Make your Book Stand Out From the Crowd: Know your Audience

Make your Book Stand Out From the Crowd:
Know your Audience
Judy Cullins
©2001

Most authors say, "Everyone will want my book, and when I take it
to Oprah, it will sell millions, and I'll make millions, too."

Not exactly true. If you are writing a book you need to know your
specific audience. This gives your book its unique selling point.
Writing for your target audience focuses your writing and gives
your book a great advantage because you know and can communicate
your unique selling point. (USP). Now, your book will stand out
from the crowd. Although everyone won't buy it, it will sell more
copies because your buyers really want your message.

How do you know who your audience is?

The biggest mistake most authors make is that they don't write for
their one preferred audience. If an audience is "everyone," the
book doesn't have an angle. Without a focus audience, it has too
much competition among other popular authors. The "Dummy" books
have done well because they have one particular focus-beginners.

Know your audience inside and out through the "Audience Profile."

What do they look like? How old are they? Male? Female? Age? Baby
boomers? Seniors? Entrepreneurial? Corporate? Are they middle or
upper class? What kind of work do they do? What is their income?
What do they spend discretionary time and money on? Where do they
live? What books and magazines do they read? What values and
attitudes are reflected by those books? What are their interests,
hobbies, and values?

What challenges do they face that they want answers to? Are they
business people, retired people, over 50? What radio shows do they
listen to? What TV programs do they watch? What do they do with
their free time? What events do they attend? What organizations do
they belong to? What causes do they support? Are they Internet
savvy? What kinds of sites do they visit and bookmark? How many
of them are out there to sell to? What do they want? Need?

Go to your library or use the Internet to research just how many
people belong to your audience. Ask for the reference books that
have census and other information. All agents and publishers will
want this information from you through your book proposal.

Even if you publish this book yourself, do some market research.
Research can help you with numbers: 45 million readers read new
age books; 55 million baby boomers and 60 million seniors are out
there. They buy online, too. Think of one segment of these groups
your can write and market for: New Age newly divorced-age 50 and
up; Senior women creating a new career at 60; Baby boomer working
mothers who want healthier food for their children.

By writing a focused book, you will attract your preferred audience
because your whole book is devoted to answering its concerns.
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Judy Cullins: author, publisher, book coach
Excerpted from: Ten Non-techie Ways to Market Your Book Online
and Write your eBook or Other Short Book-Fast!
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