“Horror novels do not help you lose 10 pounds, run faster, or earn more money; therefore, how can I promote them online?”
This question has been posed by dozens of fiction writers, particularly horror authors.
It can be difficult to come up with innovative ways to sell your book, even the best horror books at times, besides repeatedly encouraging people to “purchase it.”
In light of this, here are the top five pieces of effective advice recommended for horror authors to help them promote their thrillers creatively.
- Make sure to introduce a cliffhanger. Whether it’s a Kindle sample or a downloaded PDF, provide the first chapter of your mystery or scary stories book for free, but make sure it finishes on a cliffhanger. You want them to buy on impulse to find out what happens next. Hook the reader immediately at the start of the novel, if probable.
- Take your readers along for the ride. Max Barry authored his book page by page and distributed it to an email group. He used the input he received from readers as the first draught of his novel Machine Man. This point stresses the importance of involving your supporters throughout. All good horror books do that.
- Craft short scary stories. A lot of publishers have collaborated with horror authors to publish short scary stories to tell in the dark. Brent Weeks has published a 96-page E-book based on one of the protagonists from his renowned Night Angel trilogy. What if you wrote and released a handful of short stories at incredibly low prices to generate interest in your lengthier works? This is how you get the reader hit the “BUY NOW” button.
- Keep writing. J.A. Konrath and Frank Behr are two highly successful self-published authors who consistently offer the same piece of advice and write more novels. And in the case of the thriller/horror genre, write more horror novels. In a world where Amazon.com accounts for more than 90 percent of online book sales, you must ensure that there are many books accessible for purchase. Think about a one-time buyer can be converted into a repeat customer.
- Build an email list. Invite your readers to join your email list so that you may stay in touch with them and inform them of new releases as they become available. This is the number one approach to constructing a foundation that will carry you far into the future.
To Sum It Up
When you distribute a PDF sample of your best horror books of all time, ensure that the last page includes your bio, book blurbs, and links to purchase the book immediately.
Use these techniques to get creative with your web marketing for your thrillers and horror novels, and your sales will witness a massive rise in the charts.