Launching your new eBook is an exciting time. When Andy Weir first launched The Martian as an eBook in 2011 there was no way he could have predicted just how successful it would end up being. If you are a self-publisher, chances are you are envious of Weir’s success and are wondering how to replicate what he did.
If you are looking for secrets to his success, look no further than his successful novel The Martian. Hidden within his captivating book are many lessons that authors can apply for a successful eBook launch. In this post I will discuss six lessons you can learn from The Martian to have a wildly successful eBook launch of your own.
1. Prepare Long Before Your Launch
Imagine if Mark Watney and his crew had waited until launch day to begin preparing. Most astronauts spend their entire adult lives preparing for one launch and even then things go wrong. In The Martian, Watney and his crew consistently displayed their immense preparation and this preparation ultimately allowed them to all return to earth alive. Now, launching your eBook is certainly not as daunting a task as navigating deep space, but you should take your pre-launch preparations seriously. Six months before you launch your eBook you should begin planning. Who will your first reader be? Where will your eBook be available for purchase? At what price will you be selling it? Prepare before you launch and you will be much more successful.2. Take Advantage of Your Resources
When Mark Watney woke up on Mars alone, he had a HAB designed to last 31 days and resources that were not meant to last much longer. With no way to contact earth and deserted on a barren planet, Watney was facing a grim predicament. Instead of complaining about what he did not have, he got to work taking advantage of everything he did have. Most self-published authors can relate to this feeling. Ok, maybe not exactly, but self-published authors do know a thing or two about making the most of the resources they have. You may not have a massive marketing budget or access to the top experts to help with the development and distribution of your eBook, but just like Andy Weir you can have a successful eBook launch nonetheless.3. Create A Way To Communicate With The World
One of the early turning points in The Martian is when Watney discovers a way to communicate with NASA. Once he is able to get Pathfinder back online, he makes contact with NASA and is able to begin discussing the survival plan with them. Your ability to communicate is crucial for a successful eBook launch. On earth communication is much easier, so you will not need a Ph.D to figure it out. There is no right or wrong way to communicate with your audience, but a few effective methods are:- Email Newsletter
- Personal Blog
- Social Media
- Podcast
- Speaking Engagements
- Guest Posting
- Old-Fashioned Letters
- Networking Events
4. Find People Willing To Help Your Cause
After a failed attempt to send supplies to Watney, NASA was left without another rocket to send into space and not enough time to build one capable of the journey. Luckily NASA was able to find someone to help their cause, the Chinese. With the help of their rocket, the Taiyang Shen, NASA was able to get supplies to Watney’s crew and restore hope in a successful return to Earth for Watney. Unless you have been living on Mars for the past few years, you have most likely heard of influencer marketing and the how partnering with the right influencers can make all the difference. Leveraging influencer marketing for your eBook launch is simple, find individuals with a dedicated audience similar to the readers you are hoping to connect with and ask them to talk about your book. The influencers you find will be your Taiyang Shen, the added help you need to lift off and never look back. Finding the right influencers is important, so focus on relevance more than quantity. Begin the process of identifying and engaging with influencers at least 6 months prior to your eBook launch. Doing so will ensure that you have an army of influencers willing to help you get your eBook the early exposure it needs to be a great success.5. Cut The Dead Weight
When it comes time to leave Mars for good and rendezvous with his crew, Watney is forced to launch into space in a MAV stripped down to the bare essentials. Removing all non-essential weight allows him to reach space in a spacecraft that was never meant to be able to travel that far.
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