4 Actionable Tips to Boost Your Book Sales in a Saturated Market
The book industry is a crowded marketplace, and we should know!
At DropCap, we have a database of literally thousands of titles, which only grows larger by the day.
Our publishing clients and authors often ask us for our tips to get their books more attention in the international book market, and the answer is simple:
Start by getting your book noticed in the domestic book market, first.
In our experience as international rights agents, we’ve found that there are several ways authors can help increase their domestic sales and catch the attention of the global marketplace.
DropCap agents Allison Olson and Monica Meehan at the London Book Fair, 2023.
1) Build a Strong Author Platform
There’s no getting around it: building a strong author platform is crucial for selling your book in a crowded market.
An author platform includes your website, social media presence, and any other platforms where you can connect with your readers.
By building a strong author platform, you can create a loyal fan base that will be interested in your book and share it with others.
Tom Basso’s The All-Weather Trader, published by Scribe Media, has been translated into three languages, including Japanese and Korean, with the help of DropCap. Basso is a prolific content creator on his website, on Twitter, and as a guest contributor across multiple platforms.
How to build an effective author platform:
Create (or update) your professional website to showcase your writing, your book, and your authority as a subject matter expert
Use social media to connect with readers and share content related to your book and/or writing journal
Engage with readers and share updates about your book and other projects you’re working on
Create an email marketing campaign to continually reach out to your audience, offering bonus content and incentives
2) Identify Your Target Audience
Authors sometimes miss the important step of Identifying your target audience and continuing to market directly to them.
By understanding precisely who your ideal readers are, you can tailor your marketing efforts to be helpful to them.
Researching your target audience's demographics, interests, and reading habits will take much of the guesswork out of your marketing strategy.
You, Me, and Empathy, by Jayneen Sanders and published by Educate 2 Empower, has been translated into eight languages with the help of DropCap.
The author has a Facebook page called Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept, where she creates excellent content for parents and teachers around topics of consent and social media safety. Her group has more than 30k engaged followers.
To identify your target audience:
Identify your ideal reader, including age, gender, and location
Use social media analytics and tools like Google Analytics to understand your audience's interests and demographics
Meet your audience where they are– don’t wait for them to come to you
3) Leverage Book Reviews
Book reviews are an essential tool for selling your book in a crowded market.
Positive reviews can attract new readers and help build your credibility as an author, not to mention increase your book’s chances of getting to the top of search engine sites like Amazon.
Don’t underestimate the importance of reaching out to book bloggers and reviewers in your genre and ask them to review your book.
Made for Me, written by Zack Bush and published by Familius, has been licensed in nine languages with the help of DropCap. The book has more than 5000 reviews on Amazon.
When reaching out to book bloggers and reviewers:
Make sure to personalize your pitch and highlight why your book would be a good fit for their audience
Offer a free copy of your book in exchange for an honest review
Tag them on social media thanking them for their support
4) Create a Data-Driven, Long Term Marketing Plan
When it comes to book marketing, authors can often make the mistake of “following their gut”.
While this might be good advice for life, it’s not great for marketing.
We have seen many authors waste a lot of time, money, and energy on book marketing strategies that don’t have any data behind them.
That’s why it’s important to let the data behind your marketing lead you into making smarter marketing decisions, instead of throwing up marketing ideas and seeing what sticks.
Watch Now: How Can I Increase My Chances of Selling My Book in a Saturated Market as an Author?
The good news is that the efforts you make to have your book stand out in the crowded domestic market are going to be helpful to you as we help expand your book’s reach internationally!
We are excited to have your book as part of our DropCap Marketplace so we can be a part of helping your book reach a new, worldwide audience.
Are you ready to take your book global? Signup for DropCap Marketplace now →
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