry from marketing experts, independent authors, and professional bloggers. In 10 easy steps, we reveal the best ways to leverage your audience, from utilizing social media, networking with people you know, getting your book reviewed, and more!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Light Messages Publishing
• Release date: Apr 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781611531794

Book preview

Authors

Introduction

Okay, so you’ve tapped your inner muse, written your tome, and found a partner in publishing. Now you just have to sit back and wait for your books to fly off the shelves, right? Not exactly. You’re only half way there. If you had something worth saying, then it’s safe to assume that you also want people to read what you have to say. After all, what good is a message if you don’t have an audience?

If the thought of setting up a table on your street corner and hawking books to unsuspecting dog walkers gives you hives, don’t worry. You don’t have to do that. Promise.

But you should follow a few basic steps to give your book a fair chance.

In 2013, there were over 304,900 news titles and re-editions published in the United States (publishingtechnology.com). What’s more is that in 2014, 15 percent of American adults stated that they only read 11 to 20 books in one year (statista.com). Although that may seem like quite a few books for the average American to read, you want your book to be one of the 11 to 20 books that someone will read out of over 304,900 new books. You must give your book a fair chance. It doesn’t take a multi-million dollar ad campaign to sell books... just a little leg work and some consistent follow through. Oddly, these are the exact same disciplines you needed to complete your book in the first place. See, you’re already off to a good start!

In this guide, we’ll share the 10 simple steps to market your book. Most of them will be fairly basic; a few will require longer-term stick-to-itness. Do as much as you can, and no more. But do seriously do as much as you can. We’ve gathered these tips from industry leaders, including marketing experts, independent authors, and professional bloggers. This stuff works.

10 Easy Steps to Sell Your Book

Tell people you know

As soon as your book hits the shelves (and even before), notify all your contacts. Some will buy, and most will spread the word.

Build an author website

According to Steve Weber, author of Plug Your Book, Few people can benefit more from a website than authors. As your publisher, we couldn’t agree more.

Be social

Using social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram are a free and effective way to build an audience.

Create and distribute content

What you have to say matters. Find out how to create meaningful content and how to schedule it.

Drive sales to amazon.com

The more you sell through Amazon, the higher the site ranks your book in searches and matches. So drive as many sales as you can to Amazon.

Get your book reviewed

Try to contact people with similar tastes to your work and ask for reviews.

Contact (relevant) book bloggers

Popular book blogs can do wonders for your book’s exposure.

Participate in forums & book clubs

Interact with your audience to build an audience.

Go local and be independent

Contact local bookstores and other relevant retailers and offer ways to collaborate.

Be consistent and persistent

Set aside a regular time each day (or week) to promote your book. Bit by bit you’ll make progress.

Resources

Review your author checklist, learn from our authors with a helpful Q&A, and check out other useful resources to help you market your book.

1. Tell People You Know

Remember the adage Write what you know? Well, marketing your book follows the same principle: tell who you know and continue to tell them.

As soon as your book hits the shelves you need to notify your