Why Doesn't Book Marketing Work for Me?

I get it.

Why?

Because I am there myself.

I have tried the typical ways. Free books. Discounted books. Book signings. I have tried out-of-the-box ideas. Craft fairs. Hair salons. Book release parties from home. 

Are your books just hanging around your house?

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What I have found?

Book marketing doesn't always work out in the way I expect it to.

Sometimes I sell quite a few books. Other times I sell few to none.

Perhaps it's the current genre I write. Perhaps it's COVID that's keeping people away. Perhaps there's just too much competition.

When I get stuck on why book marketing doesn't work for me, I get stuck in other areas too. I get stuck finding new ideas to write about. I get stuck finishing what I've begun. I begin to spend my time doing other things that bring the results I want.

After all of the complaining about marketing and why it doesn't work for me when it is obvious it works for "her" or "him" I take a deep breath and try again.

I am a firm believer in moving forward even when it hurts. When the sales aren't what I expect. When I feel as if my marketing efforts have meant nothing and maybe I should hire someone. 

Or not.

Smile.

It's that time again to get out of my pity party and open my eyes to the options. 

How about you?

Are you ready? Holiday Boutique TODAY December 3!

Come and do some Christmas shopping at the Murray Senior Recreation Center's Holiday Boutique!

I will be there with many of my books, including my newest release, "I Walked With Jesus: New Testament Stories of Faith and Healing From the Least of These."

I will be offering a discount on all of my books!

Marketing Your Book Using a Slogan?

"Have you ever felt like one of the least of these?"

"Enlightened?"

I have used each of these slogans to market my books "I Walked With Jesus" and "Enlightened" but, unfortunately, I haven't used them regularly when it comes to social media. 

I have put my slogans on postcards to hand out
when readers ask about my book.
Not only is the slogan here but contact information. 

Readers like the connection with a book, something they'll remember. If they can't remember the title, they can at least remember the question you posted or the slogan that made them think. Great book marketing extends beyond the typical description of your book. A memorable slogan is like returning to a taster's table for the treat that really hit your taste buds the first time.  

"Enlightened" not only has a slogan on the back
but an additional insight on the front -
sort of a bullet list of what to expect inside

While a great tagline or slogan may not sell thousands of copies of your book [many authors do not have taglines and sell plenty of copies] your readers and potential readers will get a sense of who you are as an author and what you write by the taglines you use to market your books.

Businesses use slogans all of the time.

"Just Do It" is one example.

You may have heard these bookstore slogans:

A Bookworm's Paradise

A Novel Idea

For Booklovers

What you may have heard less of is an author using their own book slogan.

I have used a slogan for book signings. It's posted on a chalkboard easel. 

"Written a book?"

I love questions for slogans because it causes the reader to ask themselves the question being posed. 

Are you interested in gaining more interest in your book?

A slogan doesn't tell a reader what your book is about, it communicates emotion. It gives the potential reader an opportunity to look inside themself for an answer. Great slogans do more than connect two parties. They help readers to see what they'll be getting if they read your book.

When I think of the movie Shrek and the slogan, "Ogres are like onions!" I am reminded of all the layers involved in people of the less than green sort. There are many layers to individuals and many ways to reach them. To connect. To help them understand who we are and what we do. But mostly, to see themselves. 

Market your book using a slogan? What do you think?

FREE book on November 20! Today's the day!

Find me on Amazon! 

Get this eBook for FREE on November 20!

and enjoy some inspirational reading about Jesus and those who knew Him. 

Just my way of saying thanks to all of you!

Do You Think Your Book Will Sell? Two ways to improve your odds

Selling your book is a daunting task - especially if it's your first. 

Where do you begin? What is most important? 

While it's true that it helps, big time, to be a celebrity, or at the very least, well-known in your community, the truth is that most authors don't land big publishing houses and are about as well-known as the girl next door. 

We are just average folks trying to shine our light somewhere, trying to gain some interest, trying our best to sell a few books.

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So what do we do?

Share. 

I have learned from other authors, my local library, writer's groups, trial and error, writer's conferences, and more. Just watching people is a great way to learn about characterization. One thing I am doing soon is being a part of a new Facegroup group: Two Authors, Books, & a Beverage Club. I will be a part of the goings-on in January of the new year [2022]. So take a look at Two Authors and see if you'd like to take part. They are always looking for authors to interview!

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Participate.

Although we love to write, to sit back and tap the keys on our computer and dream up the next big scene, we can't always be stuck there, we must get up and be a part of the world. Another thing I like to do is to teach classes on writing, publishing, and marketing. In March of the new year [2022] I will be taking part in Authors in the Round at the Kearns Library. This will be a Saturday event held on March 12, sort of a mini writer's conference. If you'd like to join in and teach a class, please email me at: kathy@ariverofstones.com. I need answers by mid-November. WE NEED YOU! 

Thanks for reading!

Kathryn