~ Claudia Kwantini
Interactive displays. What are they? And why should you as a friend author consider using them as a marketing strategy? Well, simply put, interactive displays are a type of display that allows potential consumers to get a feel of the product before they commit to it. It is fun and engaging and gives a sense of trust and familiarity with the consumer.
Marketing plays one of the most important roles when it comes to selling our products and putting on an interactive display can help with engagement, retention and understanding of the product. In this case your book. It is fun for both the customer as well as you, the author and can be a memorable experience for the customer. So, now we're going to talk about how we can use interactive displays to the best of our abilities.
BOOK COVERS:
Book covers are an amazing way to hook anyone. So, yes, it's true, people do judge books by their covers and you can take full advantage of that.
Play with your cover, and let readers be able to see the depths of what is on it. Add fun little details and clues right on the cover. Like those, 'find the item' games or just some mysteries that tie in with the story. Do use social media to find other players and the winner can get a free copy of your book or something else that fits with your book's theme.
People love playing and interacting with games and they also love free giveaways, so it's a two bird one stone kind of deal. You get people spreading your hashtag and in return get marketing. It's a genius idea.
SYNOPSIS:
For those who don't know, an interactive synopsis is a written summary of your book, but unlike a regular synopsis, you can click on it to reveal interactive elements. It could be anything from audio, video, and pictures that tell a deeper story than just the summary itself.
It is a fun concept that not many people have experienced before so this alone would make your work stand out. It is engaging and creates lots of opportunities to be discussed and shared as it gets people talking.
BOOK REVIEWS:
Ah, book reviews, don't you just love them? As an author, it is an amazing feeling to see that people loved your work, and even if they've left some constructive feedback, it may hurt a little but you know it only grows you as a writer.
And, as readers, we tend to be very sceptic if a book has no reviews. Good or bad. And we depend on these reviews before we devote ourselves to it.
So, why not make reviews interactive? Why not link each review back to the source and have readers give feedback on that review and rate its helpfulness? If it was helpful at all, it opens a discussion with readers and in many cases, one reader viewed something different from the other and there would be a great place to speak in it.
AUTHOR REVIEWS:
Have interactive author reviews, where readers can click on words and phrases that connect to a review you have already left on the book. Or, do it in reverse, where readers can click on the author's reviews to see how that impacted the story.
GAMES AND PUZZLES:
Games and puzzles are an incredible way to have your readers engage and interact with you, each other and the book itself.
You can create mini-games to keep them interested in the storylines or use interactive games to see what the book would have been like in another character's POV. Doesn't that already sound great?
QUIZZES:
It's time to win some prizes or get a random shout-out, no? If you're looking for an exhilarating way to get your readers hooked and engaged, why not try quizzes?
I think I speak for us all when I say, 'Everyone loves quizzes?'
You can find out who is the biggest fan of your book through quizzes. You can also find out which reader is more like which character and if you like, you can even make an author-related quiz. Who knows, maybe your writers have gathered lots of information about you already?
But yes, test the reader's knowledge of the book, the characters and whatever else you can think of.
AUDIO:
Have an audiobook version where readers can interact with and have placed at different points throughout the book. This could add an extra immersion to the story.
These are just some ways authors can use interactive displays to engage the reader. But what is an effective way of using interactive displays?
INTERACTIVE VIRTUAL TOURS:
It's time to set a date and take your readers on a virtual book tour. Don't you think? Maybe you've thought about doing this or maybe you have no idea what it is, so what exactly can you do?
Have Q&As, interactive readings, and meet and greets. I'm sure it would mean a lot to your readers and I mean as an author you probably can't wait to talk about your book. You have been writing it for months, years even. So, take a break from all the hard work and just be there for your readers.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Everyone and their grandmothers are on social media, and most of us hold our phones so yes, social media is a powerful tool. Use it as a means to interact with your readers, and have them interact on ideas about your book.
Ask them questions now and then about the characters, storylines and more. Pick their brains and find out what they liked most and what they disliked most, that is especially useful if you're looking to create a sequel. Make use of polls and surveys.
AUTHOR WEBSITE:
Yes, your author's website could be used as an interactive display. Include interactive elements to your website, like a clickable map of your story's locations or add short stories, a chapter dedicated to all your characters.
BOOK CLUBS:
Host virtual book clubs where the author and readers can engage with one another and with the author. Use interactive displays to host live discussions or online forums to create a dialogue of the book.
Overall, interactive displays are a valuable tool for authors looking to market their work. It creates a more engaging and memorable experience for the consumer, helps with retention and differentiation, and allows for more creativity in marketing strategies. So why not give it a try? Your readers (and your sales) might just thank you for it.