Ever read a book you couldn’t put down and then searched for more books just like that one? That’s what happens when an author really gets the genre they’re writing in and then makes sure the right readers get their hands on it. When enough readers do this, it can make for best-selling magic. That’s why it’s so important to know who your book is for.
In this article, we’re going to share insight on how to get to know your book’s perfect reader. By knowing what makes them tick, what they like, and what they expect, you can aim your marketing like a laser and increase your chances of achieving book success.
To really zero in on your ideal reader, start by considering the type of genre that they enjoy. With the rise of self-publishing, there has also been a significant increase in the different book genres out there. This is why in order to market your book effectively, you’ve got to get crystal clear on the preferences and trends of your target audience.
1. Understand Popular Self-Published Book Genres
Self-published books span a wide range of genres, from fiction to nonfiction, romance and science fiction to mystery and fantasy. By examining current market trends, authors can gain insight into which genres are favored by readers and then design their marketing strategy around that genre. For instance, romance and fantasy remain consistently popular genres, capturing the interest of a significant portion of the reading population. On the other hand, genres like true crime and historical fiction have seen a surge in popularity in recent years. Analyzing market trends is a fundamental step in determining which genre aligns with your writing style and story.
If your book is still in draft, check out our recent article which will help walk you through the steps of ensuring that your story is ready for your target audience: You’ve Written a Book, Now What? Ensuring Quality Before Hitting Publish.
2. Figure Out Which Genres Are Hot Right Now
Knowing what genres are catching fire can help you aim your work and marketing efforts just right. When you know what books are popular in your chosen genre, you can strategically position your work to tap into an existing demand, making it easier to connect with eager readers who are already on the hunt for books like yours.
This insight allows you to tailor not just your writing but also your marketing strategies. For instance, if you have written a psychological thriller and you know it’s a genre that is currently trending, you might focus on emphasizing the suspenseful elements in your book’s promotional materials. You could also target your ads to fans of best-selling authors in that genre, knowing that there’s already a built-in audience eager for more of the same.
Understanding subtle trends or emerging sub-genres can also offer a competitive edge. For instance, an author who specializes in historical fiction could benefit from recognizing that a specific time period is currently popular, thereby leveraging this focus in their marketing approach.
Here are some great resources to help you analyze the self-published book industry. These tools can help you identify the trending and popular genres, which will help you hone in your marketing efforts:
- Publisher Rocket: This is a popular tool that provides data on Amazon keyword searches, including search volume and books that rank in the same categories and keywords. This is a great way to get to know what works for your audience on Amazon because it also offers insights into sales rank, pricing, and other factors that can affect book sales.
- KDSpy: This tool is similar to Publisher Rocket, but it also provides data on other Amazon sellers, such as their sales rank, pricing, and keyword usage. This can be helpful for authors who want to see how their books are performing relative to other books in their genre. This tool is also helpful when writing blurbs because of the way it compiles data.
- BookBub: This is a service that helps authors promote their books by offering them for free or discounted prices to subscribers. BookBub also provides data on keyword searches for books that have been featured in their promotions. In addition, their advertising platform has a way of efficiently targeting specific authors, making their ads very genre-friendly.
3. Understand What Readers Really Want
Each genre has specific preferences that move their readers. Romance, for example, has many sub-categories like contemporary, paranormal, romantic suspense, and so on. By understanding your sub-categories better, you can design stronger covers, craft compelling storylines, write better blurbs, and discover the strategies that will attract your ideal readers.
Your readers will want more books like the ones they’ve already read and loved and one way they find books they love is by looking at the covers. This is especially true for sub-categories of romance and fantasy. There are book cover designers that are very familiar with the subcategories of genres like romance. Here are a few that we recommend:
- Miblart: These cover designers specialize in creating high-quality, genre-focused covers for an affordable cost.
- 100 Covers: These cover artists excel at crafting top-notch, budget-friendly covers that really capture the genre you are targeting.
4. Learn from the Best
Be sure to learn from the self-published authors who are killing it in your genre. One place to start is in Booksprout’s reader area. There are many multiple New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Best Selling Authors that use our service. Consider using Booksprout as a launching pad to find books that are attracting a target audience similar to yours. If you’re an avid reader who likes to leave reviews, you may want to sign up to be a reviewer of a few books in your genre. This would be a great way to get to know the genre while enjoying a new book.
While you’re reading those books you should begin to evaluate how the author frames their story, the themes they focus on, and how they engage with their readers. Learning from the best can give you some great ideas for your own work.
5. Hop Onto Social Media
You’ve got a whole world of readers right at your fingertips with social media. Use places like Goodreads, TikTok, Facebook groups, or genre-specific Reddit communities to chat with potential fans, learn what they’re into, and get real feedback.
Check out our article on Harnessing the Power of Community: How to Build an Engaged and Supportive Book Launch Team to learn more about how to engage with launch team members online.
6. Make Your Marketing Plan
Once you have analyzed self-published book genre preferences, identified where your target audience is, and how to talk to them, it’s time to put it into action. When you’re designing your marketing strategy consider using targeted online ads, offering sneak peeks or giveaways to generate interest, creating a review team with Booksprout, reaching out to book bloggers and influencers for reviews, or partnering with complementary authors for cross-promotion.
Finding Your Book’s Biggest Fans and Keeping Them Hooked
When you self-publish, you’re the captain of your own ship—from writing to marketing and all the bits in between. Knowing your audience isn’t just a good idea; it’s a must. It helps you write stuff they’ll love, market in ways that speak to them, and find readers who’ll be excited about your work.
The more you know about your would-be readers, the better you can reach them. Once you find your audience, you’ll be able to stay connected to what’s trending. Remember to keep an eye on what successful authors are doing, engage with your audience online, and use that information to put together a marketing plan that’s as smart as it is effective.
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