How To Conduct eBook Market Research On a Limited Budget

You have a great eBook idea that you think will take the world by storm. Before you even put pen to paper (or fingers to keypad), ask yourself this question: have I conducted market research?


I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I am fairly certain that your idea isn't new and there is probably an eBook out there already with a similar topic. It doesn't make sense to just sit down and write your book without first conducting market research: WHO will read your book and does your book topic have marketing potential? 


Here are ten FREE market research resources I suggest using: 


1. Use search engines - search for keywords that pertain to your topic and look at page rank popularity based on the topic and/or book title.

2. Check out your competition - What eBooks are selling? Is your genre/topic far too popular? Not popular enough?

3. Take advantage of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Industry Digital Publishing Forumwhen researching target markets and their demographics.

4. Who's following who on social media? Connect with fellow eBook writers on social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. How many followers do they have? Is their topic a big seller? What strategies do they use or don't use on their social media?

5. Read industry-specific articles. It's important to stay on top of late-breaking news in the publishing industry, and eBooks are a HOT topic right now. Check out http://www.teleread.com/

6. Join forums and discussion groups, and find out what eBook readers want and don't want. LinkedIn has eBook and digital publishing groups so don't forget to check them out.

7. Don't forget to check out Kindle and eBook sales stats. What books and genres sell? What are the most popular (and most sold) eBooks on Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and Sony?

8. Conduct a poll or survey on your social media networks, website or blog. Go directly to the source, and ask your followers/fans what topics interest them.

9. Don't forget international markets. If you want to target people outside of your country, make sure your book topic appeals to an international demographic. Do you speak another language? Could you translate your book into another language? Check out customs and cultures. Not all eBook topics are a good fit for an international audience.

10. Don't limit yourself to just online resources. Visit local bookstores and check out what's selling. What's popular today could be a passing fancy by next month. Stay on top of the latest trends and fads. Vampires may be yesterday's news by the holidays - you never know!

Before you start writing, research first. The topic you choose may not be the best eBook topic, and why waste your valuable time writing an eBook that doesn't have marketing or sales potential? If you want to write an eBook to further promote yourself and give it away as a freebie, that's an excellent way to draw attention to your brand and bring in new clientele. Just remember to research your topic first!

Book Marketing Tip #1: How To Handle Negative Online Criticism

After you write and publish a book, it seems like friends, family and colleagues come out of the woodwork. Hopefully, they send along kudos and congratulations. However, there are those curmudgeons who take it upon themselves to put down your successes and efforts. Unfortunately, negativity goes with the book marketing territory.

I tend to ignore the Negative Nellies and Neils of the world, but sometimes you have to fight fire with fire -- in a positive way.

My number one suggestion to authors who handle their own marketing is to make sure you have a solid online presence. Maintain a strong author brand that stands out in an engaging way. You don't need to spend thousands on a website, but make sure your site is filled with positive book reviews and testimonials -- that's the best place to start.

The BEST way to handle negative criticism on the internet is to counterbalance with positive press and reviews. If you sell your book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble, check customer book reviews on a daily basis and respond immediately to negative attacks. If appropriate, I recommend including links in your comments -- directing people back to your website, positive book reviews, etc. 

Remember to be respectful and courteous, even if you disagree with the person's negative comments. Everyone loves to be a critic, and people love drama. Just don't give into the drama and remain level-headed and leave your emotions out of the equation. I've had my share of online attacks and criticism, and the storm eventually passes -- people become bored and find another target. 

The reality is that NOT everyone in the world is going to love your bok. People love to state their opinions (both good and bad), so be prepared for whatever comes your way. Don't wallow in other people's negativity. I have seen this happen often with self-published authors. They become frustrated, throw in the marketing towel, and give up altogether.  They take the criticism to heart and go into hiding. 

Remember to consistently stay on top of your online reputation, and you will be ten steps ahead of your book marketing...and the negative naysayers!