How to use marketing channels to drive book sales

Introduction

Understanding how online and offline marketing channels can work together is essential to the financial success of your book. These channels, if used together consistently, can help you, as an author, achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. It will also help your book generate an ongoing stream of income.

Here is a brief discussion and explanation of book marketing channels and how they can help you become a more successful author:

What is a “marketing channel”?

Here is the quick explanation: A marketing channel simply refers to the places where you can interact with your audience. Each of these venues, or channels, allows you to show your audience that you have a love for and expertise in your particular micro-niche. These channels also give you and your audience a direct way to listen to each other and share information. This process of listening and sharing is how meaningful, lasting, and profitable relationships are built between you and your audience.

How is a “marketing channel” different from a “sales channel”?

Here is the quick explanation: A sales channel simply refers to the way your books are carried and sold to book buyers or end consumers. These channels include online bookstores, physical bookstores, book distributors, wholesalers, etc. These are usually called indirect sales channels. But if you sell your book directly from your home or office, you’re also part of the sales channel. This would be called a direct sales channel.

There are two main ways to view the different categories of marketing channels available to book sellers. These are 1. online marketing channels and 2. offline marketing channels.

1. Online marketing channels

1st The online marketing channels you control

What online methods, or outlets, will you use to speak to your audience? And show them that you have something to say? This could, and should, involve your blog, article marketing, guest posting, podcasting, making videos, using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. All of these channels would become part of your social media marketing efforts, also known as your author platform.

1 B. The online marketing channels that you do not control

Other online marketing channels include those over which you do not have direct control. Like blogs and websites that share or republish your blog posts. This also includes reviews of your book that are written and posted on other blogs. Or other bloggers who quote you or your book in their own blog posts. Or share your infographics, slideshows, videos, etc.

2. Offline marketing channels

Offline channels can also directly affect your online marketing and sales. This includes all of your marketing efforts that are not done online. Some of the most obvious examples are the use of postcards and direct mail newsletters to keep your customers informed of new information that you think would benefit them. Another is to send your customers and clients reminder notices, or birthday cards, for example. And also by calling them on the phone, or sending them a text message.

For example, if you’re an accountant, you can ask your clients to share one of your online articles with their online audience. Or send your past clients a reminder notice about upcoming tax season deadlines. If you’re a chef at a gourmet food market, for example, you can chat with your customers face-to-face about food; give cooking classes in your kitchen; give free recipes, etc.

There are endless ways to market to your audience offline. It doesn’t matter what profession you’re in. It just takes a little creative thinking and a willingness to share information to find new and fun ways to build and connect with your audience.

conclusion

You must now realize that using online and offline channels together can create an extremely powerful and profitable way to market your books. By combining each, you’ll create a marketing program that will build strength and momentum that will continue to help you consistently sell books over the long haul.