One Honest Indie

“Reject the tyranny of picked. Pick yourself.” ― Seth Godin, Poke the Box

Inexpensive Ways to Market Your Self-Published Book

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Image by Yerson Retamal from Pixabay

Amazingly, Kirkus Reviews has the following advice for self-published indie authors.

Advantages of Using a Small or Independent Publisher.

  1. More opportunities for niche books;
  2. They catch the small gems that the big guys miss;
  3. They act as a middleman between corporate-owned the Big Five publishers and self-publishing; Makes you wonder what the point of “hybrid publishing” is.
  4. You don’t need an agent;
  5. They like to bring on new writers;
  6. Authors get more personal attention;
  7. Faster communication;
  8. They can be a great means to an end.

Those who work at smaller or independent publishing houses know the score: many authors, especially first-time ones, use them for their first manuscript or two as a way of jumping off onto big publishing houses. And that’s OK too! Everyone has to start somewhere, and smaller presses are a great place to do that. If your book takes off and you begin generating impressive numbers of sales and a robust fandom, it is certainly possible that larger publishers will sit up and take notice. Just keep in mind that this particular scenario requires a lot of effort and marketing.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to pursue the powerhouses of the publishing industry. After all, those avenues still make some of the biggest splashes on “best of” lists. But it’s important to realize that those publishing houses are not the end all and be all of literature. Getting creative with your manuscript may be exactly what you need to do in order to have it read by a wider audience—after all, isn’t that the whole point?

Just be careful what you wish for.

How to Zero In on Your Target Audience.

  1. Figure out which genre and subgenre you write;
  2. Given your genre/subgenre, ask yourself the following questions;
  • What is my book mainly about?
  • What is the main point that my book is trying to get across?
  • What kind of emotions do I want readers to feel when they read my book?
  • What will my readers walk away with after reading my book?
  1. Check out reviews of books in your genre to get a sense of who the readers are somehow or other;
  2. Target your promos to your primary readership, assuming you can suss out how to reach them, then aim for your secondary readership.

If zeroing in on your target reading audience seems overwhelming, it might prove helpful for you to start with a general idea and then keep whittling it down. Eventually, if you have a firm grasp on your genre and subgenre, you will hit on all the highlights of who will want to read your book. The more you tailor your marketing plan to a specific group, the more they will feel as though your book was written just for them. And if someone feels truly heard or seen by reading your book? Well, that is how loyal fans are born.

To which I would add:

  1. Create a lead magnet and use it to create a mailing list;
  2. Welcome new readers and let them know you have more to offer;
  3. Tell them what you have to offer;
  4. Include a call to action;
  5. Treat your readers like valued customers.

8 Signs You’re Hiring a Great Editor.

  1. They’re objective;
  2. They sweat the details;
  3. They draw your attention to what works and what doesn’t;
  4. They won’t rewrite your voice;
  5. They’re honest with you;
  6. They push to do better;
  7. They give constructive feedback;
  8. They’re patient.

Some people believe that the most important quality of being an editor is an excellent grasp on language. While that is certainly essential to doing the job, I would argue that patience is just as important. A good editor will show an abundance of patience not only in editing a manuscript (which, as we all know, can be quite long—especially first drafts), but also in explaining the suggested changes. You should never be made to feel that you are too demanding when asking for clarification as to why your editor suggested the changes they did. That being said, familiarize yourself with the editor’s pricing policy, as some charge extra for additional feedback via phone call or electronic communication.

A Beginner’s Guide to Graphic Novels.

  1. Read a lot of comics and/or graphic novels, particularly of the genre of same you’d like to create;
  2. Find an artist to collaborate with.

It bears repeating: you do not have to be an artist to work in comics.

That means comics and graphic novels can allow for mutually satisfying and challenging artistic partnerships—you get to work with a fellow creative! Creating art can be hard work, and any opportunity to form a team will make the journey better.

When it comes to self-publishing, forming a team can help immeasurably.

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