How to Mass Market an E-book on Craigslist

Handheld multimedia devices such as smartphones, e-readers and pad computers make it possible for consumers to amass libraries of books to read on the go. Whether you are a new or accomplished author, online book retailers allow you to upload your writings and set your own prices, thus feeding the demand for digital content. The sheer number of authors selling e-books, however, necessitates the need for strong marketing campaigns that can be accomplished at a low cost or for free on classified ad websites such as Craigslist.

Instructions

1. Start a blog to advertise your e-book. You can start a blog on a blogging platform for free and purchase a customized domain name for $25 or less. Write an engaging blog post about your book, about a subject related to your book or about yourself. Writer John Locke recommends crafting a blog post that you can use for several months to market your e-book. You can also upload Pod casts, videos and photographs on your blog to add interest. Place links to your e-book sales page at, or near, the top of your blog, known as "above the fold," to attract reader attention.

2. Identify your target market. Craigslist allows users to interact in discussion forums, on community bulletin boards and through classified ads. Browse each relevant category to identify users who might be interested in your e-book. It may take time to identify your target market in Craigslist's discussion forums, given the "anything goes" nature of the discourse.

3. Engage your target market. Place links to your website in your signature and participate in Craigslist discussions by posting responses in relevant threads. Provide insightful, polite responses to posts to attract attention. Mention that you are a writer of an e-book when asked. Avoid hard-selling your e-book, which may turn off some Craigslist users. Because of the vast number of Craigslist users you need to reach to sell your book, you should participate in the discussion forums on a regular basis to get noticed.

4. Follow up with Craigslist users who respond to your discussion forum and bulletin board posts. Answer private messages promptly, provide your email address and a blog link to those who express interest, and ask them to join your mailing list. Offer responders free copies of your e-book in exchange for posting reviews on Craigslist and on your sales website. Although you should not inundate responders who become your fans with content, you should follow up periodically to let them know about awards and achievements that your e-book receives and to thank them for their business.

Tips & Warnings

• Although placing a classified ad for your e-book on Craigslist may not yield more than a few sales, you should do so periodically because the service is free.

• Follow Craigslist rules when participating in discussion forums. Additionally, Craigslist prohibits users from reposting classified ads before they expire. Doing so could result in your ad content being deleted and your website privileges being revoked, according to Craiglist's terms of use website.

References

• Marketing Shortcuts for the Self-Employed; Patrick Schwerdtfeger
• Déją New Marketing: Increase Sales with Social Media; John Bradley Jackson
• How I Sold 1 Million eBooks in 5 Months; John Locke
• Craigslist: Terms of Use