Writing may seem like another fun hobby to an onlooker, but only an author can understand that it’s not all fun and games. It is a serious job requiring time, energy, and dedication, making it not everyone’s cup of tea.
When a writer completes and revises their manuscript, the feeling of accomplishment can make all your hard work worth it. You may forget about many sleepless nights and unsatisfactory drafts you may have encountered on the way.
In an ideal work, your job as a writer would have been completed after putting your manuscript last full stop. However, much more must be done in the real world to make your book discoverable and appreciated by the right readers.
If you are worried about the discoverability of your book, here are a few essential tips that can help you.
1. Understand Your Target Audience
The success of your book heavily relies on your target audience. Their liking or disliking of your work can make or break your reputation as a writer. Therefore, you need to be mindful of the needs of your target audience at every step of the way.
Knowing your audience and their interests does not just help you choose the right genre or give your character some traits. It also helps you understand what will impress or disappoint your reader.
Most importantly, your insight into the target audience can help promote your work. For example, a younger audience may be more active on trendy platforms. Hence, you can direct your efforts and resources in the right direction.
2. Hire a Literary Agent
Editors and publishing houses receive hundreds of applications and query letters on a regular basis. Many factors can get them interested in your work or disregard it at one glance. In such cases, every author must think how to find a literary agent.
The process of sending a strong query letter and getting a publisher’s attention can be overwhelming, especially if you are new to the field. However, literary agents have years of experience in the field. They know what the qualifying factors for publication houses are.
Since literary agents have worked with different publication houses, they can help you find the right match for your book. They can also help you improve your weak points to stand out in the sea of applications.
3. Create an Author Website
Gone are the days when a poster on the wall or an ad on television could get a reader’s attention. In this technology-driven world, you need to take well-calculated steps to make your book easily discoverable by the reader.
An author’s website is one of the most reliable mediums to stand out and establish your writing authority. It is an ideal platform to connect with your readers, keep them updated, and let them know about upcoming events.
An author’s website is also ideal for creating a marketing strategy for your upcoming works and already-published books. You can also create an efficient email strategy to keep in touch with your potential readers.
4. Use Social Media to Your Benefit
There is no business or individual that cannot benefit from social media. There are many platforms that can help you in reaching out to millions of people in a matter of seconds. As an author, you cannot afford to miss out on this information.
Besides your author’s website, your social media handles are a great way for you to connect with your readers. You can get your readers hyped about your upcoming works and share your life happenings with them effortlessly.
However, it can be hard to manage your social media handles sometimes. Therefore, make sure to start small if you are new to social media. You can also hire professional help to create a social media calendar to keep your accounts active in a reader’s feed.
5. Consider Translation Services
Literature is beautiful. It can transcend the boundaries of the world. As a writer who is focused on making their work more discoverable, you also need to think about all the readers. Yes, it includes those who may not know your native language.
Translating your work to other languages is a great way to make your book loved worldwide and more inclusive. You cannot let a little hurdle of language keep you from making your work discoverable by many potential readers.
You can find someone with experience and knowledge about translating books to undertake this duty for you. These services are available at reasonable costs. Most importantly, getting your work translated also makes you look more inclusive.
6. Beautify Your Book Cover
Your book cover is the first thing a reader sees in hundreds of books. It has the power to make a potential reader walk all the way to your book and explore it. You cannot miss this ideal opportunity to make your book more inviting for the reader.
Eye-catching covers always stand out among thousands of books. Hence, every writer needs to focus on their book cover as much as their words. It can be a lengthy process to come up with the ideal cover, but it’s all worth it in the end.
You can hire reliable book cover designers to undertake the job for you. Start by sharing a synopsis and summary of your book to give them an idea about your book. You can also share hand-drawn drafts with them to transform them into something amazing.
7. Arrange Free Giveaways
Everyone likes free stuff, and your readers are no exception. Free giveaways are a great way to get your audience excited about your work. They can enter the giveaway and also let their friends and family know about entering the exciting event.
You can shortlist the contest winners by whatever criteria you choose and send your signed copies of your book. This way, your readers will get to know more about you and your work. They will always be ready for another giveaway of your amazing work.
