21 December 2011, Publication - Advertising Follow-Through

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Here is the list of ideas for advertising--there are more and I'll add to the list as we go along.  I'm certainly not an expert in all these, but I've dabbled in all of them.  I'll try to relate my experience and the degree of that experience to you.

1.  Have a website for your novel.
2.  Write a blog.
3.  Advertise.
4.  Literary awards.
5.  Book cards.
6.  Contests.
7.  Interviews.
8.  Blog tours.
9.  Press releases.
10.  Speaking and teaching.
11.  e-mailing.
12.  ...

The point of Internet advertising is to get someone to come to your website--there you can seduce them with your book.  That's the whole reason for the advertising, and this applies to the indie as well as the regular published. 

Therefore, your website needs to seduce them to want your novel.  You need to encourage them to want to read your book.  The first step is getting them to your website, the second is getting them to stay long enough to, third, go to a bookseller where they can buy your book.

You can see what you need to do.  First, your website needs to be clear and clean.  It needs to not be ambiguous.  You need to clearly and specifically tell your visitors about your book in words that will interest and draw them to explore further.  You need to have pictures of the cover and information on the book.  I could go on and on about website development, but I'm not an expert--I just have made a lot.  Look at any of my novel websites for an example of how I make a website for a novel.  Look at www.AegyptNovel.com.

Second, you need to get them to stick around on the site long enough to want to buy your novel.  I think a crisp and clean site with strong content is about the best you can do.  Give them the four buttons (described before) and give them those marketing teasers you developed.

Third, point them to booksellers.  Give them a choice.  I put some links, and I put Amazon widgets on my websites.

There is so much more on advertising, but we need to move on.  We'll look at Literary Awards tomorrow.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.