How Authors Can Target Their Readership

You should consider who your primary reader is and target them. But you should also think about your secondary markets. However, don’t stretch it too thin as far as who you think would want your book. Think like the consumer and look at things through their eyes to determine how they would view your book. Then sell it to them in a way they would value and appreciate. 

Determining whom your book is written for should be relatively easy. The title should reflect that audience. 

If your book is called How To Lose 15 Pounds In 15 Days, your book is geared toward people who want to lose weight and do so fast. If your book is called How To Find The Person You Want To Marry, the reader is someone who is single and interested in obtaining a long-term relationship. If your book is called 10 Ways To Find Your Dream Job, your readers are people who are job-hunting or have career aspirations. You should know the demographic, in-depth, of your primary reader. 

In the case of the relationship book, will the reader likely be 15, 30 or 60? Will it be a he or a she? Will the person be associated with other attributes – race, religion, economic status, education level, etc? Knowing the answer as to who your primary reader is will save you lots of time and effort when you market to the people who are likely to be interested in your book. 

Uncover Your Secondary Reader

The secondary reader is one who is less likely to buy your book compared to your primary reader, but nevertheless constitutes a sizeable group that would have some reason to be interested in your book. 

For instance, the relationship book’s secondary market may consist of those who service the singles market – relationship counselors, matchmakers, sex therapists, product manufacturers, etc. 

The secondary market can also be people who look like they belong to the primary group, but really represent a smaller group. For example, if the primary buyer of the relationship book is a single, white, educated woman, age 25-35, the secondary market might be single women who are a little younger or older. Maybe they are women who are divorced and  have a child. Maybe it’s guys. It could be people, such as parents of women ages 25-35, who are looking to advise their adult children on the subject. 

Avoid Thinking Everyone Wants Your Book

Too often authors believe everyone would benefit from their book and thus expect everyone should buy it.  Most books don’t sell beyond their primary markets. If you have a book about finding someone to marry you should not expect married couples to buy your book. Of course some who are already married may want to explore what is out there or consider leaving their spouse for another lover, but realistically, how many of them will look for a book about getting married? 

Further, don’t assume that if your book features only a chapter that appeals to a core group that everyone from that group will buy your book. If you have a book on general health and one chapter focuses on diabetes, do not assume millions of diabetics will buy your book. They may want a book that covers diabetes exclusively. 

Certainly, don’t get too far off your subject matter when seeking out readers. If your book is about finding someone to marry, don’t expect people looking to find out secrets to better sex or people looking for advice on how to save a broken relationship to be your targeted reader. The subjects may seem to be related, but in the end, they are very separate and unique. 

Need PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.9 million pageviews. With 4,900+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.