“Marketing is and always has been about using the best means possible at reaching your customer,” Anderson says.
“We are now in a communication revolution, with social media and mobile technology at the helm of that revolution. The nice thing is, anyone can use it.
A Facebook or Twitter page is free. Marketers need to learn how to use hash tags, sharing, and other specific features related to each social media platform. But the real secret to marketing is content. Being promotional does not always mean constantly advertising your product. It means being interesting. This is where blogging comes in handy. Marketers can write short pieces about interesting topics, related or non-related to their product, to generate a following to their page(s). Authors should make a list of the first 10 posts they are going to make and explain the purpose.
“Outside book events are essential,” Anderson says. “If the author can’t move at least 500-1,000 copies of the book themselves, then they’re not in the game. Every geographical area has events where authors can rent tables and sell their books. Retail stores, museums, libraries, and many other locales might be interested in helping a local author. Also, radio and TV programs are easier to get on than most people think. Those resources need to be tapped and used to the fullest. In their marketing plan, the author should be specific about where and when they can partake in these events and appear on local media.
Just do your homework before preparing the plan.”
If you would like to submit a manuscript to Goldminds for consideration, use their online submission form at http://www.goldmindspub.com/submissions.
Target Market
(Who will buy your book?)
Industry Trends
(How will you take advantage of
current methods?)
Placement
(Where will your book be visible to
readers in stores and online?)
Promotion
(Will you sponsor contests,
drawings, or give public talks?)
Goal
(Make it specific & measurable)
Your Strengths
(Are you tech savvy? Great with the
public? Good on camera?)
Marketing Calendar
(When will you attend events, how often will you post on your blog, or what advertising will you schedule?)
Steven Anderson, who writers under the pen name Steven Law, is the author of YUMA GOLD and the BLOOD FOR JUSTICE series published by Penguin Random House.
He is the owner of Progreso Entertainment and Progreso Publishing Group, and is a consulting editor for Goldminds Publishing, LLC. Email him at [email protected].
(Photo Credit: Rob McGinnis Photography)
1-Page Marketing Plan