The Qatari Forum for Authors has highlighted the importance of book marketing at a session of an authors’ roundtable that saw the participation of several forum members.
At the opening of the session, Qatari author Jamal Fayez stressed the importance of marketing the literary product and the need to change the common thought that the writer's work ends as soon as his book is published.
He said that there are many elements that the writer has to take into account during the marketing process.
Dr Zakaria Matar discussed the importance of the marketing process as a science.
He noted the importance of differentiating between traditional and e-book marketing, the importance of market study and identifying the nature of the intended audience (target market), and for the writer or marketing specialist to be forward-looking and have the ability to predict market needs.
Dr Dhafer Darkoshi explained the need to focus on the quality of the cultural product and its access to the media.
Writer Sondos al-Shawi highlighted the challenges faced during the marketing process, in particular the financial ones, as they tend to be expensive in case of paid advertisements.
She stressed the importance of choosing the title and the cover-page carefully as they are the first means to attract the reader and marketing of the book.
Al-Shawi also stressed the importance of choosing topics that discuss current and community issues, as well as specialisation in the fields of writing.
Writer Awatef Abdul Rahman discussed the role of social media in marketing literary works.
For his part, Qatari Forum for Authors programme director Saleh Gharib stressed the importance of the role played by publishing houses in Qatar in promoting Qatari books through Arab and international book fairs.
He called on writers to publish their work through various media channels and social media and not to depend totally on publishing houses.
At the opening of the session, Qatari author Jamal Fayez stressed the importance of marketing the literary product and the need to change the common thought that the writer's work ends as soon as his book is published.
He said that there are many elements that the writer has to take into account during the marketing process.
Dr Zakaria Matar discussed the importance of the marketing process as a science.
He noted the importance of differentiating between traditional and e-book marketing, the importance of market study and identifying the nature of the intended audience (target market), and for the writer or marketing specialist to be forward-looking and have the ability to predict market needs.
Dr Dhafer Darkoshi explained the need to focus on the quality of the cultural product and its access to the media.
Writer Sondos al-Shawi highlighted the challenges faced during the marketing process, in particular the financial ones, as they tend to be expensive in case of paid advertisements.
She stressed the importance of choosing the title and the cover-page carefully as they are the first means to attract the reader and marketing of the book.
Al-Shawi also stressed the importance of choosing topics that discuss current and community issues, as well as specialisation in the fields of writing.
Writer Awatef Abdul Rahman discussed the role of social media in marketing literary works.
For his part, Qatari Forum for Authors programme director Saleh Gharib stressed the importance of the role played by publishing houses in Qatar in promoting Qatari books through Arab and international book fairs.
He called on writers to publish their work through various media channels and social media and not to depend totally on publishing houses.
