| cans are reading less. That's the conclusion of a | | | | pursue? The clearer you can be, the easier it will |
| recent study by the National Endowment for the | | | | be for you to bring this person to mind. You can |
| Arts. It's a follow up to an NEA survey that found | | | | even give them a name--maybe you're writing for |
| an increasing number of adult Americans were | | | | an Audrey, a Matthew or a Chandra. |
| not even reading one book a year. This | | | | Where Will You Find Them? |
| information can be depressing, especially if you've | | | | Once you know your reader, where can you find |
| been spending all your precious time writing a | | | | them so you can put your book in front of them? |
| book. Are you creating something that no one will | | | | Remember, it doesn't have to be the usual |
| ever read? Not necessarily. If you have crafted | | | | channels. If you've written a book on wellness and |
| your book and planned your marketing | | | | nutrition, your book doesn't have to be in a |
| properly,these statistics will NOT apply to you! | | | | Borders or a Barnes & Noble to find your |
| Here's why. The majority of the public doesn't | | | | reader. It might be easier to find them in a yoga |
| read. But the majority of the public is not your | | | | studio or a health food store. If you write for |
| audience! Think in terms of the 80/20 rule: 20 | | | | entrepreneurs, you could find them in a Staples, |
| percent of a group will most likely provide 80 | | | | an Office Max or in airport bookstores. You can |
| percent of your business. Your job is to make | | | | do joint ventures with other authors or |
| sure you're targeting--and finding-- your people, | | | | entrepreneurs who have lists full or your ideal |
| your 20 percent. | | | | readers. Be creative here. The only limit is your |
| Who Is Your Target Reader? | | | | imagination. |
| Some writers have trouble thinking in terms of | | | | Don't Forget International Markets |
| "audience" because it seems like a vast faceless | | | | Remember, the NEA study only covered the |
| mass. So instead thinking of your target audience, | | | | United States, which means there can be many, |
| think of your target reader--one person. This can | | | | many readers waiting for you all over the world. |
| be someone real or someone you've idealized in | | | | If your book is sold in the internet, your book is |
| your mind. When I was writing my first novel, I | | | | available everywhere. You can also use webinars, |
| had one of my co-workers at People magazine | | | | chatrooms and blogs to make your book tour a |
| be my first line reader because I felt she | | | | globetrotting event, all from the comfort of your |
| embodied my target market. When I wrote, I | | | | home. |
| kept her in mind as though I were sitting in her | | | | Keep in mind that sales and audiences have |
| office telling her the story word for word. | | | | dropped in many areas and industries: television, |
| When you think of your reader, ask yourself | | | | movies, houses, cars, baked goods. Does that |
| many questions. How old is the person? Where do | | | | mean they stop making these items entirely? No! |
| they live? Where do they work? Are they | | | | They just know they have to do things |
| married or single? With children or without? Do | | | | differently. The same goes in the book world. Go |
| they live in the city, country or suburbs? Where | | | | find the different way that works for you. |
| do they shop? What kinds of activities do they | | | | |