Introduction to Ebook Publishing Marketing Channels

This aspect of ebook publishing can be daunting – so it’s best to embrace it slowly

The first part of this article will briefly introduce you to the giant ebook publishing marketing universe. It’s well worth a read if you’re a new indie author as it’s important to ease yourself into the mass of channels out there gently.

From my personal experience, I know how daunting and overwhelming it can be as a new author. Social networking, blogs, websites, advertising, promotions, giveaways, interviews, reviews – it can sound like a complete nightmare!

You’re wondering: How do I go about doing all this? What’s the best way? How am I going to juggle it with my writing? And where on earth do I start!

But don’t worry – breathe in and out, in and out…

Relaxed?

Good. And as for where you start, by the way, it doesn’t really matter – as long as you DO start.

It’s true that you have a lot of work ahead of you, yes, but focusing on each aspect individually can help immensely. Excuse the cliched proverb, but you’ve got a mountain ahead of you, so don’t become intimidated by its hulking size – just climb one step at a time.

Also, remember that through these articles I’m going to be giving straightforward advice on what has worked best for me. I don’t claim to be an expert, but one thing I will be doing is cutting out all the stuff that didn’t work for me – and that means your ebook publishing journey will be a lot quicker than mine was!

The next part of this article will take a look into the main channels, such as websites, blogs, and those essential can’t-be-without social networking tools such as Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

Let’s get acquainted with the cast of ebook publishing marketing. So briefly, what are the main platforms and why are they essential to help sell your book?

Author Website – When people are browsing through Amazon and find your book, many like to do a bit of research. They want to know more about you. One of the first things they might think is: does this author have a website? If yours has useful, informative content, this will not only help promote your work, but also help you come across as professional.

Author Blog – Potential readers are interested in what you have to say on here – it’s a great place to publish articles about news, upcoming novels, your writing, and so forth. A well-presented website and blog go hand-in-hand. (Just try finding an author website without a blog – it’s not easy!)

Author Forums – I have to list this platform as it is a promotional tool, but in my experience it hasn’t worked well. Author self-promotions are usually frowned upon in these forums, such as KBoards Ebook Publishing, and I found it very difficult to get anywhere. I’m not saying they don’t work – just that I personally haven’t seen any positive results. (However, if you manage to find success, please let me know how!)

Facebook isn’t just for socialising – it’s also a promotional haven for many ebook publishing authors

Facebook – Everyone seems to be on Facebook these days, and so it makes sense that you are too. You can link an Author Page directly to your Personal Page so it’s easy and convenient to manage. You can think of it as another form of blogging, though with shorter, snappier updates.

Twitter – Everyone’s on Twitter too, and this is another party you have to join. This platform can build your reader fan base tenfold – you can chat with followers (readers), and be part of an enormous indie author network.

Goodreads – This is the go-to-place for bookworms. In short, it’s a massive worldwide community. People on Goodreads love reading books and discussing them with friends, and like a movie buff, they’re always looking for new and exciting authors. Through an eye-catching and active Ebook Publishing Author Page, you can be that exciting author. You can also host interesting events like Q&As to get people talking.

Your Distributor – Some people think your distributor – be it Amazon or another – just sells your books and nothing else. Yes, they do sell your books, but it’s also a place you should frequently visit. Not only can you keep an eye on your sales to date, you can also make alterations to your pricing, blurb, search keywords, tags, book cover, and more. Do not neglect it.

My next set of articles will introduce you further to each of these channels and break you in gently. My aim is to post them over the course of the next week.

If you fancy getting lost in my debut psychological thriller, ALEX, which has sold over 250,000 copies worldwide, you can find it on Amazon by clicking on one of the covers below. I hope you enjoy it!

Oh, and as always, let me know your thoughts on this article. Was there anything you’d like to share that I missed out? I’d be delighted to hear from you!