Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Marketing and Mayhem!

  I have been thinking and working on new ideas for marketing 'Tween novels. They don't fit into marketing the way you'd do for YA novels. One huge reason is that 'tweens rarely shop alone or for themselves. They still go through their parents for much of everything they want or need.

I have found that book events are a great resource. In that moment you have the parent and the 'tween in front of you. You can sell the parent on the 'age friendly' content and you can sell the reader on the story. But there are only so many of these things that I can attend and keep my writing schedule and bank account intact.

So I've been wracking my brain trying to come up with new ideas. The standard ways of reaching out don't work so well for my audience. First they are technically too young for Facebook but we know some of them are there). Second, they text tons, but Twitter...not so much. Blogs and websites are okay, but how do you actively reach out to that age group without running the risk of being categorized as some kind of perv.

I am totally aware that the best way is word-of-mouth, but getting past the initial roadblocks takes some doing. So I'm watching kids in the mall, surfing YouTube, pouring through magazines, and talking to anyone that lets me--searching out new avenues of contact. Any ideas?

5 comments:

Michelle Isenhoff said...

You have arrived at the Great Question, Stephanie. If you find the answer, let me know!

Sharon Ledwith said...

Wow, Stephanie, what a heartfelt post. I honestly know how you feel. Book Blog tours don't seem to help, and Blog Hops may build followers, but not buyers. School visits are next on my agenda, but my problem is I'm with an epublisher who only makes paperbacks available for small venues, so you can't get my paperbacks on Amazon. Groan. Word-of-mouth seems to be the best bet, but first you have to do the leg work! Yes, I just groaned again.

Djamesonsmith said...

I agree with Sharon...school visits, plus library visits to do readings--this is my first book and I found myself bold enough to resort to handing out bookmarks and post cards (marketing tools, yes?) at one of our local-ish Celtic fairs, hawking my wares to adults with kids hanging about (I know the fair season is pretty much over, but plan on doing more this spring, since I'll hopefully have a second book ready to publish by then).

Stephanie, PQW said...

Michelle, you know it! Figuringbthis all out is more than a notion.

Sharon, I do scool visits at every opportunity. I have been invited by both teachers and school librarians. I love every minute of it. And thanks doe the Facebook shout-out As I type this I sit in Houston, TX at a book event.

Hi Debra, I keep book cards in my purse to hand out anytime `bookchat` comes up. My husband even carries them in his wallet. I`m shameless about promotion

Stephanie, PQW said...

Michelle, you know it! Figuringbthis all out is more than a notion.

Sharon, I do scool visits at every opportunity. I have been invited by both teachers and school librarians. I love every minute of it. And thanks doe the Facebook shout-out As I type this I sit in Houston, TX at a book event.

Hi Debra, I keep book cards in my purse to hand out anytime `bookchat` comes up. My husband even carries them in his wallet. I`m shameless about promotion