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Sunday, April 13, 2014

Coming Up with A Marketing Plan that Makes Sense

I am in the throes of marketing my new YA book, Caught Between Two Curses. This is my second book; and this time, I'm trying to do everything right, learn from my mistakes with marketing Finding My Place, and continue to do what works well. Here are some areas I'm trying to think about with my second book to help me market and sell it.

  1. Where does my audience hang out? My audience is teenagers and adults that like to read YA. Online, these two groups of people hang out on different social media sites--Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram--visit well-kept-up blogs, and read their email. 
  2. How can I reach libraries? Librarians can really be your friend--how can I get this group's attention?
  3. How can I get reviews from my target audience? I've started giving teenagers free copies in order for an exchange of a review. I want honest reviews, but I am providing a copy. 
  4. What physical events can I do to get in front of teens? Do they go to library events or book store signings? Or is this a waste of my time? Maybe I can serve on a panel with more popular YA authors or create a writing workshop for teens who want an outlet.
  5. There are a lot of YA "reader" blogs--I can do a blog tour on these blogs to let readers know about my book. 
I am just now trying to figure all this out, but I do have an actual teenager in my critique group. I decided to ask her some questions about marketing to teens, and she gave me some great insights. I can't wait to implement her ideas. Because the fact is that if you are not actively marketing yourself, you will not sell many copies of your book. The other fact is that romance writers should not market the same way as nonfiction writers or mystery writers or children's writers. Our audiences are different, and so should our plans be different.

So, if you have a book out, do you have a marketing plan? What's on it?

7 comments:

  1. Margo--It sounds like you've got all your considerations covered.

    Since it has a baseball theme--and a Cubs theme--I have some baseball-related questions.

    When there are those "parties" in the lots before baseball games--where people set up little BBQ grills and drink--are they only home team folks, or are some pockets made up of visiting team fans?

    What about Chicago pre-game parties? And are there events at Wrigley Field (It hasn't been replaced, has it? I am a know-nothing when it comes to sports.)that you could hook up with? I know that would be a drive, but I imagine if you paired up drinking (beer, by the Cubs fans) and their rabid loyalty, along with a clever spiel from you, and parents who are crazy 'bout the Cubs could be enticed to buy a book for their kids, since the Cubs tradition needs to be passed onto the next generation.

    Margo--I bow down to you, you prolific author. Good luck with the new book.

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  2. Sounds like a great plan, Margo. I like Sioux's idea of hawking books to the tailgaters!

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  3. Tailgate parties. I racked my brain, thinking Trunk parties? Car lot parties? I knew those weren't it, but my head wouldn't cooperate. And then Renee spewed it out effortlessly...

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  4. Which is funny, Sioux, because I'm not sure I've ever been to a tailgate party in my entire life . . .

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  5. I guess I'm going to have to take a roadtrip to Chicago. . .

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  6. Hey Margo -- Wasn't that you hawking your book in front of Ballpark Village today?? :)

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  7. Right--I missed that opportunity, huh? :) Instead I was trying to get people to buy it at Tea with Cinderella. :)

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