As writers, sometimes it feels like we are islands unto ourselves. Writing a book is so often a solitary activity that the idea of collaborating can be foreign. But when it comes to marketing, that’s exactly what you should do.
I’ve spoken before on the idea of collaborating with other authors, whether for events or trades, but I want to talk today about working with your readers. They’re so important in not only making your book a success but also building a community around your book, so it only makes sense to bring them into the fold.
From fan art to marketing campaigns, let’s take a look at how reader collaboration works.
Fan Art and Cover Design Contests
I’m sure you’ve seen fan art out there. Whether commissioned or fan-generated, art of your book isn’t just a morale booster. I love seeing fan art from other books. Often, I end up picking up books because of the art I’ve seen.
Sometimes, fan art is organic, coming from the love of your book. Other times, authors employ contests to generate new art. You could run a raffle for an annotated arc for fan generated art submitted. Or you could offer an exclusive look at your next book? The point is to give away something in exchange for the art. The contest would work to generate buzz for both you and the artists submitting.
Character Naming and World-Building Polls
Readers love the world of the books they’re obsessed with. And in fantasy, this is especially true. Give back to your fans by involving them in the naming of characters or locations in your books.
This type of collaboration creates a sense of ownership and connection to the story because they are actually a part of it. You can do this a few ways, whether through polls, raffles, or contests, find the medium that best speaks to your readers.
Fan-Hosted Book Clubs and Discussions
We love a book club. There are no shortage of pre-made bookclubs on the internet, and authors also host their own book clubs from time to time. But, fans will host book clubs as well.
To encourage a read-along or book club for your book, I suggest making a book club package complete with questions meant to support and deepen the discussions. Fan-made book clubs can foster a sense of community and connection among your readers.
Fan-Generated Trailers and Video Content
This idea is what sparked this entire blog post. I’ve seen it done well by authors—like Susan Dennard—but it is a really interesting concept.
The general idea is to have weekly “challenges” leading up to the release of your book. Each week would be a new challenge centered around creating video content for your book. It’s like UGC (user-generated content), but for books! You could have a challenge where readers create a cinematic trailer for your upcoming book. Or maybe another where they make a video cosplaying a character. Whatever you choose, just make sure you have a prize associated with them.
Wrapping up
Your readers are so important and it only makes sense to bring them into the marketing of your books. This is not to say that you are to take advantage with them, but rather, reward them for their love of your books.
By embracing crowdsourcing and involving fans in collaborative marketing campaigns, authors can tap into the passion and creativity of your readers, fostering a vibrant community and boosting your book’s visibility and reach in unique and engaging ways.