Beyond Books

Ghostwriters aren't just for penning books. We can tackle a broad spectrum of projects, from blog posts and speeches to business reports and marketing materials. Believe me when I say that in this space, versatility is my middle name.

Just recently, I hosted a strategy call with a client to review the progress of her manuscript and to discuss her marketing efforts to date. On that call, I learned that she had not been taking the suggested steps to establish her brand as an author or to prime her audience to receive her book. It should also be noted that this client has a ton of followers who are actively engaged on her page. This factor is a gift, considering she does not have to build a following. However, it can also be a false sense of success if one believes that no additional effort is necessary to realize the goal of massive book sales. Even so, my experience has demonstrated that a sales and marketing strategy is critical to every author's success. No matter who you are or what you have done, the act of stepping into the literary space is foreign territory if you have never been there before. It is imperative that you have an established strategy that determines when and how you will reach your readers. Better yet, it is imperative that you show your readers how your book solves a problem for them, thereby creating demand. Let's be clear, just because the book is written doesn't mean that people feel the need to read it. Your readers must be told what your book has in it for them. What pain points will your book address, and how do those pain points connect back to their lives? Will they find pieces of themselves in your narrative? These are all necessary questions to ask when curating a strategy for the release of a book. And I've only scratched the surface here. Book sales and book marketing is an art in and of itself and equally as important as the book that is produced.

Although this is a message (and even a built-in part of my process when working with authors), some do not believe it to be necessary, especially in instances where they have engaged audiences. No matter your follower count, I will always maintain that even the most established influencers, business owners, and brands need a strategy to release a book.?

I'm off my soapbox on strategy. Now, back to the call. Part of the conversation involved her book cover selection. I reiterated the need to prime the audience for the forthcoming book by bringing them into the process and making them feel a part of her forthcoming launch. The covers designed by my team looked amazing, and she was having a hard time selecting just one. To be transparent, we all were because they were stunning. My suggestion was to show her fans and followers all of the covers and encourage them to vote on their favorite. By the close of our call, she was still uncertain as to whether or not she wanted to take that route.

Two days later, I received a text: "I should listen to you more. Great responses when I posted the covers."

After viewing her page, all I could do was smile. It was the first of many steps to invigorate her audience about the book that would soon be in their hands. Her comments were filled with people sharing not just the cover of their choice but detailed engagement about why they liked the cover they voted for and others expressing their excitement about the book's release. Most importantly, my client experienced an even higher sense of pride for her book which was made possible as a result of our collaboration.

Sales and marketing strategy is not writing, nor is it a requirement for a ghostwriter, but as I said before, we are so much more.

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Ardre Orie is a Celebrity Memoirist and Screenwriter who specializes in unapologetically transparent narratives that reflect intimate, candid, and forthright reflections of our lived experiences.

iamardreorie.com