Navigating the publishing world as an indie author can be filled with many pitfalls. Unfortunately, it’s very easy to make mistakes that could cost you a lot of sales and therefore your potential to make money. There are however, some precautions you can take regarding your marketing efforts so you’re not left without a leg to stand on!

Don’t skip doing the proper research! When undertaking any promotional campaign, it’s important to narrow down who you are trying to reach before you do anything. You need to figure out who the perfect audience for your book is and then you’ll have to research how to best advertise them and where to reach them. You’ll need to know exact demographics about your target market; you won’t know how effective your marketing effects can be but with proper data and research, you can maximize how successful it will be.

Build your following. Don’t forget about building a community of fans around you so you have some people around you to send news and updates to. An easy way to do this is through using social media, building email lists, and promoting your social media everywhere you can.

Don’t forget about reviews. Not everyone is willing to give a chance to a book that’s sitting in on zero customer reviews on Amazon. Most people need to see if a book is worth their time before they read it. Never underestimate word of mouth. People are more likely to pick up a book if it’s been recommended to them by a friend, family member, co-worker, teacher or what-have-you. Don’t be afraid to ask people to review your book after they’ve read it.

There are many mistakes indie authors can make which can be easily avoided. It’s critical indie authors do as much research as they can and beef up their promotional efforts as much as they can to ensure success. After all, if content is king, then marketing is the queen.

Read more on how to avoid costly mistakes at Author Marketing Services.