Authors who set up some personal market tactics to execute, whether standalone efforts or those in tandem with their publisher, sell more copies. Parents are extremely busy and im conscious of not wanting to add to their todo list unless i have something of genuine interest to share. Includes tips on building mailing lists, running promotions and advertising. Let us help with your book marketing plan by connecting you with your target audience. I have personally tried a lot of different techniques to sell over 100,000 copies of my own books, and in the process, i have discovered three keys to marketing a childrens book. Marketing selfpublished childrens books requires appealing to both kids and adults.
So youve written a childrens book, hired an illustrator or illustrated it yourself, and it is now at. As previously mentioned, marketing childrens books can be difficult. Mar 08, 2011 the following is a fictitious mini marketing plan i created for a publishing class while in university studying communication. Ways to market your childrens book my book illustrator. This book marketing plan outline is a short form real marketing plan for indie authors meaning it goes beyond a simple, and often untargeted, list of tactics. Aside from the fact that it can be overwhelming, most authors have day jobs and not much time to figure out which book promotion. A comprehensive book marketing plan would include timelines and budgets. Marketing selfpublished childrens books is an interesting task, different from the marketing of a regular book for one sole reason. How marketing of childrens books differs from the other genres, and why it matters. The problem is that the majority of the book marketing strategies online focus nearly entirely on the adult market. Create your children s book marketing plan article children rarely enjoy listening to smooth jazz, reading the newspaper, and going out for coffee with friends. Essential elements of a book marketing plan below is an outline of elements in a typical book marketing plan.
Add this fact to the points made above about demographics, longevity and inspiration of other marketers, it makes sense to try to market childrens. When you are marketing a childrens book, the book itself must do the heavy lifting. Choose the right categories and keywords for your book. A book marketing plan is a blueprint for selling your book. I thought it would make a great sample of a mini marketing plan for businesses looking to develop one for themselves, especially book businesses. Great book marketing ideas that will get people snapping up your novel or nonfiction masterpiece. Your book marketing plan for distribution setup guide.
When to start marketing your book and how to balance your time. Once again, social media is not used often enough when it comes to marketing childrens books. A sample marketing plan small publishers have a limited budget for marketing, and every dollar has to have impact. Its not necessarily more difficult, but more diverse and customized in approach. If you sell childrens books, you are actually targeting parents and not children, if you sell legal publications you.
Childrens book marketing programs are often developed for parents and grandparents the people who buy books for younger members of their families. Three keys to marketing childrens books ingramspark. Because kids dont buy their books, you have to reach parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians. Books marketing and promotion authoramp is an uk based book pr agency that has years of experience in promoting books, managing book marketing campaigns, promoting books online and is the best among other book promotion companies. To sign up for the hustle smarter, not harder webinar series, go here. Nov 16, 2011 theres no roi on book marketing unless you have a back end business save your money on book marketing. The sites below offer free as well as paid options and are genuine. Jul 31, 2017 to sign up for the hustle smarter, not harder webinar series, go here. Does it make marketing childrens book harder than marketing books for. How to write a marketing plan for your book youtube.
Youll be one huge step closer to having a successful book. The ultimate book marketing timeline for indie authors. People whose location connects to the author in some way nearly always. Theres no roi on book marketing unless you have a back end business save your money on book marketing. Rick lite of stress free book marketing, is a seasoned book marketing professional with over years of experience in the industry. Creating a book marketing and publicity plan is necessary for all authors, whether your publisher is a traditional house or youre trying to selfpublish. Marketing childrens books is quite different from marketing any other book genre, but by watching others and planning, you can do it. Jun 12, 2014 if an author approaches a marketing firm with a christmasthemed book in the middle of december, its going to be too late to launch a marketing plan that can capitalize on a timely tiein. Childrens book marketing promoting childrens books. For book promotion purposes, childrens and young adult books ideally have newsworthy themes, and authors have expertise in the theme covered in the book. How to market your childrens book free course reedsy. They arent overwhelmed with bill payments, frustrated with politics, or eager to expand their career.
How to set up your book marketing plan for distribution if youve dreamed of having your book in bookstores, enrolling in the traditional distribution program at mill city press, where your book marketing plan for distribution will be presented to book retailers and wholesalers, is a great first step. A marketing plan details the approach you intend to take to promote your book. Marketing selfpublished childrens books requires appealing to both. Authors write and publish books for various reasons, whether its sharing their story, inspiring or entertaining others, earning money, or promoting their. Oct 31, 2019 despite the differences, marketing a childrens book doesnt have to be hard. Because there are many different ways to promote a book, and authors have limited time and budgets, its important to put. Ricks expertise comes from tirelessly working on new and. How to write a book marketing plan for publishing success. Read about our childrens book marketing strategies that can help separate your book. The purpose of a book proposal is to hook the editor into asking to read your complete manuscript. Book marketing services book marketing company authoramp, uk. This is a book marketing plan outline that you can use.
Having seen and been involved in so many book launches ourselves, we know what works and what doesnt when it comes to book marketing well walk you. Book marketing plan the definitive checklist book launch. How to create a book marketing and publicity campaign. Dec 31, 2018 creating a book marketing and publicity plan is necessary for all authors, whether your publisher is a traditional house or youre trying to selfpublish. Jan 11, 2016 book marketing is dead what to do instead. So, there you are, drained from giving your blood, sweat and tears to write the next great american bestselling childrens. Ricks expertise comes from tirelessly working on new and innovative ways to market his own books and cds with his company and parent company, stress free kids. Sell books and add 5,00020,000 new readers to your email list every month.
Teachers like having authors visit in person or through skype. Aug 20, 2016 home book marketing how to write a book marketing plan the road map to your publishing success is guided by your book marketing plan. Love em or hate em, amazon is king, and your book needs to be listed there in order to get in front of readers. In this email course from author and book coach eevi jones, you will be introduced to marketing strategies that will help you successfully promote your childrens book before, during, and after its launch. A guide to marketing your children s book by barbara cohen. Because there are many different ways to promote a book, and authors have limited time and budgets, it s important to put together a written book marketing plan and prioritize your book promotion tasks. Although traditional media campaigns still play an important. So, there you are, drained from giving your blood, sweat and tears to write the next great american bestselling childrens book, but whats this. Childrens books require specific book marketing skills. Your first book may be a masterpiece, but first books have a nasty way of getting ignored. How to market a childrens book, as well as titles for young adults, is similar to all book marketing, but with notable additions. Celebrated childrens book author, crystal swainbates, was fed up with the lack of black childrens books on the market, so she founded goldest karat publishing in order to address the lack of diversity in childrens literature.
Dec 10, 2018 rick lite of stress free book marketing, is a seasoned book marketing professional with over years of experience in the industry. Author of forever friends smallfellow press, 2002, and a contributing writer at, a website for new and emerging authors. For what its worth, my dream regular email marketing plan is likely. Susan raabs column on marketing childrens books in the scbwi bulletin, which you will find archived at the website of her childrens book marketing company, raab associates. Tapping these resources can begin in the books planning stages, by. How to market a childrens book effectively requires a specialized approach. Theres a simple reason so many people dont like to sell including most of those who sell for a living. Six powerful ways to market childrens books 30 day books. The result will be a collection of pages that is a complete checklist for your book marketing efforts. The following is a fictitious mini marketing plan i created for a publishing class while in university studying communication. Childrens books have some unique opportunities when it comes to marketing and pr. The ultimate book marketing plan workshop includes five training sessions, video and audio recordings of each session, written. In this article, well craft and plan an igniting and highpowered marketing strategy that will set you and your book up for success once its time to launch it into the. Attract readers with a great book sales description.
This, in my experience, is the most problematic aspect of childrens book marketing and something ive yet to nail or test properly. Childrens website business plan sample executive summary. Apr 07, 2011 7 secrets to childrens book marketing childrens book marketing is the most important element there is after you write a childrens book. Celebrated children s book author, crystal swainbates, was fed up with the lack of black children s books on the market, so she founded goldest karat publishing in order to address the lack of diversity in children s literature. With over 100,000 books sold, her childrens books have been featured in forbes, cnn, essence, the huffington post, and used as props on television shows. Apr 28, 2017 marketing selfpublished childrens books is an interesting task, different from the marketing of a regular book for one sole reason.
Kids love authors and illustrators and they love to ask questions. Weve written extensively about the importance of book marketing, how to promote a book and marketing a self published book. If an author approaches a marketing firm with a christmasthemed book in the middle of december, its going to be too late to launch a marketing plan that can capitalize on a timely tiein. Apr 10, 20 so youve written a childrens book, hired an illustrator or illustrated it yourself, and it is now at the printers probably in china if its fourcolor. Every publisher and literary agent will tell you that responsibility for the success of your book rests heavily upon you, its author. This results into an efficient plan that covers all aspects of book marketing. I thought it would make a great sample of a mini marketing plan. The purpose of a book proposal is to hook the editor into asking to read. If youre sure your book is marketready, sit down with a pen and paper, or open up your favorite word processor and get ready to type. If youve dreamed of having your book in bookstores, enrolling in the traditional distribution program at mill city press, where your book marketing plan for distribution will be presented to book retailers and. You, the author, should assist in the marketing of your book in some way. Sell more books and grow your audience with this effective strategy. Having seen and been involved in so many book launches ourselves, we know what works and what doesnt when it comes to book marketing well walk you through a playbyplay of exactly what you need to do so that your readers can find your book and buy it. We are experienced book marketing professionals who have been working with authors and publishers for years.
Create your childrens book marketing plan article research. The program includes book marketing advice specifically for fiction, nonfiction and children s books. Oct 15, 2014 continuing with this week s series on book marketing plans, it s time for a freebie. Childrens book marketing is unique when compared to other genres. How to market childrens books, online and offline the ultimate guide. For childrens book marketing whether print or ebook marketing services its almost always best to begin locally. You dont have to spend a lot of money, and a reputable publisher wont ask you to pay them to market your. Free book marketing plan outline all freelance writing. Book marketing plan template example the book marketing plan example includes sections such as book description, current market conditions, target readers, goals and strategies. It can be a single piece of paper, it can be a complex spreadsheet or a powerpoint. The best way to market a childrens book is to get it in front of children and.