As a hopeless romantic reader always in search of another great book to read, I know what it’s like to struggle in the journey to finding yet another book.
But we live in an age where finding books has never been easier. With the power of the internet right at our fingertips, we can now search and discover new novels from the comfort of our own bed. The beauty of online book searches is that we can tailor our results to fit our specific interests. Whether we’re in the mood for historical, paranormal, or contemporary romance, there’s a book out there waiting!
So what then is the journey of romance reader when they’re searching for another romance book?
Understanding Your Reader’s Buying Journey to Finding a Book to Read to Update Your Content Marketing Strategy
If you remember what it took to find that perfect book, you’ll remember it’s a process. Sometimes you could walk right into a bookstore and find a book within seconds. Other times, it has taken hours, days and maybe even weeks to find that book you’re willing to spend your time on.
As a romance author, it’s your job to understand this process, to remember this journey. This journey of a romance book being discovered, evaluated, purchased, and shared. So then it becomes YOUR book that your reader finds, buys and reads.
Why? Because when you understand your reader’s buying journey to finding that perfect romance book to read, you’ll be able to update and optimize your content marketing strategy to be the book that gets found.
You know that the journey your reader is on doesn’t end with them buying your book. You want your reader to stay engaged beyond your story, and come back again and again for more.
And this is where your content marketing plays a crucial role. Yes, you read it right. Content Marketing.
Let’s dive into your reader’s journey from that initial search for a book to capturing and keeping their attention with exciting and compelling content about all your current and future books.
Discovery and Finding Stage
The first step in a readers’ journey is the, sometimes, intense search for another book to read.
This is where we’ll use the specific keywords of the type of book we want to read and head to our preferred search engine to find a book that resonates with us.
This could be on Amazon, Goodreads, Google or even Youtube. There are soooo many book bloggers out there that just love to share recommendations for us to check out.
It’s during this stage that you, as a romance author, can make sure your book is the first, the most visible to potential readers.
Update and Optimize Website
Your potential reader has discovered your book. Now, it’s time to win them over with your content. And that starts with your website. Optimize your website in a way that makes it easily discoverable. There are several ways to do this.
- Firstly, have an author website with your name as the domain. This will help your readers easily find all your books and connect with you.
- Second, include an author blog page to show your readers your interests and showcase your writing. This is also an opportunity to share how you did things and why you did them.
- Finally, use SEO (search engine optimization) practices such as using keywords and meta descriptions in your website to help rank it higher in the search engine.
Evaluate and Comparing Stage
Once your reader finds a book, we might spend hours evaluating its contents and comparing that book to similar books we’re already familiar with.
Or we could take literally 3 seconds to make a decision.
This is where we’re reading reviews on Amazon or Goodreads. Where we’re diving deep into some book bloggers website to find out more information about your book.
This is also where we come to your website to see what else you have to offer. And if you’ve already added extra content to your website, we just might stick around.
Additional Content Builds Trust
At this point, there’s a good chance your reader is considering buying your book. To give them that little push that might help them buy (or read) your book, consider adding website extras (free content) for your reader to see, read or watch on your book and book series pages.
These extras could be bonus chapters, book trailers, free downloads, or graphics. Content your readers can check out on your website anytime, anywhere.
Additionally, you can add an Author blog to your website. This blog can be filled with informational articles to give readers a sneak peek into parts of your story and how your book came to be.
This can also be a place where your readers can “see” into your life and what makes you tick as an author and a person.
Both of these types of content ideas are great ways to build trust with your readers and continue to arouse their curiosity even when you’re not there.
Purchasing and Consuming Stage
After evaluating and comparing different story option, reading reviews, and talking with friends, us readers will finally decide which book we want to read. And because many of us readers are pretty clever, we might have read your book without buying it!!
Because your time is just as precious as mine, we might need more to be convinced to spend our time in your book. Coming to your space to find out what type of author you are is a step many readers will think of doing. Having sample stories, deleted scenes, or bonus scenes offered on your website would give me a chance to read some of your writing.
Please know that if you’ve done your work and created a marvelous romance book that gives me the chills, then we just might stick around long enough to check out what else you’ve got! As an author, this is an opportunity for you.
Your Job Is Not Done!
Congratulations! Your reader has read your book. Whether or not your readers have actually bought your book or just read it, your job is not over.
They may have enjoyed your book, but do you want them to stop there? No, right? There are a handful of marketing techniques you can do:
- Cross-marketing your other books is the key now. And for the readers who’re interested, package your books together with interesting discounts.
- Offer readers exclusive content they’ll only get if they sign up to your email list.
- Share tantalizing teasers of upcoming books or characters to get readers interested in these other books.
This is where you, as the author, need to be persuasive but not annoying. Continuing to offer interesting and compelling content can not only help your reader to read more of your books but also buy more.
Loyalty and Retention Stage
A reader doesn’t read just one book! That’s not possible! So after we’ve read your book (whether we’ve purchased or not), we’re coming back again and again looking for more, especially when we like you!
This is where you can wow your readers with extra content that is soooo compelling and interesting that we’re dying to read another one of your books.
This is where you can offer extra content that encourages us to check out your other books that we couldn’t get anywhere else.
Build Your Readership with Loyal Fans
Your reader is now loyal. They love your books and will read anything you have to offer. Imagine their delight when they find not only exclusive content but also fun and engaging content amongst your stuff online.
This is where you should be offering extras that encourage, entice, enlighten and excite. Consider these ideas:
- Create a “behind-the-scenes” section on your book page with website extras your readers can easily see, read or watch to help them understand more about your book.
- Offer exclusive content that you don’t offer anywhere else unless your reader is on your email list.
- Invite your readers to be a part of an exclusive group. We love to part of the “in” crowd and receive content for being a part of this!
- Create an Author Blog and writing informational articles about how your book came to be and what life was like as you wrote each book.
- Take your writing to a whole new level and start teaching an avenue of the writing process to a segment of readers that want to learn more about this.
Sharing and Advocacy Stage
And finally, after we’ve finished reading your book, and we’ve liked it, we’ll want to share it with everyone who’s willing to listen. And if you’ve done your job right, we’ll share your book long before you ask us to!
We’ll want to start conversations about your characters or your setting and world or the plot. And we’ll have convos with just about anybody, but if there’s someone who knows your book too, that’ll be the one we choose to talk to!!
Continue to Nurture
When your readers loves your book so much that they share it with their friends and family, you’ve hit the jackpot. But can you do something to encourage this sharing?
Yes, you can!
Offer exclusive content to readers who engage in discussions, or write reviews on your website. You can also connect with fellow readers. The more you engage with and reward your advocates, the better it is for your brand and book sales.
Remember, the more your book is shared, the more potential readers will be exposed to it. And what better way to sell your book than to have your already established readers share!
Conclusion
Knowing and understanding the reader’s buyer journey to finding and reading a romance book is crucial to capturing and keeping their attention.
From the initial search to the final review, it’s important to keep your book visible and unique, keep your readers engaged with your brand and ensure they come back for more.
By providing exclusive content, cross-marketing, and encouraging engagement, romance authors can use these techniques to keep readers interested in your books and create a tribe of passionate and loyal fans.
What’s Next…
Go back and make sure your Author Business is set up and running. Remember to create the content you’ll need for your author business.
Remember that your website will need the essential pages. Get the FREE checklist here.