According to a recent blog written by David Gaughran, word of mouth advertising is not only the best form of advertising, it's also the cheapest! Fellow authors and other creative folk out there, think about this! With the internet, blogging, facebook, twitter, etc., we now have direct avenues to fans of our work like no previous generation in history. We don't have to spend a fortune to reach potential customers.
Yes, websites cost money, as does webvertising, but much of what we can do online is free of cost, so why not utilize it to the max? This isn't always easy to do---I know because I've tried. Simply finding/ getting into a discussion group can be frustrating, but if you do manage to get a foot in the door, so to speak, you have a ready-made audience. Just make sure to target them appropriately.
One of the secrets to word of mouth advertising I've found is to start with the people who know you and your work---your friends, your family, co-workers, the people you are in contact with on facebook, etc. If they like you and enjoy what you do, you have a team in place eager to advertise your "product", whatever that may be.
Whether you like or dislike something, it's human nature to "spread the word". And as David points out, people are much more likely to take advice on reading, music, etc. from someone they know and trust. That's why I always ask my readers, if they like my book, to recommend it to others.
This strategy may take a while to produce results, since it's also human nature to put off doing things, even pleasant things, like reading a good book or seeing a good movie. We're all guilty of doing that. But keep on plugging and don't give up. Hopefully, all your efforts will pay off eventually---and not in a purely monetary way. ( If you want to get rich, DON'T become a writer! )
Keep on WOMing!
MRTighe
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