Marketing a children's book

Todays successful childrens book authors are making smart use of viral video marketing to cut through the clutter and get discovered. Susan raabs an authors guide to childrens book promotion is a short but packed collection of tips and ideas for authors who want to take a more active role in marketing their own books, especially. How to make money publishing childrens books on kindle. Ways to market your childrens book my book illustrator. Marketing selfpublished children s books is an interesting task, different from the marketing of a regular book for one sole reason. Read about our childrens book marketing strategies that can help separate your book. That means that your book marketing campaigns must be created with the adult in. Now in its 26th edition, cwim is the definitive publishing guide for anyone who seeks to write or illustrate for kids and young adults. Well get your book in front of the ones interested in your book s genres. How to write a childrens book in 9 easy steps complete. Includes tips on building mailing lists, running promotions and advertising.

As previously mentioned, marketing children s books can be difficult. Homing in on your book s target audience will also help demonstrate your understanding of the publishing business, which is something most editors want in a collaborator. How to market your childrens book free course reedsy. Many authors just want to write, and dont want to market. The first thing an editor wants to know is whether its the kind of book they can sell. As previously mentioned, marketing childrens books can be difficult. Celebrated childrens book author, crystal swainbates, was fed up with the lack of black childrens books on the market, so she founded goldest karat publishing in order to address the lack of diversity in childrens literature. Author of forever friends smallfellow press, 2002, and a contributing writer at, a website for new and.

Lets talk about the biggest mistakes in cover design, especially when it comes to book promotion in the childrens book market. In fact, most despise this aspect of being an author. In case you havent noticed, this article too was meant as a way to promote the book as well as a way to share useful information. Book promotion kindle book promotion, kindle free book. Raab s guide is a handy and accessible reference full of useful pointers. In reality, the publisher should always pay the writer. There are successful selfpublishers in every niche, but authors of childrens books face more challenges than most both on the publishing. The reason is largely that our kids have changed drastically. Cybils childrens and young adult literary blogger awards. For book promotion purposes, childrens and young adult books ideally have newsworthy themes, and authors have expertise in the theme covered in the book.

Promotions for these titles have to appeal to two distinct groups. Childrens books have some unique opportunities when it comes to marketing and pr. Mar 08, 2011 the following is a fictitious mini marketing plan i created for a publishing class while in university studying communication. Well get your book in front of the ones interested in your books genres.

Knowing your audience is essential when youre writing your book and crucial when youre selling it. Childrens book marketing programs are often developed for parents and grandparents the people who buy books for younger members of their families. There is no end to the ways you can promote a book, or to the time you can spend doing it. This is because marketing a childrens book can be very unpredictable. Your first book may be a masterpiece, but first books have a nasty way of getting ignored. See more ideas about book publishing, writing a book and books. Unless youre a celebrity or have a large following already, selfpublishing your childrens book is a great way to get your foot in the door, even if your ultimate goal is to get published the traditional way. Apr 16, 2019 making and marketing childrens and ya series. So before you start the book marketing process, you should have a set plan.

Childrens books require specific book marketing skills. A guide to marketing your children s book by barbara cohen. Since children dont buy books, you have to market to adults. Thinking back to your own kids favorite book, your favorite book, or simpler times is not going to help you in todays market. Publishing childrens books on amazon kindle amazon recognizes that there is a childrens author inside many of us, thats why they introduced kindles kids book creator, a free tool that allows authors and publishers to convert illustrated childrens books into fantastic kindle books. Children will enjoy reading my book while learning valuable lessons about stranger danger. Marketing a childrens book and promoting an author never turns out the same way twice. Sep 15, 2011 writerpreneurauthorillustrator katie davis provides tips and secrets on how to market a childrens book in this video series based. Bloomsbury childrens books 85 broadway new york, ny 10018. She regularly goes into primary schools and has held many book signings in waterstones and independent bookshops across southwest london. Susan raab s an author s guide to children s book promotion is a short but packed collection of tips and ideas for authors who want to take a more active role in marketing their own books, especially children s books. Sell more childrens books with a great cover marketing a book. Your book offer allows our readers to get a taste of your writing. Thank you iuniverse for helping independent authors publish and market their books with confidence.

Apr 28, 2017 marketing selfpublished childrens books is an interesting task, different from the marketing of a regular book for one sole reason. A guide to marketing your childrens book by barbara cohen. You must market to both the child who will be at the library picking out his or her book and the adult who will ultimately be the one to buy the book. Second, although you are marketing to adults, your book must still appeal to the actual children you wrote the book for. Mar 05, 2020 childrens book authors need to be on instagram because your audience is teachers and moms are on ig tips that have worked best for maria childrens books on marketing making the shift to focusing on teachers has made all the difference. Clevers acquisitions must also be general enough in concept to hold appeal for the russian childrens book market. The most trusted guide to the world of childrens publishing. Apr 10, 20 so youve written a childrens book, hired an illustrator or illustrated it yourself, and it is now at the printers probably in china if its fourcolor. These publications are widely disseminated to our target market. Today s successful children s book authors are making smart use of viral video marketing to cut through the clutter and get discovered. Want your children s book featured at the event that more than 600 journalists representing 70 countries report on each year.

Six powerful ways to market childrens books 30 day books. She has been featured in multiple media outlets, such as tedx, scary mommy, kindlepreneur, huffington post, ep magazine, military. In the second of three posts in this series, allis childrens author advisor karen inglis shares valuable advice gained from the booksellers childrens conference on how to sell books. Dec 17, 2016 karen inglis is a successful selfpublished childrens author with close to 10,000 sales across five titles. Three keys to marketing childrens books ingramspark. Im seeking help in marketing my book to get exposure. They have to satisfy parents who make the buying decisions and they must also entertain the children who are their target. The newsletters of these organizations are very informative, and the meetings are great places to get known.

Author of forever friends smallfellow press, 2002, and a contributing writer at, a website for new and emerging authors. We wanted to add this section at the top in light of everything happening with the coronavirus sweeping the world with so many. In this email course from author and book coach eevi jones, you will be introduced to marketing strategies that will help you successfully promote your childrens. Authors who write for children face many challenges. Marketing selfpublished childrens books requires appealing to both kids and adults. Illustrating and marketing books for kids with katie davis. Once again, social media is not used often enough when it comes to marketing childrens books. Common approaches to book marketing will often fall short as you attempt to appeal to your target readership kids and the people who are likely to buy books for them. For instance, i arranged to read savitri at a monthly meeting of the northern california childrens booksellers associationin this way reaching many of the areas childrens. If you present a wellperforming book and an established author platform.

Childrens picture book marketing case study interview posted on december 6, 2015 by kareninglis when i occasionally host interviews my aim as with the rest of my blog is to share best practice and knowhow that i think will help fellow childrens. Start marketing your book early the balance careers. This is a vital step in the promotion and marketing of your book, andif done rightwill make the rest of the process. So, there you are, drained from giving your blood, sweat and tears to write the next great american bestselling childrens. Take a look and see which ones you believe are a good fit. Beth eller director of school and library marketing beth. I thought it would make a great sample of a mini marketing plan for businesses looking to develop one for themselves, especially book businesses.

Once youve written and published your childrens book, its time to. Marketing selfpublished childrens books is an interesting task, different from the marketing of a regular book for one sole reason. There were probably about 50 people there and the subject was how to selfpublish and market a childrens book. Childrens book authorsillustrators great childrens books. How to publish a childrens book for free pen and the pad. Boyds mills press, calkins creek, wordsong, highlights press 815 church st. Many childrens writers who are new to the field believe its normal to pay to have a book published. I received tremendous guidance from my marketing consultant and publicist.

Aug, 2018 there were probably about 50 people there and the subject was how to selfpublish and market a children s book. Now when i first did that festival a few years ago the idea that someone might be talking about children s selfpublishing would have been you know. Marketing a book is supposed to be the hardest part of selfpublishing. Childrens book authorsillustrators great childrens. They have to satisfy parents who make the buying decisions and they must also entertain the children who are their target audience. How to selfpublish and market a childrens book with.

That means your job as an author is to write a book that appeals to two different audiences. Writerpreneurauthorillustrator katie davis provides tips and secrets on how to market a childrens book in this video series based. That the book marketing process is one of the most difficult aspects of the entire publishing process. More authors are writing children s books today, and more authors are independently publishing children s books. Remember that you will not only be marketing to kids, but to their parents as well.

If a publisher asks for money to publish a children s book, that is a red flag. If you want your book to be bought and read by the widest audience possible, you have to let readers know that its available and that means marketing your book. In this email course from author and book coach eevi jones, you will be introduced to marketing strategies that will help you successfully promote your children s book before. But the six fundamental campaign elements listed above are useful to nearly everyone. Add this fact to the points made above about demographics, longevity and inspiration of other marketers, it makes sense to try to market childrens. Childrens book marketing presents many unique opportunities when it comes to promotion. Marketing childrens books by barbara cohen author of forever friends smallfellow press, 2002, and a contributing writer at, a website for new and emerging authors. Below i share seven key marketing tips for childrens authors most of which i have tried and tested and most of which have worked well for me.

When marketing other books, you take into account what your readers will be drawn to. Many children s writers who are new to the field believe it s normal to pay to have a book published. In the childrens book market, the target audience isnt made up of children but the bigs who purchase the books for them. Oct 31, 2019 celebrated childrens book author, crystal swainbates, was fed up with the lack of black childrens books on the market, so she founded goldest karat publishing in order to address the lack of diversity in childrens literature. Book marketing for authors during the covid19 pandemic. Services like and amazons createspace mean its never been easier to become an author and publish a. Childrens picture book marketing case study interview. How to selfpublish and market a childrens book with karen. When you are marketing a childrens book, the book itself must do the heavy lifting. Here are some of the most notable childrens book awards. Book publishing books are marketing tools independent publisher independent publisher book awards elit book awards living now book awards moonbeam childrens book awards axiom business book. Childrens book authors need to be on instagram because your audience is teachers and moms are on ig tips that have worked best for maria childrens books on marketing making the. Authors of selfpublished children s books, in particular, have their marketing work cut out for them.

How to market a childrens book, as well as titles for young adults, is similar to all book marketing, but with notable additions. The sites below offer free as well as paid options and are genuine. Does it make marketing childrens book harder than marketing books for teens and adults. With over 100,000 books sold, her childrens books have been featured in forbes, cnn, essence, the huffington post. Marketing services once my book was released, i had to think about marketing and publicity. Publishing childrens books on amazon kindle amazon recognizes that there is a childrens author inside many of us, thats why they introduced kindles kids book creator, a free tool that allows authors and publishers to convert illustrated childrens. Great book marketing ideas that will get people snapping up your novel or nonfiction masterpiece. Having seen and been involved in so many book launches ourselves, we know what works and what doesnt when it comes to book marketing well walk you through a playbyplay of exactly what you need to do so that your readers can find your book and buy it.