Decide who your audience is and go after them. Don’t waste your time being too general. Knowing and targeting those who will have an interest in the type of book you write will increase the all-important word of mouth.
Search the Internet for everything related to your genre – specific reading and writing groups, Internet boards and clubs. Once you have made contact, do not be afraid to talk about your book. Spend the time interacting with your fans wherever they are. People don’t go on Facebook, Twitter and info boards to just read your ads; they want to get to know you. If you don’t interact with them, they will quickly lose interest in you. Respond to their comments and share your thoughts and experiences that pertain to you as a writer and to your book. Make friends! You sell one book at a time and when readers interact with you they are more apt to tell a friend or share your book. These readers will become your tribe and will share in your success – let them.
Reviews are a part of this process. Assuming you have done all the work and have written a good book, read reviews and glean information from them – sometimes their thoughts and comments are valid. At the same time, do not let bad reviews discourage you – even The Great Gatsby gets some bad reviews!
You may wonder why someone would even bother to read your book when it is not in a genre or about a topic they like. But NEVER get into a negative discussion with these readers – you will not win. If they have nothing of value to say, let it go. Best-selling author Barbara Freethy said she put her first book away for years because of bad reviews. When she resurrected it, she became the #1 selling romance/ chick lit author!
On the other hand, it never hurts to thank those who gave you a positive review for taking the time to read your book. Point out how much you appreciate their feedback and for their thoughtful insights. You will make friends and add to your tribe!
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