Cover of Sailing Under the Black Flag

Tuesday, I took you through what I do to produce a book. It took me a long time to tweak the process that I now use to produce my books. I must confess that my marketing plan, especially online has not been what I would like it to be, so lately I have been studying marketing tactics and strategies.

Gone are the days of the idea portrayed in the movie Field of Dreams where if you build it, they will come. Build a book and without marketing, my books could sit on the proverbial e-bookshelf for months.Gone too are the days, for most writers anyway, when when traditional  publishers whisk authors out of obscurity, give them huge advances on their first novels and give them the publicity tour of their dreams. I have talked to enough authors to know that I prefer the Indie author route, hard though it may be, anyway.. I have determined that if I need to do most of the marketing myself, I am going to get more of the pay than I would have if I looked for a publisher to publish my books.

Book Marketing Starts with the Book

One of the first considerations in book marketing must begin with the book itself including the cover. One important thing to remember about the cover is that the title has to be prominent. Part of the reason for this is that the book cover can be as small as thumbprint size on some sites and being able to read this title will be vital. Another important consideration on the book cover is my biography and the book description. Not only do we want an exciting description to hook the reader into the book, but it helps to consider SEO as well so that when people are looking for my type of book, the reader will easily be able to find it.

Inside the book, marketing continues not only for this specific book where you encourage readers to review the book and share it with their friends on social media, but also previous books through back of the book advertising and for future books by encouraging the reader to connect with me through my social media, my website, and my newsletter.

Before My Next Book Launches

There is a lot marketing work that can and should be done prior to a book launch. Part of that marketing includes making people aware in your social network (through social media) that you are going to be launching another book. Part of that pre-launch activity that I have started doing for my upcoming book Sailing under the Black Flag is to ask my social network which book cover design they prefer. I started with ten potential covers, reduced it to three and chose the final cover.

In addition, I need continue increasing my network, particularly influencers and other authors is something that I need to work on prior to the e-book launch.

Paperback Book Launch

Once upon a time in traditional book marketing history, books came out first as hard cover books, then as paperbacks. Now books are more likely to come out as paperbacks and e-books. Some authors start by publishing e-books first, and follow with paperbacks, but I prefer to start with the paperback and then do the e-book. Part of the reason has to do with timing. Usually, I find myself finishing the editing process just before a major summer or autumn event and I like to have physical copies of my print book available at those events. This year is no different.  I intend to have copies of Sailing under the Black Flag available for Corry Fest in June. In addition, I will contact book reviewers to see if they would be willing to read and review a pdf book while I am waiting for the print books to come in. In return for their review, I will then give them print copies of the book for reviewing the book.

E-book Launch on Amazon

I create the print book for live events, but I tend to publish e-books for online sales. Here’s my plan for the e-book launch. Prior to the e-book launch of Sailing under the Black Flag, I am going to complete the KDP select promotions that I have on my other books leading up to the e-book launch. I will have a couple of weeks between each promotion. I will promote them on all of my promotional sites. Once the In addition, I will be doing a presale of Sailing under the Black Flag on Kindle prior to the launch on Amazon. Once the book is out on e-book, I will then complete my promotion on KDP select for that book.

Wide E-book Launch

Once the e-book has completed its promotional obligation on Amazon, I will give it what is called a “wide launch” this means that I will put it out in other formats other than the format used on Amazon. For this I will be using Smashwords because Smashwords not only offers to create the various e-book formats, but they distribute to the various distribution sites as well.Over the next several weeks I will be sharing this experience with all my readers. I hope you enjoy the journey with me.

Donna Brown is pastor at Faith in God Church  1 1/2 miles south of Brandsville, Missouri on Hwy 63. Sunday services are at 10 am and Wednesday night Bible Study at 6:30 pm.   As Author Cygnet Brown, she  has  published a nonfiction book: Simply Vegetable Gardening: Simple Organic Gardening Tips for the Beginning Gardener

She is also the author of historical fiction series The Locket Saga. which includes When God Turned His Head and Soldiers Don’t Cry, the Locket Saga Continues, and, A Coward’s Solace, Book III of the Locket Saga. The next book Book IV of the Locket Saga: Sailing Under the Black Flag will be out in the near future.

Her most recent publication were two booklets Help From Kelp and Using Diatomaceous Earth Around the House and Yard. Available in paperback

.For more information about Cygnet Brown and her books, check out her website at http://www.cygnetbrow.com .