Earlier this year, I heard a publishing executive say, "The best way to market your fiction is to write more fiction." I disagree with this idea, because it insinuates that you can ignore marketing your original book. Writing more stories does not a marketing plan make.

 

In a crowded marketplace, novelists must take steps to help their stories stand out from the others. Use the following tips to make selling your fiction a reality:

 

Does your author website provide an environment for readers to experience your personality and story settings? Analyze your site to see if these elements are included:

   a. Use captivating images - Utilize artwork from your book covers and other pictures to express the exotic aspects of your stories. Give glimpses of the world created by your story.
   b. Write fascinating text - Become an "object of interest" to readers by describing your life and writings from a dramatic point of view. Avoid bland language. Instead, make an emotional connection with your website visitors. Get them to feel something. If your website is boring, some people will assume that your novel is boring.

   c. Offer free content - Recent research has revealed that fiction lover's prefer author websites that provide free stuff, such as exclusive unpublished content, book explainers, tour updates, video trailers, author favorite lists, contests, and fan site listings. Does your website offer these elements?

 

For two great examples, check out the sites of these recent New York Times bestsellers:

2. Generate Effective Newsletters
You can use blogs, Twitter, and FaceBook to market your fiction. But, those are passive activities, because you're hoping people will choose to repeatedly visit those sites on their own. Thus, it's important to balance your book marketing efforts with active methods - and one of the best is an opt-in newsletter.

 

"Opt-in" means people request you to stay in touch with them by giving you their contact information (either email or mailing address). Make your newsletter effective by keeping it reader-focused with articles, short stories, book previews, tour updates; latest news, etc. Write 80% of the total content to help or entertain the reader, then use the remaining 20% promote your books.

 

For examples, bestselling novelist www.LizCurtisHiggs.com sends out an attractive print newsletter, and www.MaryDeMuth.com has an interesting email newsletter that gives fans a monthly window into her daily life.

3. Connect Your Story to Current Events or a Cause
Sometimes, fiction can be easier to promote by taking a non-fiction approach. For instance:

   a. Find the "thread of reality" in your story, and apply it to current events, social trends, unsolved mysteries, political situations, media headlines, etc. Every story revolves around a truth that most people can relate to. Use that truth to establish a basis of discussion about your novels.
   b. Champion a cause that your main character deals with in the story, such as health issues, poverty, abuse, etc. Rally people around a cause, and many times, you can rally them around your book.
   c. Ask yourself, "What would my central character look like in today's world?" Use that answer to show changes in society that would make for interesting media interviews or articles that draw attention to your books.