Marketing – a term that rules every industry. It’s the backbone of every product, service, event, content piece and a lot more. You just can’t do without it.

While there are many marketing professionals/agencies in the market with vast marketing strategies and presentations, only a few can truly understand the intricacies of this business.

We, at Prints Publications, have been into the publishing business since generations and there’s a lot we’ve learnt about this art called Marketing.

I believe before a person/agency plans the market strategy for a book, it’s important to set the goals. If the author wants to cater to the domestic market, the plan will be different and if it’s the international market, the plan obviously changes as the audience is completely different.

If it’s a self-published book, the challenges are again different because you have no agency backing you and your book.

Through this blog piece, I will share 12 ways you can market/promote your book in different ways and markets. Hope you find them helpful for your next book launch.

1. The first step is to start early. Start building a network of supporters and reviewers. Keep track of everyone you meet as you research and write the book. Pay special attention to, and make notes about, those who demonstrate a genuine enthusiasm for you and your project.

2. Decide who will read your book. Find your community and figure out what these people do. Connect with them.

3. Create a media kit, which has professionally printed business cards with the book cover on one side and your contact information on the other side, a 100-150 word biography and a head shot by a professional photographer.

4. Create an author website and use the latest search engine optimisation techniques while building your website, and be sure to adhere to Google’s guidelines.

5. Create/join a forum and actively participate in its community.

6. Create a blog on your website and update it regularly with new, interesting content. Respond to comments and questions on your blog in a timely manner.

7. Social Media Marketing is the king. Create a Facebook page geared toward you as an author – not your personal life. Give fans the option to post their book reviews, testimonials, comments, and questions to your Facebook page.

8. Twitter presence is equally important. Create a Twitter account to tweet updates about new books, book tours, book trailers, media coverage of you and your book, etc. Make sure you provide the followers with a hashtag for your new book.

9. Create a LinkedIn page to connect to other authors and professionals in the writing world and related industries. Also, go to Goodreads and register as an author.

10. For offline marketing, you can go on a book tour and also organise book readings for your book at various public places.

11. Create a Book Pitch and consider writing at least three sales pitches for your book. 10 seconds, 30 seconds, and 60 seconds. When someone asks what the book is about, give them the 10 second pitch. If the person responds with interest, have a longer pitch ready!

12. Want to promote your book internationally? Make the book available on retailers popular in each region. Start with cross-cultural competency, understand regional laws, customise search engine marketing based on local usage and adapt social media for various languages.

And the list goes on and on.

I’m sure these points have given you a basic idea about marketing your book, but I’m also sure you will get the real insights only once you get into the business. Good luck!