You have to target a market. You can’t shoot for everyone. That’s the topic of my latest post over at Writer Unboxed:
The Marketing Paradox: Start Small to Get Big
Also check out the comments for a few points on how to research your target market and what communication strategies might be most effective in reaching them.
Click here to read the full post and comments.
Jane Friedman has spent nearly 25 years working in the book publishing industry, with a focus on author education and trend reporting. She is the editor of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World in 2023. Her latest book is The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press), which received a starred review from Library Journal. In addition to serving on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund, she works with organizations such as The Authors Guild to bring transparency to the business of publishing.
I saw the post over on WU, and you’re so right about it. There’s nothing for an audience to grab on to if your target is too general.