I started hosting an author interview series a few years ago, and have interviewed 60+ authors so far. Each one of them has written and published a travel guide, travel memoir, travel narrative, or a piece of travel fiction. I pose a standard set of questions, and I find their responses enlightening, inspiring, and entertaining.
Over the years I’ve noticed that book marketing is consistently one of the most disliked aspects of being an indie author, so I thought I’d bring all of the marketing sections together into small groups in order to inspire you to throw off any concerns you have about marketing or promoting your book, and to dive right in with an activity that resonates with you and doesn’t fill you with fear or dread. There are so many different marketing techniques you can use for your book, that you have the option of picking and choosing the strategies that you’ll feel comfortable using, and have the biggest impact on increasing your book sales.
We don’t want you to get overwhelmed, so are only including feedback from ten authors in each post, to give you enough choice to pick from, but not enough to get overwhelmed. If there’s a technique you’d like to use but aren’t sure where to start, leave us a comment below and we’ll feature an article that goes into more detail about technique.
In this week’s book marketing recap, our authors mention the following marketing techniques:
- Newsletters
- Periodic Promotions and Giveaways
- Social Media Groups on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram
- Amazon Ads
- Word of Mouth
- Author Website
- Content Marketing on your Blog
- Live Events and Readings
- Local Newspapers, Libraries and bookstores
- Book reviewers
- Recorded Book Trailers
- Identify Key Selling Points
Roy Stevenson
Marketing your work should be done every day as part of your office routine. We have a free weekly newsletter that is mailed out every Monday. It’s the main way we reach our customers and has been highly effective in promoting our books. We use testimonials from satisfied customers to establish credibility for our books. We hold twice yearly ebook sales and do very well from them.
We consistently use Facebook, LinkedIn, and a travel writer’s social media group to publicize our books. Yes, I know, the experts tell you that you won’t make any sales through social media. But I’ve found that social media keeps reminding travel writers about our books, and that keeps generating sales.
I recently ceased social media posts for two months and our book sales dropped to almost zero. Once I started my social media posts, sales picked back up. That’s proof to me that social media can be used to generate sales.
Read the Author Interview we did with Roy Stevenson
Alex Hallatt
School visits, cartooning workshops, word of mouth and Amazon advertising. I’m also building a relationship with readers via my illustrated newsletter, which is a behind the scenes look at my cartooning life in New Zealand.
Read the Author Interview we did with Alex Hallet
Bryanna Plog
I pay a little every month to advertise the books on Amazon Ads—they’ve changed it so it is hard to reach readers otherwise. I am on social media, but as I said above, marketing is probably my least favorite part of being a self-published writer. I don’t blog much, but do keep my website current.
Read the Author Interview we did with Bryanna Plog
Jean Roberts
I use social media a lot, plus I have a blog and a website.
Put yourself out there. Have a presence on social media and make sure that you get known. Amazon is great for selling but people have to know that you are there. They won’t go looking for you unless they know about you. It might be stating the obvious but it really is important. There are lots of reading groups on social media so it’s useful to join some and build up a following of people who will be interested when your book comes out.
Read the Author Interview we did with Jean Roberts
Nardia Plumridge
Using my own social media channels first and foremost. Then reaching out to people I know who would genuinely enjoy the book. If they like it, hopefully they will share with their followers however I never expect anything in return. There are never ‘deals’ or any pressure. I believe in authentic engagement. Also, creating events helps to drive a ‘story’ around your book release that can be both fun to do and help drive engagement, so liaise with a few venues to see if you can host an event together.
Read the Author Interview we did with Nardia Plumridge
Frances M. Thompson
Recently, I’ve had quite a bit of luck just sharing my work on Instagram and Facebook – I never used to do it but I re-assessed this earlier in the year and the result is I had a little boost in sales. I also host regular competitions to giveaway copies of my books (via my blog, newsletter and social channels) and I also make it very clear to any reader that they can always read my ebooks for free in exchange for Amazon or Goodreads reviews. Like, I mentioned, I’m hoping to start selling directly to readers on a shop on my blog and once that is set up I will also explore some other paid promotions and advertising.
Read the Author Interview we did with Frances M. Thompson
Marek Bron
I give a lot of free advice on my travel blog which earns the reader’s trust and piques their interest in my book. I also use my mailing list with a drip feed of helpful emails, followed by a sales pitch for the book.
Read the Author Interview we did with Marek Bron
Nancy O’Hare
I aim to create value for readers. My primary mode of communication is via my website and social media. On a secondary front, local newspapers, library and bookstores help to build awareness in my region. Travel bloggers, book reviewers and alumni publications help to widen my footprint internationally. Those seeking deeper insight can then find it in my book(s).
Read the Author Interview we did with Nancy O’Hare
John Meyer
I make sure I establish the key selling points of my book, and use those to entice my readers. I created an elevator pitch so that I could explain the concept of the book easily. Basically, I start by asking the person if they’ve ever heard of the Spanish Camino. The answer is usually no, so I explain that it’s this ancient trail that snakes across Spain that pilgrims have been walking for more than a 1000 years. Then I add that my fictional love story takes on this trail where a husband desperately searches for his missing wife. His only clues to her whereabouts are through the personal and surprising letters that she’s left on the trail for him to find…
I also create book trailers for each of my books.
Read the Author Interview we did with John Meyer
Zaina Brown
Social media, first and foremost. My main audiences are people interested in travel and bellydance, and both groups are big on Instagram and Facebook, not really Twitter. Additionally, there are blogs and websites to reach both audiences. Locally, I will do book readings wherever I have the chance, starting in Thailand where I currently live.
Read the Author Interview we did with Zaina Meyer
All of these book marketing ideas are based on conversations with just ten authors. Some of them are essential techniques, some are recommended, and other are nice to haves. But this list gives you plenty of scope for the activities you use to market and promote your travel book.
Which ones are you going to use?
10 Travel Writers share their Book Marketing Tips. Find out what strategies and techniques helped them sell more books and reach more readers. #indieauthor #travelblogger #travelwriter Click To Tweet
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