Why building a book community will supercharge your book sales

The recent demise of Booktopia (I really hope that it has another life) here in Australia is yet another reminder for self published business book authors of the need to build, develop and keep control of your own marketing and distribution.

This may seem daunting at first, especially if you don’t have a website or perhaps have a basic one without a shop/eCommerce.

But I am writing to share with you that building your book community early on in your business book writing is essential (and can be fun) IF you want to sell more copies of your book when you finally get to launch it.

Why is that?

Its pretty simple really.

For your book to sell it needs to be visible. Actually, YOU need to be visible way before you launch your book.

There’s no point having a great book that virtually no one knows exists.

So, how do you get visible? You start building your book community early.

Here are 5 things you need to do to supercharge your book sales

1.?????????????????????????? Start building your engagement early

Whatever your goals are for your book (100 copies or 10,000 or more) you need to let your target audience know you are writing a book, EARLY.? You don’t want the first communication with them to be ‘Buy my book’. Take them on your writing and self publishing journey (yes I’ve used that word). Share where you are at, ask them for their opinions about your title, book cover, questions that they want answered.

Depending on where you are at in terms of being active on various platforms, how you do this will be different. And if you’re not on any social media platforms, get on the relevant ones to your target audience. YES, this can be a big step but you have to take it if you want to sell your book.

2.????????????????????????? Build your database

The very word ‘database’ may send some of you into shivers of dread. The reality is you already have a group of people you are connected with. At its simplist it is the people on your phone contacts, email, Christmas card list (if you have one). If you are operating a business/consultancy you may well have a client list (past, present, potential). You might even have a CRM. If you’re on LinkedIn, Insta, Facebook…these are all part of your database. The trick with these platforms is to move people from the platform (which you don’t own and typically can’t access their emails) to one you do, your website.

Wherever you are at START to think about your contacts/lists as your book community.

3.??????? Develop a strategy to engage your book community

If you’re in business you’ll probably have some kind of marketing/new business plan. Your book should be integrated into this. This said, it’s a different aspect to it so it’s important to understand HOW to integrate your book into your existing marketing/business development and how it can work to both promote the book and leverage your existing efforts. Again, just how you do this will depend on what you are currently doing, or not.

@Peter Merrett is doing this brilliantly with a series of short videos about his upcoming book, Wonderlicious. https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/petermerrett_welcome-to-our-new-behind-the-scenes-series-activity-7213994855234953217-xjUr?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

4.??????? Build a content marketing plan and execute

Most of our clients haven’t ‘done’ a book before so are not sure what they can/need to do to execute on engaging their book community. That’s why help our clients build a content marketing plan that they can EXECUTE OVER TIME.

?There’s nothing more off-putting to anyone on social media platforms to see someone spruiking their book a week before it’s launched and immediately afterwards. It’s like saying ‘Hey there…I’ve written a book buy it’ without any real interest in genuinely connecting and understanding why someone should buy your book.

If you have built and engaged your book community over time you will have not only increased the visibility of your book, but people will be engaged, interested and supportive of you at launch time and afterwards.

We’ve recently worked with a client who sold 1,700 copies of his book BEFORE he launched it using one channel, LinkedIn, to build his book community. He’s now selling about 40 books a week though minimal but consistent engagement and presentations.

Your book sales execution plan can be as simple or complex as you want. What is most critical is that you have one and you execute (or pay someone else to).

5.??????? Create the collateral to be visible

Oddly, this is one of the more challenging aspects for many people about marketing their book. You have to market yourself and this means having a good range of photographs and videos to use across your social media platforms at a bare minimum. A photo from 10 years ago when you were on holiday won’t cut it. You need to pay to get professional photos taken OR explore the now wide range of AI apps that can ‘create’ a new you. A couple that have been shared with me from my network are https://www.aragon.ai/ and https://www.headshotpro.com/ , although I have not tired them, yet.

For videos you need a range of short, 10 second videos, longer 45 second videos and sometimes a 2-minute video. If you are cringing at the mere thought of doing videos, get over it, NOW. I’ve been there. The first ones I did were full production exercises, and I was so self-conscious. A few years later, I now use my iPhone in my garden, shared workspace, study (with bookshelf behind) and my social media team member weaves her magic from there.

You also need images of the cover of your book, properly designed tiles for social media platforms (different platforms have different optional formats),

Implement these 5 tips and you’ll supercharge your book sales before, during and after your book launch.

To take a rather tongue in cheek phrase from the world of politics/elections (vote early and often) ‘Launch’ your book often…before it is published, at your launch and after it.

If you have a book and want some help to market DM me.

If you want someone to develop and execute your book marketing, we have three book marketing packages available.

If you are in the early stages of writing your book and want some advice, book in a session with me here or download our ebook, The 7 Essential Steps to Successfully Market and Sell your Business Book. ?

#selfpublishing #businessbooks #bookcoaching #bookmarketing #entrepreneurbooks #sellmybook #bookpromotion #writersfestivals #selfpublishingaustralia #selfpublishingnewzealand #booktopia

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

https://thebookadviser.eb-sites.com/the7essentialsteps