Write2Ignite

 

Marketing Doesn’t Have to be a Hard Sell

I’m sure I’m not the only person to see subject lines like these in my email inbox:

• Check this out!
• Sale!
• New discounts!
• New Prices!
• Get it now!
• Order now!

I didn’t ask for them. I don’t want them. Still, they show up, dozens and dozens each day. Annoying at best, severe timewasters at worst. Continually dodging spam filters and presuming upon my interest. I would never do that to anyone else…or would I? Would you?

Published authors don’t just write, we market our books, too. But marketing and promotion is not helped by a series of emails or Facebook posts shouting, “Buy my book!” Those who try the “hard sell” know their appeals often land down a black hole. We don’t even hear the faint chirp of crickets in response to our pleas.

Marketing is about relationships. Offering value. Meeting a need. Creating a desire for what we have to offer. And only then can we suggest our books…to entertain, educate, or encourage readers. If we don’t know their needs, then we can’t give them a meaningful reason to “buy my book!”

Imagine for a moment that someone is trying to sell your book to you. Why should you buy it? Why should you even care that it was written? It’s not enough to communicate your passion for the subject. How does your passion connect with your readers’ needs and passions? When you can do that, you won’t have to shout, “Buy my book!” Instead, they’ll be asking you, “Where can I buy your book?”

Now, if you’ll please excuse me…I have a bunch of emails to delete.

How are you communicating the value of your books to meet readers’ needs?