As a writer, you know that sometimes getting started is the hardest part of a task. But you’ve overcome that hurdle and are a self-published author! Your book is out there for the world to see, but maybe not many people have bought it. Maybe you're staring at the “blank page” of how to market your book. We can help…
IngramSpark has some amazing resources for you, including an in-depth marketing guide, worksheets, and several blog posts on all aspects of marketing, but in 2024 and going forward, you should also begin to incorporate AI in your repertoire.
AI can’t, and shouldn’t, be used to do all your work for you; it can never replace the creativity you bring to even your promotional efforts. However, AI can be an immensely helpful tool to aid you in those efforts. Think of AI as a tool to make your work more efficient, like a stove, but you’re still working and creating a delicious meal.
Before we get to the strategies, here's one quick tip: Use more than one AI tool.
You may end up preferring one AI tool over another, but starting out, it’s best to try a few to see which one is easiest to use for you, has better or more accurate information, and to see if the free ones are good enough or if the cost is worth it.
Many have a free version, if they’re not completely free. Plus, there are different types of AI intended for different purposes such as recommendation engines (like what Netflix uses), large language models, generative chatbots like ChatGPT, speech recognition, and writing aids such as Jasper AI. For your marketing purposes, give these a try:
Now, here are 10 strategies you can employ to market your book with AI:
1. Content Creation
You need content to market your book: blog posts, social media posts, ad copy, pitches, blurbs, descriptions for media outlets, your website, the back of your book, and more.
- Ask your AI tool of choice to generate these for you after you enter your title, genre, and themes, as well as what you consider the most important passages from your book, so it understands your style.
- For a blog post use a prompt like, “Create an outline for a blog post to persuade people to read my book using the information I’ve entered”. For shorter content, prompt it with something like, “Write ad copy of 100 characters or less to persuade people to read my book,” or “Write a description of my book in 150-200 words.”
- You’ll have to refine and edit what it produces, but it’s so much faster than staring at a blank page for a long time, waiting for inspiration to strike. The results from AI often spark creativity, and you’ll begin to see how you can make it even better.
2. Find Your Target Audience
Ask AI to find people who are interested in books that are similar to yours. Keep in mind that you must ask specific questions to get more pertinent information.
You can do the same for each social media platform, and you’ll have a fantastic list of places to find people who'll very possibly be interested in your book. You can start interacting with the communities there and talk and post about your book.
You can also find out what times are best to post in order to reach the most people.
3. Stay on Top of Emerging Trends
Ask for the new challenges or memes that are circulating on particular platforms in relation to your book. Or, if you don’t even know where to start, just ask what's trending right now.
You’ll notice that most of the information given comes with links to read further, which can be very helpful if you want to dig deeper into one aspect or another.
4. Find Influencers to Promote Your Book
Influencer marketing is huge right now. Use AI to avoid sifting through countless accounts searching for someone you might want to approach to talk about your book. While the influencers identified may not always agree to work with you, you'll gain valuable insight into other key figures within that community.
5. Get Information About Where to Market Online
You should be reaching out to bookstores, libraries, and every other place that has books to ask them to carry your book, and to see if you can have book signings or other promotional events there. Finding these places near you and getting their contact information isn’t too hard these days, but it does take a bit of time.
However, you can ask an AI to gather the information for you, and it'll be done in a fraction of the time. Remember to be specific in your prompt. Ask for a list of whatever type of place you’re interested in (like libraries) to be put in a table, in order of distance from your address, or in alphabetical order, including whatever details you need, and in a few seconds you’ll have something like this:
6. Make Your Website SEO Friendly
Many authors know nothing about search engine optimization and wonder why they can’t just focus on writing a great book, but in the internet age, you must have an online presence to sell your book. The free and more generalized AI won't be as much help on this one, but the cost is worth it. Jasper is a great option for writers in general and has robust SEO capabilities.
Read in more detail how to use AI SEO tools here.
Incorporating AI into your book marketing strategy can greatly streamline the process and help you reach a broader audience with less effort. While AI won’t replace your creative vision, it can assist with content creation, finding target audiences, connecting with influencers, and optimizing your website for better visibility.
By leveraging multiple AI tools, you can save time, enhance your marketing effectiveness, and focus more on what matters most—your writing. Embrace the evolving technology, and with the right strategies, you'll make your book stand out in a crowded marketplace.
