ADVENTURES IN SELF-PUBLISHING : Selling the dream

 

 

Self-publishing is now a realistic alternative to traditional publishing. This series looks at the challenges faced by any writer hoping to self-publish. In this article Antony Quinton looks at all things marketing.

 

Why Marketing?

 

Artists produce works of incandescent artistry— at least that’s the idea. However, the traditional (and cliched image) of the artist starving in their garrett in Paris does not really appeal. Of course writing, painting, sewing, carpentry, playing and composing music and singing have at various times been seen as a vital part of a successful society such as in the Renaissance. Or pointless and not important, such as when Mr Gove decided that STEM subjects were the most important and downgraded the status of art, music and PE within the National Curriculum.

 

A piece of music, or pottery or art or poem has intrinsic value to its creator and to its recipient. What tends to be the trouble is that people say, “Oh well you're not working down a mine, you don't deserve to get paid for doing your hobby.” I'm sure many members of SCWBI have come across such attitudes from people. Without us creatives what would their life be like? Work, eat, sleep, maybe raise children, go for a walk or swim and that's it.

 

If we had no artists or writers or potters or weavers there would be no beautiful objects in our home. On winter evenings like this, you would cook your meal and go to bed. During a celebration you would sit around talking and choosing items from the buffet. Of course I'm being extreme here. However, if you spend ten hours creating a painting or composing a song or performing to entertain an audience or a year writing a book.

 

YOU DESERVE TO BE PAID AND YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FEEL GUILTY!

 

So you have written a book. You cannot expect to sell any copies without marketing. This was where my lack of experience and naivety encountered commercial reality. The market for books is oversaturated. It is difficult, but not impossible, to make an impact.

 

In March 2024, for a $5 donation, I attended the Storygarden online writer’s conference. This was a revelation. American writers are keen self-publishers. I learnt a lot from this experience and chatted via text with many writers who had self-published with a great degree of success.

 

What they all have in common is the drive and passion to get their product into the hands of eager readers. I'm afraid you have to think in dispassionate terms at times about books as commodities.

 

Like many Brits, we find selling and pushing ourselves forward rather distasteful. We find it awkward. A lot of writers are introverts. The thought of using social media or other marketing techniques to sell their books is anathema to them.

 

If you traditionally publish, which is the norm for children’s books in this country then the publisher will take this burden off you. However, if you self publish, you need to put on your marketing hat.

 

Fortunately, there is a lot of advice out there. Practical advice for anyone no matter what experience they have about how to market your books. There are tips and tricks and one of the speakers, Alessandra Torre, at a webinar I attended recently summed it up well.

Below is a summary of Alessandra’s thoughts on why and how you can market your book so it won't feel like a burden. Even if you traditionally publish your book some of the ideas and techniques will help you too. These will be covered in the next article.

Content marketing is all about giving something of value to your readers, so they will continue to support you, and help you grow your author business, doing quirky little things like buying your books.

This is marketing for authors in a nutshell and I shall briefly unpack it for you.

 

• Something of Value: This is not only your book, but if you self-publish and someone goes onto your author website from a Facebook post, you can say:
• “Hey! Thanks for visiting my site. I’ve got a free short story for you to download.”
• If they download it on the first page of the PDF you can write where they can buy your book and a direct link to it.
• If they like your free gift they may tell their friends that there’s this brilliant children’s author and subscribe to your email list so that they know all about your forthcoming titles.
• Dedicated subscribers mean you're building a relationship with people who like your work and will go and buy your books.

 

In this country, because of the publishing market, this approach does not work very well for children’s books, yet. However, it gives valuable insight into the mindset you need to successfully promote your books.

 

Next time: I will focus on practical suggestions all children's authors can use to market their books and build reader communities. I hope above all to attempt to take the stress out of marketing and show just how creative you can be. I’ll be sharing my own tentative steps into the marketing process too.

 

Resources:

 

Marketing Advice from Alessandra Torre.

 

*Header image: Ell Rose and Tita Berredo