Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Marketing Your Novel--101

by Molly Noble Bull
www.mollynoblebull.com

Do you spend a lot of time marketing your books to fellow writers? If so, maybe you should consider another strategy and another group of readers. Writers are interested in selling their novels, not buying new books. Besides, they can get plenty of free books by visiting various blogs and entering contests.
So, to whom should you pitch your books?
I think the list should include Christian women of all ages and moms who home school. I suggest creating a blog that would be of interest to these Christian women and be as different as possible from other blogs out there. In other words, find a unique niche.
I would start with your hobbies. What do you like to do when you are not reading or writing? Let's say you like to knit and are really good at it. You might create a blog for knitters.
Maybe you could call your blog
Knitting R Us.
(Below is an example of what you might post as the first lines of that blog.)
Can you knit one, pearl two and read a book at the same time? If so, this is the blog for you.
See what I mean?
Some writers might actually like to knit—either that or have a grandmother who does. So you would use this same pitch when promoting your blog to them as to readers and get Google or other search engines to promote your blog so that knitters from everywhere will read your info on knitting and perhaps buy you book.
Yep. You should also promote your book at your knitting blog but over to one side. The primary focus of your blog should be knitting. But your books should be plainly displayed as well.
Perhaps your blog readers will think that since they like your ideas on knitting, they might also like your books.
Happy writing and knitting—or whatever it is that you do.

17 comments:

AngBreidenbach said...

So true! I get tired of being promoted "at" just because I'm a writer.
Angie

Molly Noble Bull said...

Thanks for writing, Angela. I'm glad you agree with me.
Love,
Molly

Karen Lange said...

Good post, thanks for sharing! Blessings and Happy New Year to you and your readers:)

Molly Noble Bull said...

Thanks, Karan. Happy new year to you, too, and to all our readers.
Love,
Molly

Kathi Macias said...

Great point, Molly! Thanks for sharing.

Miralee Ferrell said...

I enjoyed this and have often thought the same. There's got to be a way to break out of the same cirlces and into new readers. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!! Miralee

Molly Noble Bull said...

Hi Kathi and Miralee,
Thanks for writing. We all need to connect with new readers. We have been promoting our book to the choir for too long.
Love,
Molly

Anonymous said...

Great tips!

Janice Olson said...

Excellent advice, Mollie. Writers who market to writers are almost like the preacher preaching to choir.
Happy New Year!

Bethany Wiggins said...

Great post! Thanks for the wonderful ideas.

Molly Noble Bull said...

Dear Faith, Janice and Bethany,
Thanks for your encouraging comments. In fact, everybody's comments were encouraging.
Love,
Molly

teJan said...

I agree.. I like it here. following you here and can I grab the badge? thanks..hope to see you around!

Molly Noble Bull said...

Dear teJan,
Thanks for writing and for becoming a follower. I'm glad you like it here.
Love
Molly

Unknown said...

Platforms aren't as easy as they sometimes sound - esp. for fiction authors. But I agree that a blog is almost always a good place to start.

♥♥ tuğçe♥♥ said...

great post thanks for sharing
have a great day

Molly Noble Bull said...

Dear K.M and tugce,
Thanks for writing. I hope you like my new article as well.
Love,
Molly

Bess said...

Wonderful concept. Thank you!