How to Market to Unusual Groups Who May Love Your Books

Posted by Arthur Gutch
Published On Sep 27, 2014

Selling your books offline doesn't always have to mean sitting behind stacks of paperbacks at a book signing, waiting for readers to come to you. Conventions and book store events are great for pulling in readers who are already your fans, but thinking outside of the box with your book marketing can result in a new group of book buyers who might never otherwise considered reading anything you've written.

Unusual reader groups

Why Bother?

When marketing on the internet is so simple, while opportunities for advertising your books online are so widespread, why bother trying to market your work in the 3-D world? There are huge groups of people offline that make up an untapped market, one that's never read anything like your books. They need a reason to take the plunge on a writer they've never heard of, and making a personal connection is a time-honored way of making a sale. It's worked for insurance sales people and other sales professionals for decades; why not use this method to get some more book sales? The key is to find groups of people likely to want your work, and to let them get to know you. Once you're a trusted member of the group, buying your book will be the natural next step for them. 

Where to Look

Your offline fan base can be anywhere, but narrow your search to groups of people likely to read in your genre. For instance:

  • Quilt clubs for quilting books, garden clubs for gardening books, and other clubs for other nonfiction niches

  • Book clubs in your fiction niche that advertise on Meetup.com

  • People who hang out in hobby shops for socializing

In addition, getting to know more people on a personal level can increase sales, because people love to buy a book and then tell their friends they know the author. Meet up with a class reunion committee, get together for coffee with citizens after city council or school board meetings, or join in some volunteer efforts and make contact with people who have the same interests as you. Once you make the 3-D connection it will make it that much easier for you to further seek out the online pockets of similar groups.

Close the Deal

Don't turn into a pushy sales person, but casually let it be known that you're a writer, and you have a book or several available. Keep paperback copies of your book in the car for instant sales. Talk to people about downloading eBook reading apps right onto their laptop or smartphone if they don't want to invest in an eBook reader. Emphasize the convenience of having audiobooks on hand for long commutes, time at the gym, or hours spent working in the garden. Make reading your books convenient to them, make a personal connection, and you're likely to make the sale, as well.

Keep the Faith and May the Force be with You!


New Call-to-action

Topics: audiobooswriting tips, book marketing, self publishing, writing tips, author marketing, time to write, book writing tips, finding time to write, book reviewers, audiobooks, serial novel

Releted Post