Innovation
When I started thinking about how I was going to market my first novel, I asked myself two different questions:
1. What are the obvious things an author should be doing?
2. What's not obvious which I can do which will achieve the aim of reaching the audience* I want to reach?
Some of the greatest returns on marketing investment come from innovation. Why?
Because innovative marketing can grab a greater proportion of attention for your book than simply doing what everyone else is doing.
When your book is in a bookshop it is competing with all those other books the bookstore visitor might purchase. But if your book is on sale at an event where it's the only book it has the chance to stand out be noticed.
However, book buyers expect books to be in bookshops. They'll expect to find your book on amazon. Innovative marketing can bring great results but you have to have the basics covered - or you could miss out.
So make two lists. The obvious things you need to cover off to market your book. Then put your thinking cap on and think how you can innovate.
Kate Allan
* i.e. people who are likely to be interested in buying my book.
Marketing for Authors 2.0
Tel: +44 (0) 7973 218434
