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Writer's pictureBig Book Analytics

Book Promotion for Beginners. Step 1: Awareness

Updated: Aug 1

Drip. Drip. That’s the sound of your book sales. How can you turn the occasional drip into a steady trickle, or even a steady pour? The answer lies in a marketing framework known as… (cue Jim Carrey’s “Ace Ventura” voice) The Funnelllll. That is to say, the sales funnel. 


Before you backpedal on your browser’s back button, keep in mind that all books must have some kind of marketing scheme, and whether you have a publisher or whether you’ve self-published, you’re going to be a part of that plan. Why not be a step ahead of the game with a simple, four part strategy? Best of all? The resources we’re about to mention are—FREE.


Book Promotion Funnel

Make Readers Aware of Your Author Name

We sat down with La Mirada (California) Community Library Manager Allison Ortiz, winner of the 2017 County of Los Angeles Public Librarian award, to find out how authors can use free library tools to market their books. With a decade of experience in county library services, including six years in a managerial role, Allison brings a wealth of knowledge about the vast resources libraries offer to support authors. 


Photo of La Mirada, CA, Community Library Manager, Allison Ortiz holding a book
La Mirada, California, Community Library Manager: Allison Ortiz

We’ve broken down the four, simple steps of the sales funnel (namely, Awareness, Consideration, Desire, and Action), into four separate blog posts. Let’s start with the top of the funnel: Awareness.


Awareness is exactly what it sounds like. The goal at this stage is not to make sales, but simply to get people familiar with your name. Imagine it’s time to get a new laptop. You go online and start researching options. More likely than not, you’re going to go with a brand you’re aware of: maybe one with a bitten apple as a logo or maybe one with four windows as a logo—you know which brands I’m talking about. 


You’re more likely to go with something you know because you’re aware of it, and because it has a reputation. The same goes for books. Building awareness is the wide point of the sales funnel, and it’s the first place to start. With the library, there are two great ways to get started on building this awareness. 



Get Your Book Featured through The Friends of the Library


Books that get featured at a bookstore immediately stand out from the pack. A patron seeing your book called out like this, whether consciously or subconsciously, is gathering awareness of your book and name. 


However, here lies the difficulty. If you’re an indie published author, how can you get your book featured in the library? Allison says that while most books that go into the library need professional reviews, you might be able to get your book featured in a different way. She says,

The Friends of the Library is typically a nonprofit group that is connected to libraries and their whole purpose is to raise funds and awareness for the libraries. Some Friends of the Libraries do have small bookstores in the library in the city. So it's a possibility that they might be willing to feature a local author section.

Whether you’ve been indie or traditionally published, check your local library for the opportunity to potentially have your book featured this way. 



Host a Book Reading at the Library


Another way to spread your brand awareness is to host a book reading. While Allison says these events are typically “for more established authors,” don’t let that put you off the idea completely. Again, Allison offers a potential workaround.

Another option, too, is to rent the space. A lot of libraries have a separate community room. So the rates for that might vary if you are a business versus a nonprofit, but that would be a good place to launch a book reading.” 

Allison clarifies that this would not technically be a library event, but that it provides a good opportunity to “launch and promote.” Call your local library and check the cost of renting a community room to promote your book. It’s not only an easy way to build awareness, it’s fun!


Conclusion

Remember, establishing awareness is just the beginning. It's about creating a connection with your audience. By featuring your work through The Friends of the Library or hosting a book reading, you're not just promoting a book; you're inviting readers into your world.



 

Ready to take the next step in getting that steady sales flow? Learn how to bring your aware audience into the next phase—Interest

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