Books have always been a popular choice for those seeking self-improvement or personal growth, particularly during the past few years, with a rise in popularity of “mega-bestsellers”. But, for those who want to go the extra mile and put their expertise into action, there are ways to market books online, beyond just relying on word of mouth or finding a publisher with a social media team.
Many successful authors have realized the power of the internet to let their books find an audience, whether they’re new releases or old classics. If you’re not equipped well enough to take advantage of the opportunity, you could find yourself in the awkward position of having no choice but to settle for “regular” sales once your book is published.
The Growth Of Online Book Markets
It’s only natural that someone would want to read a book while on the go, or in the middle of something else. Thanks to the internet and e-readers, it’s easier than ever for people to consume content when and where they want it. If you want your book to reach a global audience, making it available for digital download is the way to go.
In the past, you would’ve either had to go to a physical bookstore and hope that someone would be willing to sell you a copy, or go to the library and hope to find the right book among the shelves. Thanks to online marketplaces such as Amazon, where you can also interact with other customers, you can rest assured that your book will reach a global audience and that interested readers will be able to find it.
The Growth Of Online Bookstores
Even if you don’t want to make your book available for download, there are still ways to get it into the hands of potential readers. Traditional bookstores such as Barnes & Nobles still exist and are doing just fine. However, as people want to read books on their phones or e-readers, bookstores are adapting by opening online stores that carry both new and used books. With so much competition in the marketplace, it’s important to figure out how to stand out from the crowd.
If you want to put your book’s brand in front of potential readers, create a bookish website with reviews, news, and plenty of interactive features. By doing this, you will be able to engage with your audience and encourage them to come back for more.
How To Market Books Online For Maximum Impact
As we mentioned, many successful authors have realized the power of the internet to let their books find an audience. If you want to follow in their footsteps and put your expertise into action, you should do everything in your power to maximize the impact of your book’s online presence. To do this, you need to establish yourself as an authoritative voice on your topic, build a brand for yourself, and find a way to engage with your audience. Let’s take each of these elements in turn.
Establish Your Brand
If your goal is to establish yourself as an authoritative voice and gain credibility, you need to do this through your writing. When people discover your work, they will look up to you as an expert and will want to learn more from you. If you want to build trust with your potential audience, establish your credentials as a writer by creating informative and well-researched articles for reputable publications. If you want to learn more, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best places to find freelance writing jobs that can help you build your portfolio.
Make A Statement
Once you’ve established your brand as an expert, you can continue to grow your audience by making a statement. To make a statement, you need to state your opinion or position on a controversial issue in a compelling way. For example, if you’re a social justice advocate, you could write an article for a magazine on the power of black hair in making you look richer, or how being a feminist is more important than ever in today’s world.
What will make your article or video stand out is your voice. If you want to learn how to write an effective argumentative essay, take a look at our guide to writing effective arguments or download a ready-made template from our blog’s archives.
Interact With Your Audience
Even though your goal is to publish a book, you don’t want to limit yourself to just writing. Once you’ve established yourself as an expert in your field, you can continue to grow your audience by interacting with them. You can do this through social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook, which provide you with a platform to share your knowledge with the world. You can also try your hand at blogging, where you can engage with your audience through regularly updated content.
If you have a sizable audience already on social media, you can take advantage of this by creating a Twitter account for your book. When someone follows you on Twitter, they will see your book’s hashtag (your unique hashtag that will be easy for people to notice) in their feed. If you want to create a buzz about your book on social media, try using celebrities to endorse your work or offer tips on how to write a winning book proposal.
As we mentioned, many reputable publications still exist in print, and a lot of people enjoy going to a bookstore and physically holding a book in their hands. While the world is turning to digital media, nothing stops you from publishing a physically-produced book and still having the availability of an ebook version. The choice is up to you.