Get Noticed

Any writer will understand the effort put into writing, and re writing, editing, proof reading and then publishing a book. This process is the same for all authors, be it, traditional or indie. Most authors will know only to well the self-confidence you need to keep writing, while trying to cut through the thousands of other authors in their chosen genre.

Getting noticed is my main goal, and so I am always looking for new ways to get my name and book out there. I thought that by asking friends, family and readers on my mailing list to post pictures of themselves reading my book would be a fun way of getting some much needed PR. And it is. I would recommend this to all new authors. It is a time consuming task but well worth the effort for three reasons. Firstly it helps to lift your confidence by seeing your book that you have put so much of yourself into, in a reader’s hand. Secondly it is a brilliant way to interact with readers on your mailing list, and thirdly, it gives you a great marketing tool to build on.

Getting reviews on Amazon. This can prove to be more difficult as people live busy lives. The importance of Amazon reviews is paramount and can really get you noticed, so to sweeten the deal you could offer free copies in return for a review. Book reviews are important for two reasons. Firstly you put a lot of effort into writing your book and most writers do this because, like me, they want people to read their work, (and hopefully enjoy it.) and Secondly, reviews are GOLD! the more reviews you have the higher you sit on your Amazon page. And if your goal is the same as mine, this will get you noticed.

The first people you should approach for reviews are friends and family. However this is normally your least successful avenue. If you have already started to build a mailing list of readers then email your mailing list. Then get onto Twitter and make friends with bloggers. Be nice to bloggers because they can get you noticed and it is a labour of love for the vast majority of bloggers.

Getting to the top page in your Amazon category?

Keep a log of where your book is ranking in the category you chose. If a self-publishing company did this for you then check with them where you rank. You can change your category in KDP and Createspace to a less competitive category so that you are listed higher on the categories page. For example if you are in the category, General Romance you will be competing with thousands of other books, and books that have hundreds of reviews. Your book will never rank high in this category in its infancy. But another category with less books, and with lots of reviews from your friends, family, readers, and bloggers could push your book to the top. You can then make claim to being a number one best seller on Amazon. Even if you were only competing with fifty other books in that category!

Keep it simple & smart (KISS)

Share if you like this page,