BRAND THERAPY Marketing for Writers

Five Marketing Actions to Take BEFORE You Publish!

If you’re working on a book -- whether it’s fiction, a memoir, or a guide for personal or professional development -- you’ll need to manage your own marketing.

Publishers of any type (traditional, hybrid or DIY), typically don’t handle this for you. Even if you invest in their marketing services, they often won’t achieve results better than what you can accomplish on your own. Moreover, publishers won’t start promoting your book until it's released.

📌Pre-promotion is crucial. Here’s what it does for you:

Audience Building: You need to have an audience ready for when your book is published.

Publisher Expectations: Publishers will want to see that you already have an audience before they commit.

Here are five tried-and-true marketing actions you can start now.

1️⃣ Create your author website

Building a website has never been thanks to platforms like Squarespace or Wix. Your website should include:

Homepage: A photo of you, your book titles, and a clear call-to-action, such as “Buy Now” or “Join My Mailing List.”

Kind Words Page: Include testimonials, reviews, or any notable achievements.

Contact Information: Provide a way for readers and media to reach you.

High-quality images, clear writing, and a professional design.

To see one of these sites, check out author Carol McKibben’s site. Note how she offers a free ebook to collect emails, allowing for more personal engagement with readers—see Tips 4 and 5 for more on this.

2️⃣ Understand Your Market

Research to identify your target audience. Consider their age, location, and reading habits. Write a profile of your ideal reader, which will help guide your writing, especially for professional development or self-help books.Look at other authors in your genre to understand how they are reaching their readers. Identify gaps or opportunities in the market that you can exploit.

3️⃣ Use Social Media

Social media is an excellent platform for reaching your target audience, regardless of genre. Identify which social platforms are most popular with your audience and focus your efforts there.

Substack! More coming on this in a new post.

Once you start posting consistently, engage with your audience: respond to comments, participate in discussions, and utilize all features of the platform (e.g., Substack Notes, Instagram Stories, Reels, and Carousels). Optimize your bio with a compelling image, clear description, relevant keywords, and links to your website or freebie

4️⃣  Build Your Mailing List

While social media platforms are “rented” spaces, you own your mailing list. Use it to keep your readers informed about your book, share excerpts, and provide Amazon links when it's time to sell.

Incorporate freebies from Tip 1 into your mailing list strategy. Use sign-up forms with incentives like exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights, free chapters, or special promotional offers.

Avoid the mistake of only using your newsletter when you have something to sell.

Build reader loyalty by sending regular updates.

5️⃣ Create a Freebie

A freebie, aka lead magnet, is an irresistible offer that gets your reader to give you his or her email in exchange for something that will help, inspire or entertain them. Or a mini-workbook! More coming on this soon in a new blog!

For your freebie, offer something of value to attract potential readers to your mailing list. This could be a free eBook, a sample chapter, or a useful guide related to your book’s topic.

Promote your lead magnet across your website, social media, and other marketing channels.

These five actions will set you on the path to building a strong author brand, connecting with your audience, and effectively marketing your book.