If you are lucky and have some
extra bucks to spend as an indy author, use your money sparingly for marketing
right now. Instead, invest your money in hiring at least one, preferably two,
good book editors and an excellent book cover designer. If you need suggestions,
visit our page here: http://john316mn.blogspot.com/p/resources-for-authors.html
Do not compromise on a book
editor and book cover designer.
What should you do for marketing
since I am telling you not to spend a lot of dollars on marketing? Here is what I recommend.
Build up your platform. How? Here is what I recommend:
1. Have an active blog or website, meaning you post a couple of times each week.
2. Open a Twitter account and build up your following. Tweet Adder 4 helps.
3. All your blog posts should be shared on Google Plus. Just post to Google Plus so you get your blog out there on the web.
4. Connect with other authors. How? Offer to review their books. Host them on your blog.
5. Write your next book.
6. Make all your books available in ebook format. Upload to Amazon and Smashwords for extended distribution.
7. Learn how to write press releases using Sandra Beckwith's information, available on her website for about $22.
8. Make your book available in audible book format and upload to Audible.com Recite it yourself. If you have a computer you can do it for free.
9. Make your own videos using http://animoto.com. There is a free version.
10. Start an opt-in list. I use Constant Contact. You want your own list that you can send announcements to when you have a new book release or other author news.
11. Pray for God's direction and do not look for miracles. You might receive one, but probably it will be a process of developing your platform and your following. But at least you aren't spending thousands of dollars for people promising the impossible and delivering little.
Lastly, I have written a book
you might find helpful, “How to Launch a Best-Selling
Christian Book” on Amazon. It's 99 cents on
Kindle. Some of the information I would change if I wrote the same book today, and
some of it is specific to the John 3:16 Marketing Network, but there is a lot of
good information about marketing you might find helpful. http://amzn.to/1xXeNza
I am keeping my eyes and ears
open to new ideas and ways to market for 2015. If you have found something that
has worked for you, please share with us in the comments below.
I believe a majority of Indie authors think that they can just write a book, edit themselves, slap on a cheap cover and make millions. Marketing begins even before you begin writing the book and never stops if you want to sell copies. Also, factor in that there are currently over 4 million books available on Amazon. What are you willing to do (as an author) to make sure your book will stand out? The tips in Lorilyn's article will be a great foundation of what to expect as you venture into the publishing arena.
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