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promoting your book on the web: your key 6 pages

Your book has been printed and you're ready to get it out to the market. One of the main ways that a self-published author has to promote and sell their book is on the internet - you can reach the largest target market in the smallest amount of time.

Getting your book online does take some planning as a well-designed and informative site will get people interested in the book and into the stores or buying online. What should go on your site? It's easy to create a site with either too little or too much information and drive the customer away. The following is a list of the 6 key pages that will give your reader enough information to get them into the stores and your book into their hands.

1. Your Book

The most important part of your site is your book. This is the product that you are trying to sell, whether online or through booksellers. The information that should go on this page includes:

Photo of the book in a good size - not tiny so that noone can recognize it at the bookstore
Information about the book such as title, ISBN#, page length, size, hardcover or softcover
A blurb about the book to entice readers - this can be from the back cover
Links to ordering information (e-commerce, Amazon, Chapters, or to your order page)

There are other items that you can include on your book page to entice readers to buy:

Sample pages as a downloable PDF
Highlights of offers such as autographing of hardcover orders

2. Author Bio

Readers are interested in the background of the author. This is most important if the book is non-fiction and written by a professional such as a doctor, psychiatrist, lawyer, or anyone in a position of authority. Readers are curious about writers and in the case of professionals, want reasurrance that they know what they are talking about when giving financial, health, or legal advice.

Use this page to highlight your achievements, your background, and in the case of professionals, your skills and experience in the topic you are writing about.

3. Testimonials/Reviews

Testimonials add to the credibility of your message. They are useful for self-help books, handbooks, educational books, guidebooks, and any books that teach the reader. They show the reader that someone else has had positive responses from the lessons in your book.

Reviews add credibility to trade books in both fiction and non-fiction categories. These reviews can be from newspapers (national and local), magazines, telelevision, or radio.

4. Ordering Information/Online Ordering

Let your readers know where they can purchase your book. Make it easy for them by offering links directly to the websites or pages where the ordering takes place, such as:

Amazon.com(.ca) - link directly to your book page for quick ordering
Chapters.ca - link directly to your book page for quick ordering
Your own ordering page (no e-commerce) - set up a page on your site that gives users ordering information such as a downloadable order form or email link (requires merchant account for credit card transactions)

If you don't have your book placed with Amazon or Chapters, you can also set up your own online ordering using one of the many e-commerce programs available today. Your web designer can help you design an online order page where readers can input their shipping information and credit card number. Keep in mind that you will need either a merchant account to process credit card orders or a PayPal account for money transactions. As well, you will be accountable for sales taxes in your province/state.

5. Calendar

A great way to get in touch with your readers is through speaking engagements and book signings. You can use your website to let your readers know when these events will be happening by listing them on a calendar/events page. You can also use this page to provide information about upcoming books, new printings, and any other special dates.

6. Newsletter

Once your have the other pages of your website set up, you need a way to keep your readers informed of updates, events, reviews, and news. This can be done easily through a monthly/bi-monthly/quarterly newsletter. Your web designer can set up an online newsletter for readers to view and a form where they can sign up for email updates. This will keep your audience interested in your books and keep them coming out to support you at your various events. When your next book is published, advertising it will be a simple matter of sending out your newsletter.

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