8 Proven Strategies from Bestselling Authors

Producing a high-quality book is just half the fight for authors in today's cutthroat publishing industry. The other half? Advertising it in a way that attracts your ideal customers will help you become a bestseller. The marketing budgets of traditional publishing houses are shrinking, therefore authors are finding that they must take the lead in promoting their books.

But have no worry; the fate of your book is in your hands if you employ cunning marketing tactics. The following are eight tried-and-true methods that best-selling authors utilize to promote their books:

Reach out to Solo Author Blogs and Niche Influencers

A mention on Oprah or in the national media used to be all it took to become a bestseller, but those days are over. Today, you can obtain far greater results with a focused influencer strategy.

Consider the time spent advertising Michael Ellsberg's book. Even after weeks of continuous conventional advertising via radio appearances, national press, and email blasts, his book failed to reach the top 1,000 on Amazon. However, the book shot up to number 45 on Amazon's overall bestsellers list in just one hour after his buddy Tim Ferriss recommended it in a blog post.

What was the secret of its success? Over the years, Ferriss had built a loyal fan base in Ellsberg's specific demographic. His readers were already interested and motivated, so they took swift action upon hearing his recommendation of the book.

What is the takeaway now? Find influencers and solo author blogs whose readers are similar to your ideal customers, and reach out to them. Ask them to write guest posts on topics relating to your book so that it might reach a wider audience. A small number of well-placed blog posts can generate more revenue than extensive publicity in the mainstream media.

Evaluate Your Novel's Title as a Headline

One of the most crucial pieces of promotional material you will create is the title of your book. Because it is the initial impression that readers get, it has the power to entice or repel them.

Think of your title as you would a headline for a story or advertisement. Find out what works best by trying out several choices. Tim Ferriss and other best-selling authors follow this strategy.

To find the perfect title for his best-selling book, Ferriss used Google AdWords to try out six different combinations of title and subtitle. He made text advertising for all of the options and tracked their click-through rates for only $200. After considering alternatives such as "Millionaire Chameleon" and "Broadband and White Sand," "The 4-Hour Work Week" was ultimately chosen as the winner.

What is most important? Trust your instincts and not the publisher's opinion alone. To increase your book's discoverability and attractiveness, try out different titles with actual people who might buy it.

Find Out Where Your Ideal Customers Spend Their Time Online

Visit the websites frequented by your ideal customers and look for content that relates to your book's subject once you have determined who you are writing for.

This was the strategy employed by best-selling author Lewis Howes in advertising his book "The School of Greatness." He meticulously crafted reader personalities, describing their hobbies, occupations, age groups, and internet habits. After that, he adjusted his marketing strategy to target them in the mediums they liked most.

This required adapting the material from his book into several forms:

• Can blog posts be scanned?
• Recaps of recent social media activity
• Short films perfect for Snapchat and Instagram
• Guest appearances on podcasts
• Enhanced YouTube video length

Similarly, James Altucher promoted his book "Choose Yourself" on Reddit. In his "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) session, he received more than 3,200 questions and comments from curious readers.

One great thing about advertising your book online is that you can provide interested readers simple access to buy links. Learn where your target audience hangs out online and use that information to your advantage by making useful material that gently promotes your book.

Motivate the Reader to Take the Intended Action

Motivate your readers to do what you want them to do after you have caught their interest, whether that is buying your book, reviewing it, or telling others about it.

Once again, James Altucher exemplifies this point wonderfully. He inserted an enticing call to action at the end of a SlideShare marketing one of his books: if the reader could prove they had read and purchased the book, he would refund their money.

A number of objectives were met by this astute strategy:

• Buyers faced less uncertainty as a result.
• Rather than merely purchasing the book, it encouraged its real reading.
• It prompted people to write reviews, which helped spread the word about the book even more.
• This allowed Altucher to connect with his audience on a more personal level.

Come up with innovative ways to encourage readers to do what you want them to. A few examples of excellent incentives are interactive challenges, money-back guarantees, and exclusive bonuses.

Make a Personal Connection by Recording Your Own Audiobook

Considering that sales of audiobooks have increased by about 30% annually, it is clear that you should record an audiobook version of your book. If you really want to connect with your audience, narrating it yourself is a better option than simply hiring a professional voice actor.

Geraldine DeRuiter, a first-time novelist, did just that, even though her publisher and agency were against it. She wished for audiences to hear the story told in her own words because she understood her memoir was very personal.

The result was worth the 18–23 hours spent in the studio working on it. If you want to give your readers the experience of having a long chat with you, narrating your own audiobook is the way to go. Doing so will assist your audience recognize your skills and become dedicated followers.

Authentic narration, even if you do not have training as a voice actor, can captivate audiences more than a scripted, robotic audio. Take advantage of the chance to address your readers by name.

Make a Movie Trailer for Your Book

In today's video-driven society, a professionally made book trailer can greatly enhance your marketing campaigns. Tim Ferriss witnessed this with his show "The 4-Hour Chef."

He shelled out cash for two trailers that appeared like they were shot by Hollywood pros. So what happened? With over 2 million views, it was able to generate buzz and sales.

A Hollywood budget is not necessary to produce a successful trailer. Put your energy into crafting an engaging narrative, selecting visually striking images, and capturing the spirit of your book in only one or two minutes. If you are not a video editing genius, there are lots of affordable tools and services that can assist with production.

When you are done making the trailer, make sure you share it on social media, your website, and any other appropriate online forums. It is a sharing asset that might attract readers to your book.

Acquire a Large Number of Reviews

Book sales, particularly those conducted online, rely heavily on reviews. When deciding what to buy, 90% of customers who participated in a survey by Dimensional Research said they read positive evaluations. If your book has more reviews, it will show up higher in Amazon's search results.

Your current network, which includes people like readers, coworkers, and industry contacts, should be your first point of contact. Give away physical or digital copies in exchange for reviews that are as honest as they can be.

Next, use a broader net:

• Connect with the most influential reviewers in your category on Amazon.
• Find other book bloggers who write about the same subject as you.
• To identify appropriate influencers, use a service like Followerwonk or Blogmetrics.

Rob Dirks, a self-published author, utilized this strategy to sell 10,000 copies of his first book. On the day of his book's premiere, he had 25 reviews ready to go live on Amazon, giving his previously unknown book instant legitimacy.

Try to get twenty-five reviews in the first week after debut. Your book's discoverability and momentum can both benefit from this early boost.

Develop Your Personal "Halo Effect" by Maintaining a Consistent Brand Presence

A cognitive bias known as the "Halo Effect" makes people's favorable views of one area have a beneficial impact on their opinions of other areas. When advertising your book, you can take use of this psychological principle.

The first step in building a successful online presence is to establish a consistent, expert brand identity:

• The website for your writing
• Online personas on social media
• Authors of guest posts
• Participation in podcasts
• Video content

Get your audience to recognize and trust you by using consistent graphics, messaging, and tone. After interacting with your other content, readers will be more likely to have a favorable impression of your book.

You should also strive to prove that you are the foremost authority on the subject of your book by doing things like:

• Continuously disseminating high-quality material
• Involving your target demographic
• Looking for chances to give speeches and do interviews
• Working together with other well-respected experts in your sector

Your book will benefit from the "halo" effect of your own brand's familiarity and authority when you promote it.

How to Become a Bestseller

Promoting a book in today's saturated market demands imagination, doggedness, and the courage to try new things. If you want your book to be a bestseller, you need to follow these techniques that other successful authors have utilized.

Book promotion is an endurance race, not a sprint. Get the word out about your launch in plenty of time before it happens, and keep at it even after it has happened. You can make sure that your book reaches readers who are eager to read it by promoting it consistently and strategically.