When the Sales Aren't Marching In

When a writer sends their latest creation out into the world, it is with the hope that it will not only capture readers’ imaginations and inspire them but also that it will garner enough sales to merit its existence. Granted, sales are not the real reason that writers set down their words to willing pages. We write to fill the empty void that is humanity with a piece of truth and the hope that such dreams will enlighten the masses. We want our words to matter. However, whether we’d care to admit it or not, in the grand scheme of things, sales matter too.

We may have the next big idea. We may have written a masterpiece. But if the sales are not coming in, then our work is not being seen. While our book is the flesh and blood of our offering to the literary world, our marketing and sales are the backbone that solidify our place in that renowned cosmos. How do we ensure that our work is seen? Research, good marketing, and a keen understanding of the Reader.

In order to market your book, you need to have a good sense of what it’s about and who your target audience will be. I know, I know. A writer should know what their work is about, but surprisingly, that can be difficult, especially when working so closely and intensely on this one idea. After the work is complete, read through it as if you were just a reader. Discover it as a reader. Know your basic premise, your genre, and any key thematic phrases or ideas that would bring your marketing pitch to a higher level. You may think you know your story, but you must know your story from a reader’s point of view. You must understand what the reader is searching for in a book, what keywords will bring them in. It’s vital that you understand the reader as much as you do your own work.

These days, the average reader knows how a good book should read, and more importantly, what they as the readers need from us in order to be sold on our book. We’ve all heard the idiom, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” The truth of the matter is that readers DO judge books by their cover designs, as well as any marketing images, posts, and videos that you use in your plethora of sales pitches. Choose wisely. Whether in-person or on social media, be observant. If your sales pitch is not working, change it up and see what catches people’s interest.

While sales and marketing might be the bane of every writer’s existence, the key to it all is connecting with your reader. Do this, and everything else falls into place. Know your work. Know your niche. Know your reader. It may take some trial and error, but nothing worthwhile comes for free.

Keshia C. Willi