Indie authors can use paid social media marketing to promote their books over a longer period of time while continuing to reach new readers. By following new trends in social media and properly managing their marketing budgets, indie authors are able to market both new and older titles. Education is important to avoid being overwhelmed by the many aspects of paid social media marketing.

1. Social Media Marketing
Final Project
Karen Schober
SOM-702-MB900 August 2021
Independent Authors and
their Utilization of Paid
Social Media Marketing

2. Issue Indie Authors and Social Media
Indie Authors, and Authors, in general,
need to promote their work for any kind
of financial success. Using social media
marketing, they can use these tools to
reaching their goals.
Years ago, in the "golden age" of Indie
Authors could use social media to find
and connect with their readers. Now, it
has become imperative that they need
to "pay to play" to have the same
success.

3. Trends
Trend 1
Indie Authors use paid
social media to
promote their books
and target the reach
to prospective
readers.
Trend 2
Indie Authors are able
to use rising trends in
social media and be
creative with their
marketing activities.
Trend 3
Indie Authors can
continue to market
their older books while
still promoting newer
ones.

4. Tranditional
Publishing Old School, Old Techniques
Sales teams promote books to physical book
stores. Limited marketing to the readers.
Copyright
The author sells the rights of the book to the
Publisher. After that, the Publisher has full
control of the book but still requires the author
to participate in marketing of it.
Royalties
With the ownership of the copyright in
the hands of the publisher, the
author's royalties are significantly
lower than Indie Authors.

5. Indie
Publishing
Copyright
The author owns the copyright but is responsible
for everything about the book. From production to
marketing
Embrace Ebooks Early
Indie Authors embraced ebooks when Amazon
made them accessible. Lower production costs and
higher per-book royalties.
Access to Professional Designers
Due to the consolidation of traditional
publishers, the number of professional
designers has increased for Indie Authors
to create professional-looking books.

6. Paid Social
Media
Marketing
Budget Friendly
Wide reach for a low per-person cost. Less
than print or TV advertising
Learning Curve
Many choices and easy for new Indie
Authors to get overwhelmed.
Community of Authors
Experienced Indie Authors share knowledge
with newer ones as part of an author tribe.

7. Traditional
Publishing
Indie
Authors
Decline in proits
Focus on print and physical stores
Mergers of companies, not
industrial growth.
Easy to pivot with changing trends.
Significaly higher royalties
Focus on online purchases

8. Growing
Trends
Ebooks
Growth in ebooks, especially with Covid-19
lockdown and emerging countries' use of
smartphones.
Paid Social Media
Smart use of smaller budgets and connect
directly with prospective readers.
Longevity
Indie Authors have smaller catalogues than
Traditional Publishers. They are able to
continue to market both new and older
books.

9. Expert
Interview
Embracing Indie Author Marketing
Innovation in marketing techniques.
Learning Curve
Need to spend time learning platforms
Issues of going Indie
Sensory Overload
Lack of organization
Treating publishing as a business
Strength of Indie Authors
Connecting with readers directly
Sense of authenticity
Able to blend organic material with
targeted (paid) programs.
Steven Spatz
President of BookBaby

10. Expert
Interview
Non Paid Marketing For Indies
Must keep sale pages and keywords up to date
Keeping marketing materials fresh
The Future for Indies
New Social Media Platforms
Content Creation
Keep it simple and clever
Steven Spatz
President of BookBaby

11. Summary
Use of growing trends and being consistant to reach Indie Publishing Goals
Indie Authors can
use paid social media
marketing to market
their books over a
longer period of time
while continuing to
reach new readers.
Ability to follow new
trends in social media
and good use of the
marketing budget.
Education will keep
the Indie Author from
getting overwhelmed
with all the aspects of
paid social media
marketing.

12. The
Future
Indie Authors are creative people - from the book to
the marketing.
Smaller means they can adapt to changes as they come
along.
Indie Authors are gaining credibility in the publishing
world.
Ability to experiment with newer platforms and
techniques.
Access to professional designers for professional and
competitive results.
Freedom and control over every aspect of the book
and marketing plan.

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