6 Self Publishing Mistakes

TIP 1

Setup a pre-order

I keep reading people advising that you don't pre-order on your book. If you are a new author, and you don't start pre-order sales for the book, your book page and author profile don't get setup until the day you launch. That means that you don't even get a link to your book to use on social until amazon launches it. How is this supposed to work out well for anyone? This also means that your book has 0 reviews on launch day. Schedule your launch day so that it works for you, and you're not caught off guard when Amazon decides to approve it and put it up for sale.

The first 30 and 90 days of your books are the most crucial with amazon sales for their ability to take off. If they get parked on the tarmac, even for a few days, it's loosing valuable time.

Lack of a Defined Target Audience:

Not understanding or defining who the book is for can lead to scattered marketing efforts that fail to reach potential readers effectively. Identifying your target audience means understanding the specific group of people most likely to be interested in your book based on factors like age, gender, interests, and reading habits. This knowledge helps tailor your marketing messages to resonate with this group.

With a clear target audience, you can more easily find and engage with communities online where your readers are likely to gather, such as specific forums, social media groups, and reading clubs.

Not Utilizing Social Media Effectively:

Simply posting about the book without engaging with the community, or not using the right platforms where the target audience is active, can limit a book's reach. This is a critical mistake that self-published authors can make, limiting their book's exposure and potential success. Social media platforms offer powerful tools for authors to connect with their audience, build a community, and promote their books. However, simply having a presence on these platforms is not enough.

Social media is a two-way street. Not responding to comments, messages, or failing to engage in conversations can make your audience feel undervalued. Tailor your content to the interests, needs, and habits of your target audience. This will help in creating posts that resonate and engage.

Insufficient Pre-Launch Strategy

If you're like me, you are so eager to get your book out there that you skipped a most of the boring marketing steps. But just like Tip #1 A well-planned pre-launch creates anticipation and excitement for your book, making potential readers eager to get their hands on it as soon as it's available. Additionally this provides you time to coordinate what happens on Release day. Assemble a group of dedicated fans, friends, or family members who can help promote your book through word-of-mouth and social media shares, all on Launch day.

Not launching a Printed version at the same time as your Digital Version.

Plain and simple - Not everyone has a kindle. Why reduce the number of people that will buy your book? A substantial number of readers still favor physical books for various reasons, including the tactile experience, and the joy of displaying books on a shelf. Additionally physical books are often purchased as gifts. Not having a print version available can mean missing out on sales, especially during peak gift-giving seasons like holidays and birthdays.

Not Making Marketing an Ongoing Effort:

Treating marketing as a one-off task rather than an ongoing effort can stall a book's momentum. Continuously promoting the book, engaging with readers, and building an author brand are key to long-term success. This doesn't mean that you have to spend a ton of time every day. This could be as little as setting aside 10 minutes once a day during which you review your social accounts and find 3 things that you can interact with, and one person that you can reach out to. Keep your goals realistic, but make sure you are always engaged. I use the free influencer / Reviewer lists on the website I created SelfPub Social for this.