Back when I majored in marketing, I took an entire course called Consumer Behaviour, which is the psychology branch of marketing. It’s the processes an individual or group goes through while making purchasing decisions as well as what they do with those products once they’ve acquired them.
Marketers train their brains to think like their targeted consumers. Here are a few questions to ask yourself in order to get in the mindset of your future book buyers.
Where are your future book buyers? I’ve come across some blanket advice that all new authors need to be on Twitter and have a Facebook author page at a minimum. But there are so many social media sites to choose from and the more you join, the less time you have for writing. If I were writing self-help or business non-fiction, I’d make LinkedIn a priority. If I were writing YA, I’d maybe have a Facebook author page, because agents really seem to want it, but because the kids I’m talking to aren’t that into Facebook, I might make Wattpad a higher priority. If I’m writing something that will fit well with the needs of book clubs, I’m going to get myself on Litsy posthaste (I did, and I am: @raimeygallant.) Bonus tip: actually ask your future book buyers where they are online.
Who are your future book buyers? For instance, if you’re writing a new-adult book, you need to consider the group of readers who will read your book not the day you type the first sentence but rather the day it’s actually published. The reason is real-world reference points/fashions/trends. If your New Adult book won’t be published for three years, then maybe your protagonist shouldn’t be a die-hard fan for a boy band that was only cool when your future book buyers were too young to remember.
What do your future book buyers want from your genre? Let’s say you write YA fantasy. If you’re not reading blogs and book reviews by your target readers and actually asking them, how are you going to know whether vampires are in or out of fashion? Agent wish lists are another resource for what’s off trend and what they want to see more of. You can find agent manuscript wish lists on agency websites, at manuscriptwishlist.com, or by scrolling through the #MSWL hashtag on Twitter.
This post is one of 200+ in the monthly Insecure Writers Support Group blog hop, and this month I’m co-hosting along with Tyrean Martinson, Tara Tyler, and Beverly Stowe McClure. To continue hoping through more posts or to join, click here. (It’s fun!) There’s a big announcement this month, so head over to hop host Alex Cavanaugh’s site for that.
What questions about your future book buyers do you ask yourself before or when writing a book? Hit me up in the comments.
Hmm, food for thought. Great questions. Great post. Juneta @ Writer’s Gambit
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Thanks, Juneta!
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Great post Raimey. The target audience is pivotal. I’ve worked to engage my audience in public speaking events with libraries and schools. It’s helped too. 🙂
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It sounds like you’re on top of it. 🙂
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Target audience is such a no-brainer, yet so many of us ignore it. Off to check Litsy 😊
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So happy you joined Litsy! It’s easy once you get the hang of it. 🙂
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I think I have more wiggle room, since I’m dealing with adults, but my readers are smart, imaginative people who enjoy playing with the “what ifs.”
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Thanks for stopping by!
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Great tips, Raimey. Especially since I write fantasy, you’ve given me ideas for where to target social media efforts. Thanks.
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Yea! I get a thrill whenever I spark someone else’s genius. 🙂
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Great post. I usually find my book buyers on Wattpad. But I also have a FB writer page and am on Twitter. On FB I get more likes and follows from other writers. Twitter is more for engagement and promotion of reading and writing hashtags. Often check manuscript wish list. I’m also on Pinterest but mostly to collect images and create storyboards.
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I love that Wattpad is working for you. 🙂
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The “Who are your future book buyers” paragraph is particularly interesting. I’m a slow writer, so keeping track of what the my audience will be like when I finally finish is an important consideration. Thanks for the post and thanks for co-hosting this month’s IWSG bloghop.
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Happy I can make the wheels turn. *dusts shoulders*
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That’s a lot to consider, but might as well not waste time where your readers aren’t.
Thanks for co-hosting today!
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Anytime! Happy to co-host again in the future should you need someone. But it’s all of us who should be thanking you.
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You continue to inspire! Thanks for the tips, Raimey.😘
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Don’t you know I do this all for you especially? 🙂
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Haha, thanks! 🙏
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I receive gobs of sales pitches. Recently, a presenter confessed very few signed up for her program so she now she’s offering it for free. In the next breath she writes, “But if you want the upgraded version that’s going to cost you.” Right then and there she lost me. My mind interpreted her statement this way, “The free version will be a tease.” Of course, “free” courses offer paid upgrades. As a consumer, I suggest save the free upgrade pitch be part of the actual presentation.
You’ve asked some insightful questions that offers food for thought. Great ideas for a positive marketing effort. Thank you for co-hosting Sept IWSG.
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My pleasure! Thanks for your anecdote. Very interesting.
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Excellent advice. Social media is so diverse these days and it would be tough to impossible to participate in all of them. Thanks for co-hosting!
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My pleasure! Thanks for stopping by!
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Great questions! I especially like the idea of asking our future book buyers where they are online.
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So happy you found it helpful!
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Fantastic questions to ask yourself. The hardest one for me is finding where my audience is online. Thanks for co-hosting today! 🙂
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My pleasure! Thanks for stopping by, and I’m glad you like the questions.
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I was just discussing this with a fellow author–target audience and branding. Thanks for co-hosting!
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Such an important discussion to have. Thanks for stopping by. Off to check out your site now!
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Great advice and things to consider! Figuring out where your readers are and getting access to them is important.
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Thanks, Megan!
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I 100% agree about reconsidering topical references! Even if you have a guarantee your book will be published on a very short timetable, or the things referenced are still popular by the time it’s published, that still doesn’t mean readers in a future generation will get it. That’s a surefire way to quickly date a book to the era it was published in.
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Such a great point.
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Marketing is such a fascinating field. I think I’m out of touch with a lot of folks nowadays. I probably would have a very niche audience.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
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Thanks for stopping by!
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I am awful at marketing. It’s like numbers; nothing about numbers (or marketing) settles in my mind? This is a fabulous post, therefore, and I’ve just returned from around an hour detour to the links you provided! Huge thanks! 🙂
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I did that! Wow. I’m glad it was helpful. 🙂
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All excellent points. I could read more about this angle of marketing. At least I get it which is more than usual. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
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So happy it’s helpful!
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Marketing terrifies me, probably because I have no idea where I would find my future readers at online.
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It scares me too, and I’m a marketer, so you’re not alone. 🙂
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Interesting thoughts. I try to market but seem to run out of time.
And I love the picture. Haven’t heard of ‘Freepik’.
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Freepik is one of the free graphic sites I use often. They have a great selection.
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Hi,
This is excellent advice and you have pointed out some things that I was unaware of.
Thank you.
Shalom aleichem,
Patricia Everything Must change
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So happy you found it helpful, Patricia! Shalom aleichem.
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Great information, thanks! And thank you for co-hosting this month too.
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My pleasure! I’m off to check out your post now. 🙂
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Raimey, thank you for co-hosting. Great advice as always.
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Thanks, Cathrina!
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Excellent questions to figure out your audience. You’ve given me lots to think about. Thanks for co-hosting this month.
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I’m so happy it was helpful!
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As always, thanks Raimey for sharing your knowledge with your followers. I learned lots and visited the manuscript page. I agree with Christine. I’m never sure where my audience is online for my memoir about attending college as a mother of 5.
Thanks so much for co-hosting the IWSG September question. All best to you.
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I always suggest Litsy for authors. 🙂
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Very interesting question! Thank you for sharing this 🙂 And thank you for co-hosting this month. My struggle with social media isn’t wondering where my future audience may be but finding the time to do all the social-media-y stuff AND actually write the books those people out there will hopefully read. For me, the book writing is more important. I wander along the social media pathways to the best of my ability but I find with my current situation, I can’t throw myself into both. I admire people who do!
Cheers,
Jen
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I actually think that if at least you’re wandering around, figuring stuff out with social media, that you’re on a good marketing path.
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“the day it’s actually published” Truly something to consider if your novel happens to take a few years to write. So many changes come with the passage of time, such as trends and tastes in general. It does pay to pay attention 😉
Great post!
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Thanks, Diedre!
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There’s some really interesting advice here, particularly as I’m looking at the possibility of self-publishing and marketing the novel I’m currently working on.
I’d not heard of Litsy before but I have an account on Goodreads, how would you say the two compare?
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There’s way more interaction on Litsy, at least for me. It also has a really high follow-back ratio, because it’s new, relatively speaking.
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I wasn’t aware of Litsy but I’ll check it out!
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Super helpful post! We do need to train ourselves to think like our readers, roll up our sleeves, and take charge of further marketing. Thanks for co-hosting!
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Glad you liked the post!
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Very helpful advice as I try to figure out the whole marketing thing. It’s not something I’m looking forward to tackling.
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Tackle it bit by bit. I wrote a post about that last month. Let me track it down…Here it is: https://raimeygallant.com/2017/08/01/marketingeducationforauthors/
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I absolutely agree. If you write for yourself, write a diary and keep it in your drawer. If we write for our readers, and we should, we have to be in tune with what they want. Thanks for reminding us. Helpful post.
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A nice way to think about it. 🙂
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Fantastic post! Thanks so much. Now, I need to think about my future readers: who they are and where they are.
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You’ve got this!
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Those are great points to think about, I think marketing is the hardest part of being a writer!
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It’s definitely a struggle!
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Excellent advice. And social media is so fluid – today’s hot, tomorrow’s not. I particularly relate to your point that too much time spent on social media is less time to write. I really ratcheted back time on Facebook and Twitter because it was not helping get the book written. All things in their time. Thanks for co-hosting today.
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Thanks for stopping by, Lee!
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Those are some great questions to ask yourself and help you focus your social media efforts in the most useful directions. @mirymom1 from
Balancing Act
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Thank you!
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I usually ask myself what bestseller my book is most like and then try to find the audience for that book. Interesting post. Thanks for sharing.
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That’s a great approach as well. 🙂
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I like these questions. Thanks for co-hosting.
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My pleasure!
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Thanks for co-hosting this month!! And for the great post! I must have taken the same class in college and learned the rest in the school of life. NY pubbing and self-pubbing are a world apart because of the time frame. Anticipating what readers will want in the 2 YEARS it takes for your book to come out is a lot different than the 2- 4 months to self-pub. Knowing your market is the key to finding readers.
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Very interesting. I never heard of Manuscript Wish List before. I have the tab open and ready to read later today. Of course my genre probably won’t be in there, but hey, you never know. Right? Right. 🙂
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There are so many agents on there, I feel like some of them must want your genre, whatever it may be. 🙂
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Your post reminds me of the Vance Packard books I read in high school. (Back in the Dark Ages) “Hidden Persuasion” was about the psychology marketers use to sell their products, which is, in essence, what we all need to understand and utilize if we want to optimize book sales. (NOT my strong suit!)
Thanks for the food for thought, and thanks for serving as co-host this month.
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My pleasure!
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These are good points. I”m still struggling with writing my memoir the way I want it to be, or using one or two main ideas that readers might like to have included. I’ll shoot for a mix – at least in the first draft. 🙂 Thanks for co-hosting!
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Thanks for stopping by!
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Great marketing information. Thanks! I stick with FB and Twitter, and am not particularly good at being active on Twitter, so that comes in spurts.
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In my case, it’s Facebook that’s a struggle. 🙂
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Social media is a powerful tool and a huge distraction. I stared an author Twitter page, and found that outside of a few oddities, everyone I connect with is, yep, you guessed it, an author. I’m not sure how this will help me with readers as it often feels like an echo chamber of free book retweets and random writer quotes. Now it has helped me network with some great people, and I find it invaluable for that reason, but as for connecting with potential readers, book buyers, the jury is still out.
Excellent post. Thanks for co-hosting.
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It DOES feel like an “echo chamber” of book tweets! Wow, what a great way to name this problem.
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Great tips! Off to check out Litsy! (#IWSG on http://www.lynneawest.blogspot.com) Thanks, Christy
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Thanks!
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Thank you for the tips! I never thought of not using pop culture because it may be out of style for potential book buyers. That makes sense. Curious about Litsy–never heard of it.
Keep smiling,
Yawatta
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Litsy is fantastic. I’ll be doing a post about it soon from the looks of it.
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Great post with excellent tips. Thank you for sharing!
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My pleasure!
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Thank you for such an informative post!
I’ve never heard of Litsy…but I have heard of the #MSWL.
Thanks also for co-hosting the IWSG blog hop this month!
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My pleasure! Thanks for visiting!
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Thanks for the excellent advice, Raimey. I need to follow more tweenage book reviewers. I have made a mental note. 🙂
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Woohoo! I find that there’s some real insight from younger reviewers, so none of us could go wrong by following them. 🙂
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Thanks for sharing some good advice! (I’ll have to learn what Litsy is…).
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Please do!
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