BREATHE LIFE INTO YOUR BACKLIST TITLE: Marketing Tips to Move Your Backlist Title to the Forefront by Maria Dismondy

The “backlist.” It sounds like a scary place, doesn’t it? It’s really not! A backlist title just means a published book has been on the shelves for more than six months (while a frontlist title is actively in the promotion).

While you may wish your book could remain on the frontlist indefinitely, there are many reasons why the backlist isn’t a bad place to be. In fact, backlist titles have been called the backbone of a good publisher. Because if enough copies are sold, for a long enough period of time, that backlist book will become a classic.

That’s right, your book isn’t just on the backlist, it’s a classic in the making!

To make the most of your backlist title, put these marketing tips to work for you.

Share: Word of Mouth
One great way to create buzz around your backlist title is to leverage your reviews.

Search online for your positive book reviews, make them into a graphic or a video montage and share your creations on your social media platforms, like Instagram, Facebook or YouTube. Create even more excitement with intriguing introductions to the reviews, like, “Did you hear what “so and so” said about this book? Find out!”

A Reason to Read: The Power of a Reader’s Guide
Did you know educators and book clubs are more likely to use your book if you provide supporting documentation?

Create a reader’s guide with discussion questions or lesson plans for the appropriate grade level to use in the classroom. Offer these guides and additional material as free downloads on your website.  Learn more about reader guides from SCBWI-MI member Deb Gonzales in this Mitten blog post.

Reader guides created by Deb Gonzales: http://www.debbiegonzales.com/guides/

Cover Couture: Refresh Your Look
One of the easiest ways to market your backlist title is to refresh your cover. This can be done when working with your publisher as you move from a hardcover copy to softcover.

Or, think outside the box and hire a designer to take interior images and create marketing materials to use on social media. So simple, yet so impactful!

Hot Topics: Make the Connection 
When it comes to your backlist title, front page news is your best friend. Search for hot topics in the news that relate to your book and play them up to your advantage.

One of our books us a nice example of this, The Little Linebacker by Stephen Tulloch and Maria Dismondy, has a strong theme of determination woven throughout the story. A hot topic in schools today is the Growth Mindset concept. We connected our story to this trendy topic and educated parents and teachers on how they can use our book to teach mindset skills to kids.

Community: Reach Out & Make a Difference 
Libraries and community centers are always looking for outreach programs.  Think outside of the box and come up with something to offer your community.

For example, let’s say you’ve written a middle grade novel about teen depression. Reach out to a local expert in the field, such as a child psychologist or therapist, and design a talk for parents and educators on the topic. Use examples from your book throughout the talk and consider selling the book after the presentation.

Award-winning author and founder of the publishing company, Cardinal Rule Press, Maria Dismondy inspires and educates others in the book industry. Her background in early education and research enables her to touch lives the world over while touring as a public speaker in schools, community forums, and at national conferences. When Maria isn’t working, she can be found embarking on adventures throughout southeast Michigan and beyond, where she lives with her husband and three book-loving children. Find out more about Maria’s coaching services: maria@mariadismondy.com









Coming up on the Mitten blog: Researching and writing historical fiction, an interview with one of our SCBWI-MI novel mentors, the resonant roar of quiet stories, and more about the 4 Out The Door Illustrator Postcard Program.

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Thanks to everyone who entered our recent SCBWI-MI Writing Contest. The winner will be announced soon!

Save the date for the SCBWI-MI Spring Conference, May 5th! Registration opens March 15th.

https://michigan.scbwi.org/2018/02/10/unearth-your-funny-bone-a-humor-writing-workshop/