Publicize Your Nomination and Award (Without Bragging): Bookselling Strategies

Being nominated for and/or receiving an award is an exciting accomplishment. It feels good to have your hard work and dedication recognised by prestigious organisations. Even more significant is the fact that, if properly publicised, nomination and award can serve as effective marketing tools.

You can (and should) share the news of your book’s accolades on your website, social media, email newsletter, and other customer touchpoints to ensure that your audience is aware.

The foundational ways are:

a. Sending an email and,

b. Posting the news on Facebook and other social media platforms, but there are other ways to promote your accomplishments.

c. Brand your marketing materials, website, and social profiles. This will help create a cohesive and professional image that showcases your book’s accolades. By indicating, ‘2023 nomination for African Christian Book Award’ you show others the book’s milestones. These can interest others to have a look at your book.

Include the award logo (when you get awarded) or mention the nomination in your email signature, and consider creating a dedicated landing page on your website to showcase your book’s achievements. Everyone wants to be associated with winning.

An example from renown authors include:

-New York’s Best Seller – This is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States since October 12, 1931.
-Sold a million copies world wide
-Translated into 10 languages worldwide etc

You can include:
-With permission, used by XYZ church for a 5-months campaign
-Adapted into Kenyan Set Books Curriculum for High School
-Now available as a podcast
-Now available as program
-Adapted into a play, movie, etc

If you take time to think of it, your book has achieved something you can let your readers know about. And if not yet achieved, strategise on one thing you can achieve each year and do it.

d. Media feature. You should consider reaching out to local media outlets or industry influencers to feature your nomination/award in articles or interviews or seek guest blog opportunities, thus increasing the visibility and credibility of your book.

e. Create engaging and shareable content related to your nomination/award, such as behind-the-scenes footage or interviews with key people involved. This can help generate buzz and attract even more attention from your audience and potential readers.

f. Experiment with the art of going live. Try sharing your exciting news with your readers, fans, and followers in real time. Include them in your special moment. This is now possible with minimal investment due to the benefits of technological access we have. With a standard phone and lighting, you can achieve much more.

Tips:
i. Have your phone on landscape (as opposed to portrait)

ii. Have good lighting. Use outdoor if you don’t have sufficient lighting indoors

iii. Be in a quiet environment – sometimes shooting in specifics time of the day may work better ie early morning depending on your circumstances

iv. Don’t worry if you have to retake the same video so many times. Professionalism comes with exercise (by reason of use principle in Hebrews 5:14)

v. Don’t worry if the quality is not what you would want to have. The strength is in doing, get your bus moving- then resources and destiny connectors will find you along the way. The Bible calls them days of little beginnings that should not be despised (Zechariah 4:10)

vi. If content is king then consistency is queen. This is easier said than done but if you put yourself accountable to a group of people, you will get it done.