Here I am at the pointy end of getting a novel to market.
It’s written. It’s been critiqued. It’s been rewritten. It’s been edited. It’s been sent out for further feedback. It’s attracted the attention of an agent. It’s getting a final rewrite.
What now?
Well, that depends on the agent to some extent – I haven’t had that conversation yet. What I do know is that no matter what happens, I’ll be doing almost all the marketing myself.
So, assuming a publisher takes it and actually puts it into bookshops, their marketing campaign will probably include:
- sending out review copies prior to publication
- advertising it on their website
- advertising it in their newsletter.
In addition, this is how I plan to market my novel:
- blog about it here
- do guest blogs – at least 20 to 30 if I can manage it
- contact review websites and try to get it reviewed on them
- send out extra review copies to any blogger who says they want to review it prior to publication (I’m not sure about the publisher’s take on that – they may not let me)
- tour bookshops and do book signings
- attend conventions
- announce it on social media
- ask anyone who reads the novel to post an honest review on Amazon (or elsewhere).
Of course, there’s no guarantee a publisher will take it. If that’s the case I’ll publish it myself – electronically and via print on demand.
That’ll mess up my dreams of getting it into bookshops, but at least it’ll get it out there.
Either way, the marketing plan will be pretty similar. What else could I do? What have I missed? What have you done that’s worked?