To Market, To Market & Defining Upmarket

Woman writes book. Woman spends copious hours editing book. Then woman gets book professionally

edited. Woman decides it sure would be nice if her aunt Sally isn’t the only one to buy book.

And so it is. Marketing is born.

But how does woman go about it? Blow horn broadcast the news to her neighbors every morning? Join every social networking site under the sun? Tweet five million messages about her beloved book (eh hem, woman will be unfollowed quicker than I can eat a pan of brownies just out of the oven).

No. Woman trusts.

Step one of marketing = Trust

Invest in relationships. Believe there’s an audience for the book. Then do everything in your power to connect with that audience.

Step two of marketing = Give

As the commercial goes, “It’s not rocket science.” The more willing you are to help others out, the more willing they’ll be to help you out when the need arises. But adjust expectations. Not the wisest idea to offer favors purely in hopes they’ll be returned. Do it because you know how arduous the road can be. Do it because it’s fun.

Step three of marketing = Develop a Plan

Strategize. Study what engages your core readers. Pay attention (cannot stress those two words enough) to what moves them. Then establish a link to your book. Plan giveaways, events, and posts with your audience in mind.

Step four of marketing = Think soft

Whenever you’re tempted to pull out the blow horn remember the following Jane Friedman quote.

“But social media is predominantly about “soft” marketing when it comes to authors and books. In my experience, the best marketing that can possibly happen centers on creating and strengthening…relationships.”

Check out both of these informative Writer Unboxed posts on the topic:

http://writerunboxed.com/2013/09/08/understanding-the-five-phases-of-book-marketing/#more-24040

http://writerunboxed.com/2013/08/27/a-key-book-marketing-principle-that-authors-must-learn-or-not-forget/

~

And now for the best definition I’ve come across for the term upmarket:

“Mainstream or women’s fiction that has book club potential; blends the line between commercial and literary.” – Writer’s Digest, October 2013

Draw a circle around this post, then put your pen down on that definition of upmarket and you’ve got a bull’s-eye. That’s what I write and what you’ll read when you download my novella next month.

This little piggy went to market…

;-)

Wee, wee, wee!

Which kinds of marketing do you respect? What gets your attention?

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