If you’re marketing a book for the first time, there are probably at least a few marketing concepts and terms you’re not completely familiar with.
We’ve assembled a glossary of common terms with brief definitions to help you navigate your way through this new venture. Click on the term to get more information on utilizing it in your own work.
Adaptation - The transfer of a story to another medium, such as a feature film, TV show, or play.
Advertising – A type of marketing communication that uses a sponsored message to promote or sell a product or service.
ARCs (Advance Review Copies) – Uncorrected proofs of a book created before its final printing to send to reviewers, booksellers, bloggers, and more to get the word out about a book. Also known as galleys.
Author brand - The overall experience of a customer that distinguishes an author from others in the eyes of the reader.
Author platform - Your visibility as an author—through means such as social media, blogging, and publicity—used to sell more books.
Blogging – The act of writing or discussing information and publishing it on a personal website.
Book review – A published opinion of a book in a periodical or online.
Book trailer - A short promotional video distributed across multiple platforms to help you increase your online presence and reach a wider audience.
Crowdfunding - The funding of a project or venture by raising small amounts of money from a large number of people.
Facebook – A social network designed for members to connect and share with family and friends online. This social platform has over 1.8 billion users, most between ages 30-49.
Elevator pitch – A brief, persuasive speech—usually about 30 seconds—used to spark interest in your book idea.
Endorsement – A quote or statement by someone recommending a book. Often found on the dust cover or near the front of the book.
Film option - A contract that allows a producer or a studio to own the film rights to a writer's screenplay for a time with the goal of making it into a film.
Giveaway – An item that is given for free, likely for promotional purposes.
Grassroots marketing – A marketing effort that targets efforts to a small group with the hope that the group will spread the message to a much larger audience.
Guerrilla marketing – A marketing effort that uses innovative, unconventional, and low-cost marketing techniques with the hope of obtaining maximum exposure.
Instagram – A social network designed for members to share photos and videos online. This social platform has over 500 million daily users, most between ages 18-29.
Launch party – An event held to celebrate the launch of a newly released book.
LinkedIn – A social network designed for members to network with professionals and employers. This social platform has over 500 million total users, most between ages 35-44.
Mailing list - A collection of names and addresses (often emails) used to send materials to multiple recipients. People often subscribe to an author’s mailing list to receive updates and newsletters.
Market research - The effort to gather information about target markets or customers in order to understand what that group of people is interested in.
Media – The channels through which news, entertainment, or promotional messages are spread, such as newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, and the internet.
Media kit - A document containing general information about your book, used by journalists to help them write their story.
Pinterest – A social network designed for members to share and save images, GIFs, and videos. This social platform has over 250 million users, most between ages 25-34.
Press kit – A set of promotional materials that provide information about a new book or upcoming event, distributed to members of the media for promotional use.
Press release - A written communication that reports brief information about an event or other happening. Also knows as a news release, media release, or press statement.
Publicist – A marketing professional who generates and manages promotion for an author and their book.
Sell sheet - A one-page document that provides details about a book for potential retailers.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) - The process of affecting the online visibility of a website or a web page in a search engine's results.
Social media - Websites and applications that allow users to create and share content or to participate in social networking.
Target audience - A specialized, potentially profitable group, characterized by a particular interest, topic, or subject, to whom you will sell your book. Also known as target market.
Twitter - A social network designed for members to share short and quick news, thoughts, and ideas online. This social platform has over 321 million active users, most between ages 25-34.
Word of mouth marketing - An unpaid form of promotion where satisfied customers tell other people how much they like a product or service.
Wordpress – A popular blogging platform that supports the ability to create mailing lists, forums, galleries, and online stores.
YouTube – A social network designed for members to create and watch video content. This social platform has over 1.3 billion users, most between ages 18-24.