Today, there are many book marketing platforms available to self-published authors. When used effectively, they can build visibility and help spark sales. Some platforms provide options for self-published books to show up in the databases of traditional book distributors. However, getting traditional book stores to place orders, securing meaningful media coverage can be challenging. Because people today are oversaturated with news and information, it's essential to create a strategic marketing plan to make a book stand out. Publicity and promotion are vital to reaching target audiences.

When you develop a marketing plan for a self-published book, you're giving it advantages to help it become successful. A plan enables you to be better organized and lays out in detail the actions you will take to accomplish your goals. A well-devised marketing plan targets an author's readership, programs against competitors, and includes a budget. Everything should be designed to target potentially interested readers and encouraging them to buy copies ultimately. Because self-published authors are exclusively responsible for promoting their books, create a plan that works well for you.

Before you begin working to target readers, think through what groups of people will be interested in buying your book. Chances are it may not appeal to everyone, so you need to be clear about its target audience. For example, a book for up-and-coming accountants might appeal most to students or recent graduates in accounting. Likewise, a teen romance novel might appeal most to girls between 13 and 16 years old. When you're doing it well, your plan will target the age, gender, career, education level, and geographic location of your likely reader. It will make your marketing campaign efficient and successful.

In the world of self-publishing, virtually anyone can publish a book at any time. With thousands of books being published every week, it's crucial to understand the competition and set yourself apart with unique book promotion tactics. It's also vital to set a realistic marketing budget and stick to it. Think through how much you can spend, along with what types of promotional and marketing services you need. It's most beneficial to overestimate the costs a bit and underestimate revenue to ensure you'll have financial success. Also, have a definitive statement that summarizes your book for all audiences.