Writing and completing a book is no easy feat. Unfortunately, it’s only half the battle. Making your book sell involves knowing how to publish and market it. Ebooks remain the most popular medium because you don’t have to pay for printing or go to the effort of physically shipping books. That said, there is still work to be done once you’ve uploaded your eBook online. This post outlines 7 tips for selling your eBook.
Design a professional book cover
Cover art is still important – even when selling an eBook. Many eBook publishing platforms won’t let you publish your book through them unless you have cover art. Enticing cover art meanwhile will help to attract new readers while scrolling through titles. You can pay designers online to produce a cover for you. Choose a cover that reflects the contents of your book while making sure it stands out from other similar books.
Set up a website
It’s useful to have a website where you can sell your ebook directly to potential readers. Having a website can also help you to build up some search engine presence for your book. You can pay a website developer to create a site for you, or you can build your own site using a custom website builder like WordPress or Wix.
Automate sales with software
By using eBook DRM and sales software such as Edition Guard, you can automate eBook fulfilment and limit who can read it (and on which devices). Such software can be linked up to your website. Make sure that you have such software downloaded.
Use eBook publishing platforms
There are many eBook publishing platforms that you can sell your eBook though. Some of the most popular options include Smashwords, Amazon, Lulu, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple iBooks and Google Play Books. Publishing platforms can help your book to get noticed, however they do take a cut of each sale. This cut depends on the publishing platform, the price of your book and its popularity.
Promote your book on social media
Social media is one of the best places to promote your book. On top of using your personal social media channels, consider creating social media pages for your book. Interact with other social media users and post engaging content that isn’t necessarily promotional (such as tips, news or opinions) to help further generate attention.
Send your book to bloggers/vloggers to review
There are many blogs and vlogs dedicated to reviewing books. Not only can earning reviews help you earn press quotes to use alongside the promotion of your book, but it can help expose your book to new audiences. There are literary PR companies that can help send your book to various bloggers and vloggers to review. Alternatively, you can look for bloggers and vloggers yourself to send your eBook to.
Give your book away for free for a limited time
Giving your book away for free may not seem like a good business strategy, but it can pay off. Reading fanatics love free books and will often go out of their way to search for them. Exposing your book to lots of readers could help you to get your book recognised. Readers may recommend it to people and from there you could start to organically attract readers. At this point, you could consider putting your price on your book and can start making money off the demand.
Want to attract more visitors to your website? By finding new ways to advertise your site, you can encourage more traffic. Search engines ads and display ads are some of the most common ways to advertise a website, but there are many other advertising strategies you can try out. Below are just a few examples of different places to promote your website.
In your email signature
When sending professional emails, it’s worth having your website in your email signature to add a sense of legitimacy – especially when cold emailing potential clients. Your email signature can also contain other useful information such as your phone number and job title (and of course your name). Many email services allow you to set up an email signature that automatically accompanies any email that you send out.
In your social media bios
Your company social media accounts are another important place to promote your website. There is usually a place within the bio of your account page where you can promote your website. If you’re promoting a personal website such as a personal blog you can put this in the bio of your personal social media accounts or create separate social media accounts for your blog.
On your vehicle
Vehicle advertising can make your company vehicle look more professional. You may also pick up some business from people seeing your website printed on your vehicle. Sites like Edmunds can help you choose a suitable business vehicle to advertise your website on. Vinyl wraps are one of the most common ways to print information onto vehicles – these are sheets of vinyl that wrap over the bodywork of your car, allowing easy removal if you ever decide to sell the vehicle. Other information like brand colors, logos, images, contact details and brief company information can be printed on the side of your vehicle.
On a business card
Business cards provide a quick way to exchange information about your business when meeting a potential client in person. On top of your email address and phone number, it can be worth printing your website address onto these cards. You can also print a QR code onto the business card which allows people to easily visit your website by opening up their phone camera rather than having to manually type in the URL. This Hubspot guide explains how to create a QR code.
On posters/billboards
Posters and billboards could be a great way to attract website visitors. As with a business card, you can print your website address and a QR code onto these. For posters and billboards to be effective, they need to be placed in key locations where your target audience is going to see them. While posters and billboards can offer a lot of space to advertise, it’s important not to put too much information on them, as most people will read them at a glance.
On flyers/physical newsletters
Posting flyers and physical newsletters is still an effective way to advertise. People are spending more time at home due to increased remote work opportunities. A lot of people are also more likely to read a newsletter or pamphlet through their door than they are a promotional email (most of our inboxes are so inundated with promotional emails that few of us open all of them). You can print your website address and a QR code on flyers and newsletters to help convert customers.
On a pen
Next time someone asks if they can borrow a pen, why not hand them a pen with your logo and website printed on it? Such pens can be a unique way to convert potential customers – every time they use that pen in the future, they’ll be reminded of your business, and it may just encourage them to check out your website. There are many other branded accessories that you can use to promote your website in this way.
Marketing is an evolving field, always throwing new challenges at those trying to stay ahead of the game. So, it is not at all surprising that even the most experienced entrepreneurs can slip up from time to time. While mistakes are often the stepping stones to learning, recognizing and avoiding them, when it comes to your business marketing, can save time and money.
That being the case, let’s take a look at some of the most common mistakes, so you can avoid making them and save yourself a whole lot of hassle.
1. Not having a clear marketing strategy
One thing that often happens when someone has been in business for a while is that they get complacent about their marketing and do not put the time or effort into creating a clear vision for it. Sometimes, this can work out almost by chance but more often than not, if you do not have an idea of what you want to achieve or how you plan to do it, things will go wrong.
If you have found a form of marketing that works for you, it is all too tempting to stick with it and ignore the latest social media trends. After all, they are constantly changing and how can you possibly keep up? You need to try because social media is where the people are, so it is where your business needs to be too.
The solution: Regularly research and adapt to the latest social media trends. Don't be afraid to experiment with new platforms and keep an eye on what your target audience is really interested in.
3. Doing it all yourself
If you are doing all of your own marketing without so much as consulting any advertising experts, then you might be saving money, but chances are you are losing a lot more in potential revenue,
The solution: These days, hiring an integrated marketing partner is very affordable. It gets you access to a whole marketing team for the price of an employee, so be sure to consult the professionals before you start any new marketing campaign.
4. Overlookign content quality
High-quality content is paramount. Some businesses focus too much on quantity and end up compromising quality. Content that lacks value can erode trust and damage your brand. Not only that, but the more good quality content you have the easier it will be for people to find you when conducting a search on Google, for example.
The solution: Focus on creating valuable, engaging, and well-researched content. Quality always trumps quantity.
5. Failing to measure ROI
One of the worst things you can do as a business trying to market as effectively as possible is to simply not bother tracking how effective your marketing campaigns are, or to neglect checking out the metrics often enough. If you don’t look at the data, you won’t know what works for your business and what does not, and your return on investment may be dismal.
Customers' opinions can provide a wealth of information on everything from the usability of your website to how well your ads go over, so when it comes to marketing more effectively, it would be extremely foolish to dismiss their concerns because you think you know best. Ignoring feedback or reacting defensively to criticism can hamper growth.
The solution: Encourage and actively listen to customer feedback. Make necessary adjustments and let customers know their voices are heard.
7. Avoiding risk and innovation
Playing it safe might seem sensible if you do not want to alienate customers or blow a lot of money on a failed campaign but it can cause your business to stagnate. Markets change, and a failure to innovate can leave a business behind. You need to always be one step ahead with your advertising and this means watching industry trends very closely ab not being afraid to take a leap and try something new.
The solution: Encourage a culture of innovation within your team. Test new ideas and learn from the results.
If you can avoid these marketing mistakes that even seasoned entrepreneurs make, you should see more sales more consistently over time, Good luck with it all!
Many businesses rely heavily on digital marketing strategies to reach their target audience. However, along with the numerous benefits, it’s prudent to be aware of the associated risks to ensure your business is well-protected. The digital landscape is riddled with various activities capable of exposing companies to cyber-attacks and other negative effects. With 90% of data breaches originating from phishing, it is necessary to be proactive when implementing your digital marketing strategy. Here are three tips to help you.
A critical aspect of risk mitigation in digital marketing is safeguarding your valuable customer data. With the increasing number of data breaches and cyber attacks, there is an increased need to protect sensitive customer information while protecting your business simultaneously. Ensure your website and digital marketing channels have the right features to secure them. If not, implement SSL certificates to encrypt data transmitted between users' browsers and your website. This step safeguards customer data, such as personal information and payment details. The more you protect sensitive information from malicious actors, the fewer risks you may face in your digital marketing activities. Your employees must also be educated on data security best practices. Remember to implement strict access to certain digital platforms and update those passwords regularly if possible.
Click fraud prevention
One of the most significant risks you face in your digital marketing is click fraud. It occurs when someone purposely clicks on online advertisements to drain the advertiser's budget. Besides affecting your ad spend, this sinister online activity can also hinder your campaign's performance. Beyond hackers or scammers, your market competitors, unethical publishers, or even bots designed to generate fake clicks can cause havoc. Fortunately, it's not all doom and gloom because you can take proactive click fraud prevention measures. Firstly, closely monitor your campaigns with advanced analytics tools. Study click patterns, especially when there are unusually high clicks from a specific source. It could also be a sudden spike in click-through rates (CTR) without a corresponding increase in conversions. When things don't add up, you may be dealing with potential click fraud activities, and it’s crucial to respond as quickly as possible.
A positive brand reputation is crucial for the success of your digital marketing activities. Negative reviews, social media backlash, or public relations crises can significantly damage your brand image and destroy customer trust. However, these suggestions could help your business's digital marketing in several ways. Together with delegated team members, remember to monitor your brand mentions across different online channels and platforms. Social listening tools can help you track brand-related conversations while presenting the opportunity to address complaints promptly. What you will be doing here is to leave no stone unturned in your quest to manage your company's brand reputation. Every customer wants to be heard, making your measures worth your time and your business's reputation.
The next time you plan your digital marketing, it would be best to assess the risks so you can be proactive in preparing for them. The above tips can help mitigate such risks and ensure your digital marketing strategy achieves your desired results.
Launching a startup is an exhilarating journey, but as your business evolves and gains traction, it's important to adjust your marketing strategies accordingly. What works for a startup might not be suitable for a scale-up. So, in this blog post, we will explore effective strategies for each stage of your business, from the early days of launching your startup to the exciting transition into a scale-up.
During the startup phase, building brand awareness is vital to establish your presence in the market. Start by defining your target audience and understanding their needs, preferences, and pain points. Craft a compelling brand story that resonates with your audience and clearly communicates the value you bring.
Leverage the larger social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to engage with your audience, build a community around your brand to share valuable content. Collaborate with relevant influencers or micro-influencers who align with your brand values to amplify your reach.
Doing your best to participate in industry events, both online and offline, can help you network, gain exposure, and create buzz around your startup. Investing in targeted online advertising campaigns, like pay-per-click (PPC) or social media ads, can also help you reach a wider audience and generate brand visibility.
The Growth Phase: Expanding Customer Base
As your startup gains momentum and enters the growth phase, expanding your customer base becomes a key objective. Refine your messaging to clearly convey your unique value proposition and how your brand is different from competitors. Collect customer testimonials and reviews to build trust and credibility. Implement content marketing strategies such as blogging, guest posting, and producing educational videos to establish thought leadership in your industry.
Optimize your website for search engines (SEO) to attract organic traffic and leverage email campaigns to nurture leads and convert them into customers. Consider implementing referral programs to encourage satisfied customers to refer your products or services to their network. Do your best to embrace data-driven strategies by looking at customer behavior to personalize your marketing efforts and deliver targeted messages to your audience.
The Scale-up Phase: Scaling Marketing Efforts
When your business reaches the scale-up phase, it's time to scale your marketing efforts too. Invest in marketing automation tools to help streamline your processes and improve efficiency. Develop personalized campaigns now based on customer segmentation and data analysis. Expand your content marketing strategy by exploring new formats such as podcasts or webinars. Collaborate with an expert digital marketing agency like Growth Foundry to amplify your reach. Finally, consider investing in public relations activities to position your brand as an industry leader.
The Expansion Phase: Entering New Markets
Entering new markets is a big milestone for any growing business. Conduct thorough market research to understand the local dynamics, competition, and cultural nuances. Evolve your messaging and marketing materials to resonate with the new target audience. Do your best to establish strategic partnerships with local businesses or influencers to gain quick credibility and reach in this new area. Leverage local advertising channels too, both online and offline, to increase your visibility in the new market. Then consider translating your website and marketing materials into any local languages to enhance accessibility and improve user experience.
The Maturity Phase: Retaining Customers and Innovation
In the maturity phase, your focus needs to shift to customer retention and continuous innovation. Concentrate on developing loyalty programs and personalized marketing campaigns to nurture long-term relationships with your existing customers. Gather customer feedback and implement improvements based on their suggestions. Then stay ahead of the competition by investing in research and development, constantly innovating your products or services, and communicating the benefits of these innovations to your target audience. Use customer success stories and case studies to showcase the value you bring to your clients and explore partnerships with complementary businesses to expand your offerings in new market segments.
The Mature Market Phase: Differentiation and Niche Targeting
In the mature market phase, competition intensifies, and it becomes essential to differentiate your brand and target specific niches. Carry out market research to identify untapped customer segments or unmet needs within your industry, then tailor your messaging and product offerings to cater to these specific new niches. Do your best to emphasize the unique value proposition that sets you apart from competitors. Finally, invest in market positioning and branding activities that will reinforce your unique selling proposition and build a strong presence where little competition exists.
The Social Responsibility Phase: Purpose-driven Marketing
As businesses increasingly embrace social responsibility, the social responsibility phase presents an opportunity to align your marketing strategies with purpose-driven initiatives. Integrate purpose-driven messaging into your campaigns, showcasing how your business is making a positive impact. Collaborate with nonprofit organizations or charitable initiatives that align with your mission to amplify your efforts and build partnerships that benefit both parties. Implement sustainable and ethical practices in your business operations and communicate these initiatives transparently to your customers.
The Post-Merger or Acquisition Phase: Integration and Rebranding
In the event of a merger or acquisition, it's crucial to develop effective marketing strategies for the post-merger phase. Start by aligning the messaging and branding of both entities to create a cohesive identity. Communicate the benefits of the merger or acquisition to customers, emphasizing how it will enhance their experience and bring additional value. Develop integrated marketing campaigns that leverage the strengths of both entities and highlight the synergies created by the merger. Rebranding may be necessary to reflect the new entity's identity, mission, and values. Ensure a smooth transition by providing clear and consistent communication to stakeholders, customers, and employees, emphasizing the shared vision and the combined strengths of the merged or acquired businesses.
Each stage of your business requires a tailored marketing approach. From building brand awareness in the startup phase to scaling your efforts during the scale-up phase and entering new markets in the expansion phase, adaptability and continuous innovation are key. By understanding the unique challenges and opportunities at each stage, you can develop effective marketing strategies to propel your business forward, build a strong brand presence, and ensure long-term success.
When it comes to business, you’ll always want to make sure that every effort you make is going to pay off. Yet, sometimes, you may feel like you’re shooting in the dark. When you’re trying to market your business and it’s just not getting noticed or picked up, it can feel disheartening. As much as we all need to learn what works for our business and to try different things out, we won’t want our efforts to go without results over and over again. Instead, you want to make sure that you’re getting in front of your customer and that your business is starting to generate sales. This is why it works to get personal.
Why Get Personal?
If you’re reading tips online and trying anything and everything then moving onto the next thing, you could be making a mistake. It’s important that you’re trying to work on marketing tactics that will speak to your audience, their needs, where they hang out, and that your messaging actually speaks to them. It has to be personalized to them in order to do that. So now, we’re going to look at seven ways that you can do that.
1. Know Who You’re Talking to
So to start with, you absolutely need to know who you’re talking to in order to actually reach them! Do you know who your audience is? Are you aware of their demographics? If not, you need to get this down. It will make your marketing tactics much easier and allow you to then go on and tailor everything you do to them.
2. Be Where They Hang Out
This all starts with the idea of knowing where they are online, what they read, watch, and listen to. Because if you know what social platforms your general audience likes the most, what they’re reading or watching, or anything else, then you can be there. Not only by having profiles online, but also looking to advertise in those areas too. Getting in front of your audience is always the first part. Then, you need to get their attention.
3. Attract Them
This is where attracting them comes in. Because if you’re going to get their attention and gain new customers, they have to know about you in the first place. So your imagery and branding have to stand out and be something that lets them know that you’re a company they’re going to like. It’s not just about looking good, but instead being able to make that first initial connection with your ideal audience.
4. Give Them What They Want
Another key step here is for you to be actually giving them what they want! And that sounds obvious, but it’s easier said than done to actually do. Because you need to make sure that you’re drawing your audience in with your marketing. Is that to give them free stuff or free shipping? Maybe they want a rewards program? Maybe it’s all about incredible customer service? It’s important to get this right.
5. Use Their Language
At the same time, you’ll want to be thinking about the language that you’re using in your marketing too. Are you talking directly to your audience? If not, this is something that you’ll want to work on, because they need to be able to resonate with the way that you speak as well as what you produce, offer, and how your brand looks.
6. Optimize Based on Analytics
Something that you’re going to want to bring in place as soon as possible is your analytics. You need to be tracking your customers’ activity in order to see what they’re buying or clicking on, when they are dropping off, and even to see where your customers are based or more about their buying behaviors. You can then optimize your marketing activities, your website, and even the products you’re offering so that you can make more sales here.
7. Ask For Feedback
Finally, you may find that one of the best things you can do is to actually ask them for feedback. You can do this in the form of a market research survey or interview, or it could be that you want to give them a bonus, discount code, or enter them into a competition by giving feedback. That way, you can start to change things up so that you can better meet their needs. You’ll able to able to increase your sales this way.
