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Do you engage in networking, either in person or online, or both, to help you sell your books? If so, have you had much or any success?

I ask because my primary means of selling books over the past couple years has been through advertising and I've had significant success despite sometimes being called a spammer. But I've heard from several sources that the best way to sell books or to build a brand as an author is to network with people who could become customers. The idea is that once they like you and see you as part of their "tribe," then they'll be more likely to check out your wares and make a purchase. I'm not sure if that's really how it works, but I've heard that several times from several seemingly legit sources.

I'm not necessarily opposed to networking, but I have several issues with it, mainly in that it feels disingenuous to converse and form relationships with people when all I want is to sell them something, and I'm pretty introverted and not particularly socially inclined, which is part of the reason I became an author in the first place.

What are your thoughts?

I would like to hear some answers on this one, too. I absolutely suck at marketing, any kind apparently. So your question is a good one for me, too. Thanks for asking.

Only famous Authors sell via Networking . If you are able to sell 100 copies via Twitter / FaceBook , it's a good start .

I can't really comment on the networking aspect. (I suffer from the same introvert trait.) And I can't really comment on the success aspect, either. But mostly I attribute that to the fact that I need to develop more content. I spent a lot of time trying to market my one-and-only novel when I now believe it would have been more productive, and fruitful, for me to simply throw myself into another piece of writing. The only strategy that has worked somewhat for me in the last few years has been "give a little, get a little." Doing Amazon giveaways, while giving away my work for free is frustrating considering the time I put into it, has nevertheless generally resulted (for me, anyway) in a few paid sales, and occasionally reviews.

Networking is definitely a marathon and not a sprint. It is difficult to self-market. Even platforms such as GoodReads, which are excellent for connecting authors and readers, is unreliable. Have you seen the thousands of posts on various groups from self-published authors promoting their work? Does anyone really comb through them to find new books?

I believe that the best way to develop an audience is to have both quantity and quality to offer. I noticed that you have several publications available, so that should definitely serve you well. I wouldn't worry too much about the 'spamming' comment if your advertising is targeted to your readership. It takes very little effort for someone to delete an e-mail, or even to block future e-mails if they are that bothered by it. If your advertising is working for you, then I would stick with it. There's no single recipe for success.

I'm not good at marketing or networking. I am currently doing a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ giveaway - so here's hoping.

James wrote: "Do you engage in networking, either in person or online, or both, to help you sell your books? If so, have you had much or any success?

I ask because my primary means of selling books over the pas..."

Isn't advertising expensive?

This conversation intrigues me because I am not good at marketing or networking either and I have found that advertisers can be very expensive. BTW What is meant by in person networking? I have my ideas but don't want to assume anything.

I know a person locally who had a little success doing book signing parties at local book stores. Is that what you are thinking about?

How do you sell books without a readership? You can't. You have to network, and there are many ways to do it. As G.R. mentioned,

"Have you seen the thousands of posts on various groups from self-published authors promoting their work? Does anyone really comb through them to find new books?"

There are thousands of authors competing for readers, but remember, those readers don't just buy books from one author. Cross-promotion with similar authors is a good way to introduce your works to new readers, along with helping other authors.

I've been using StoryOrigin for a few months with some success to gain readers. LinkdIn is OK for professional connections, and here at GoodReads is good for both.

I quickly realized that writing a book was the easy part compared to marketing.

All types of networking at critical for book selling. There are too many resources and opportunities out there to keep track of and networking helps with that. It also helps to have friends in the business you can bounce things off of.

I haven't tried StoryOrigin, but I think actively participating in communities like Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, Reedsy, Bookbub, and others build some interest in your book and shapes ideas for future writing and books. Obviously networking in the communities of your topic (industry, genre) is even better on Linkedin, Reddit, Quora, or other fan/topic communities. You just have to be useful and interesting and not necessarily "selling" your book.

The bottom line is, that if nobody knows about your book, you are not going to get any readers. There is no best way to network, you have to find out what works for you-that takes a lot of trial and error. Usually more error.

Mat wrote:
"You just have to be useful and interesting and not necessarily "selling" your book."

Oh, so true. I think the term coined somewhere is "bookwacking".
To be avoided at all costs.