Shouldn't that same concept apply to marketing books?
When I look on Facebook, authors’ imagination seems to have run dry where it comes to marketing their work. They come up with:
- ‘Buy my book’
- ‘Snuggle up with my book’
- ‘Fight the cold with a hot read’
- ‘Visit my website to get a preview of my critically acclaimed novel’
When marketing a book, it might be a better idea to show a little of its contents.
- Write a blurb of what the book is about
- Post a review
- Come up with a sales pitch based on a review
- Post snippets of the story
- Have others promote your book
- Invest in an ad displayed on Facebook
Whenever possible, include a picture of the book. They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but unless we read a review of a book, or it came recommended, isn't the initial attraction to a book its exterior?
I remember seeing ‘A Discovery of Witches’ by Deborah Harkness in the bookstore for the first time. The royal and indigo blue cover, with a silver crescent moon and big silver stars over the skyline of London was enough to capture my full attention.
Unfortunately, the book was hardcover and I never buy hardcover books, especially not from an unknown author.
To cut a long story short … I did buy the book, because all others paled in comparison.
More recently I noticed a book on the shelves with the title ‘The Book About Spiders’. Other than the title and the name of the author, the cover showed multiple spiders crawling across the book. I didn't feel the slightest inclination of buying that book.
Later I was told that the book was not about spiders, but still, the creepy crawlies on the cover put me off.
Book marketing strategies are not to be underestimated. It’s not enough to have written an engaging story, attention should be paid to the cover and how to market the book.
Stating ‘buy my book’ followed by three exclamation marks isn't going to do it.