Every author I’ve ever met gets almost starry-eyed at the completion of their written work. They’ve had family members and friends exclaim how great the manuscript is. They’ve put their heart and soul into the book, spent countless hours working and reworking chapters, and now have illustrious dreams of becoming the next best-seller. Many authors seem to believe that since they put so much time into writing the book—and have heard the recurring accolades from subjective audiences—that such a book will become the next “Harry Potter” or “Chicken Soup for the Soul.”
Writing a book is analogous to inventing something new. While your “invention” may indeed be momentous to those who “use” (i.e. read) it, the problem most authors face is the next step: “Okay, I’ve written a book … someone else take it from here.” Unfortunately, authors are competing with millions of other “inventors” vying for some “investor” (i.e. “publisher”) to make that dream of a best-seller become a reality. I’ve got news for you: It seldom works that way!
Authors must understand that completing their book is the easy part! Yes, I said that! The problem with most authors is that while they may have indeed written the next “Twilight” series, they need to make people who might be interested in reading their book aware that it is out there! Few publishers take on new authors, regardless of the quality of the manuscript. Thus, most authors go the route of self-publishing.
Prior to the Internet, most books were sold in brick-and-mortar stores. Advertisements came by way of newspaper ads and snail mail. Today, an author has the world at their fingertips. Yet many simply have not learned how to access their fingertips, so to speak!
There are websites that have blogs, podcasts, topical material, and point-of-sale opportunities to help authors promote, market, and sell their books. There are social media sites, (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.), that you can use to connect with individuals and groups that may have an interest in your book. Email blasts to friends and family with the ability for each to forward notes to their circle of friends is another way to gain a following or make your information go viral.
And, of course, there are marketing programs that range in cost but provide more specific means to reach potential readers.
All in all, there are many ways for self-published authors to connect with potential readers, far more than ever! Authors, research the many ways in which you can use these and other means to make your “invention” become successful!
David W. Smith is the owner of Synergy Books Publishing and represents over 30 different authors in providing publishing opportunities, advice, and services related to producing quality publications.
