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Congratulations! You have released your book (or are going to soon). The next step is to help readers to find it.
One way to get the word out about your new publication is to do interviews.
If you heard “interview” and immediately being a guest on a podcast sprung to mind, I can understand that. Lately, podcasts are everywhere.
But there are other avenues to market your book that you may not think of right away.
When you think about how to get the word out for your new book, the internet may seem like your best bet.
I get it: you want everyone in the entire world to read your book (and they should! Because the story is outstanding!), but don’t forget to look closer to home, too.
Local radio stations and TV shows love human-interest stories about people who have come from your hometown and then “made it big” in publishing.
If you have a children’s book or young adult novel, your local school might really like an author visit.
Libraries and independent bookstores often ask authors to speak or have signings, too.
In order to find these local opportunities to get the word out about your book, your first step is to create a press release.
Your press release should announce that your book is out and include some information about you. This document will be your introduction to the media, and it is important it has your own spin and matches your brand.
The next step is to spruce up your internet presence: make sure that all of your social media accounts are up-to-date, correct, and look good!
Your website should be professional and easy to navigate. If people can’t find your book on Amazon or Goodreads, they may not find it at all.
The next step is anticipating the questions that they might ask you.
This can be difficult because you never know what the interviewer will be interested in. But if you can prepare a list of some likely questions, you’ll be better prepared when they come up in conversation.
Take a look at this PDF download that lists questions they might ask you, whether you write fiction, nonfiction, or children’s books.
Part of anticipating the questions that the interviewer might ask is knowing your audience.
If you are appearing on a parenting podcast, for example, they might want to hear more about the message in your book and the age group that you are appealing to.
If you’re being interviewed by a small radio station, they’ll love it if your book has ties to the local area.
Think about your audience when you’re tailoring your answers, too. Simplify your language if you are at a school and aim for more complex answers at a library.
No matter who the audience is for your author interview, plan out in advance the three things you want them to take away with them after your presentation.
These could be a call to action, like buy your book now!
Or maybe an understanding of what your book is about and how it will benefit the reader.
But whatever you do, make sure that these are clear and concise. A good idea is to have a few talking points you can connect to these three main ideas.
That way, even if the interviewer doesn’t ask about one of your key topics, you’ll still be able to get your message across.
One thing to remember is that you want to make your answers short sound bites.
Most interviews are only a few minutes long, so you don’t want to spend your time saying “um” or “well” or “ya know.”
Also, those short pithy comments make great tweets or TikToks to advertise the interview.
Even if they ask you about something complex—your writing process, for example—keep your answer short and sweet so the audience will grasp your point right away.
(If you have more to say, this is a good time to mention your blog or other social media where fans can get more in-depth information!)
When you have imagined the questions that the interviewer might ask, honed your message, and planned your to-the-point answers, the next step is to practice!
This is especially important if you are doing a live interview.
You only get one chance during a live interview, so make sure you know your material well. You don’t want to be caught off guard because an interviewer asked something that you didn’t know how to answer.
Especially if you are at a school, there may be opportunities to ask questions, not just answer them.
Think up some questions for the students to get them involved.
What is the first book you remember reading? What do you like to write about?
Engaging your audience will make the interview more fun for both them and you!
If you’re at a bookstore doing a book signing, take time to practice what you will say to each person as they come up to your table.
Ask how many of your books they’ve read. Thank them for their support. You could even ask what they are looking forward to in the next book in the series—maybe you’ll get a new idea!
The last step is to keep having fun!
Whether you are talking about your book or some other aspect of writing, remember that this is a great opportunity for you to share your work with the world and to connect with the audience.
Most people who you will meet as you do author interviews love what they’re doing and want the audience to have fun during the interview.
Ultimately, if your audience enjoys listening to you, talking with you, and learning more about your book, then that’s what matters most.
So, hey, try not to worry too much! You can do this; I believe in you.
If the interviewer asks a question that you didn’t expect, don’t panic. Just answer the best you can and move on to another topic. (Download the list of common interview questions here, so you can prepare.)
Remember your talking points, practice beforehand, be yourself throughout the process—and then share your amazing book with the world.
I help authors, researchers, business people, students, and web marketers to polish their writing before they send it out into the world.
Fourth and last (for now!) in our series of book reviews featuring Kindle Unlimited books that explain ways to outline a novel. Let’s get ready for NaNoWriMo!
Third in our series of book reviews featuring Kindle Unlimited books that explain ways to outline a novel. Let’s get ready for NaNoWriMo!
Second in our series of book reviews featuring Kindle Unlimited books that explain ways to outline a novel. Let’s get ready for NaNoWriMo!
