Identifying Mr (or Ms) Write – who is your target reader?

Identifying Mr (or Ms) Write – who is your target reader?

1 year ago | 353 Views
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As an author, it's essential to know who your target reader is. After all, if you don't know WHO you're writing for, how can you be sure that you're reaching the right audience and marketing your book to the right people?

Created By Mary Turner Thomson


Your book falling into the wrong hands might mean bad reviews which could hurt your credibility. However, your book finding its way to the person who would get the most out of it means good reviews, recommendations, excited conversations and new fans. Identifying your target reader is the key to a successful marketing strategy and to selling more books.

A target reader (or ‘ideal reader’ or ‘intended audience’) is a specific group of people that an author has in mind when writing their book, and to whom they will market their book. It could be based on demographics, such as age, gender, or location, or it could be based on interests and reading habits. If you can distil that group of people down to just ONE reader it makes it easier to think about – the bullseye on the dartboard if you like – the perfect reader who is going to get the most out of their reading experience and give you that coveted five star review. Break it right down and give them a name, location, interests and character - and give yourself a hook on which to hang your marketing on.

So, how do you go about identifying your target reader? The first step is to consider the genre of your book. Is it a romance novel or a thriller? A self-help book or a children's story? Understanding the genre of your book will give you a better idea of the types of readers who will be interested in it.

Next, think about the subject matter of your book. What are you writing about and who would be most interested in that topic? For example, if you're writing a book about gardening, your target audience would likely be gardeners or people interested in gardening.

Another important factor to consider when identifying your target reader is your book's style. Is it written in a formal or informal tone? Is it a serious or a lighthearted read? Knowing the style of your book will help you to understand who would be most drawn to it.

Researching similar books and their target audiences can also be helpful. Look at best-selling books within your genre and see who they are marketed towards. This will give you an idea of the types of readers who enjoy similar books to yours. Reviews of these books can provide insight into the characteristics of your target audience. By analyzing patterns in book purchases and readership, you can identify the demographics of the people most likely to be interested in your book.

Once you have a clear understanding of your target audience, you can tailor your marketing efforts to reach the right readers. For example, if you know that your target audience is men aged 25-45 who are interested in true crime, you can advertise your book on websites and social media platforms that are popular with that demographic.

If we take the novel Wolf Craigs by Gwen Gates Parker as an example we can break down who is the target reader and how to reach them.

Outline: Wolf Craigs is a psychological thriller that follows a group of people as life in post-Brexit ‘New Britain’ is getting worse. The Union is falling apart, the covid restrictions hurt, the energy crisis has crippled the country as sanctions and suspicions make life grim. Scotland voted out of the Union but New Britain do not want to let go. For ordinary people, life is a grind and there is no way out. Or is there?

Target Reader: Meet Joan, a 48-year-old history and current affairs enthusiast with an interest in political science. She's always been fascinated by the intricacies of political systems and the impact they have on society – and like a lot of people she no longer trusts politicians. Joan's particularly interested in the aftermath of Brexit and the potential consequences it could have on the United Kingdom. She follows news of the war in Ukraine and has wondered how we ever got to this point. When she's not reading up on current events, Joan can be found exploring the Scottish countryside, taking in the beautiful landscapes and rich history of the region. She is concerned about the Scottish independence movement but is undecided on which side she stands. She's also a big fan of contemporary literature and is always on the lookout for thought-provoking and action-packed novels like "Wolf Craigs" that delve into the complexities of political systems and the human experience.

Marketing: Getting into this much detail about the reader allows the author to talk directly to Joan. Here are a few ways you might promote "Wolf Craigs" to someone like Joan:

  1. Start to engage with Joan and people like her on social media – discussing the issues within the book – cost of living crisis, breakdown of the NHS, war, Scottish independence, energy crisis, breakdown of society, political sleaze/greed, the resilience of humans and ability to band together for survival.
  2. Utilize social media platforms to reach out to political science and history enthusiasts, and specifically to those who are interested in Scottish indepence, or Brexit and its aftermath. Make connections and get people interested in what you are saying as an author. (Share your book's cover, a brief summary, and where to buy it in your social media headings so you don’t have to push these).
  3. Create a website or blog (you can use The Book Whisperers Community Platform to do this – and then link people to the articles) discussing the themes of the book and the current political climate in the UK and Scotland, and share it with your target audience.
  4. Reach out to literary review websites and publications that focus on contemporary fiction and political thrillers and offer them a free copy of your book in exchange for a review.
  5. Attend book fairs, conventions, and events that focus on political science and history, and offer to give a talk or a reading from your book.
  6. Try to get interviews with media outlets that focus on current events, politics, and literature to get more visibility for your book.

Remember, the key is to make sure that your book is reaching the people who would be most interested in reading it. By targeting your marketing efforts to political science and history enthusiasts, you'll be able to reach readers like Joan who are eager to learn more about the topic of post-Brexit Britain. Also, by highlighting the book's setting in Scotland, you could attract readers who are interested in Scottish culture and literature.

In conclusion, identifying your target reader is essential for authors as it helps to ensure that you are reaching the right audience and selling your book to the right people. By considering factors such as the genre, subject matter and style of your book, and researching similar books you will be able to develop a clear picture of who your target audience is and how to reach them. This can be the key to a successful marketing strategy and to selling more books.

.oOo.

Wolf Craigs by Gwen Gates Parker

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolf-Craigs-Gwen-Gates-Parker/dp/1909797855

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