How Writers Can Market to the Homeschooling Audience Most Effectively

by Karen Whiting @KarenHWhiting

I’ve had opportunities to speak and set up tables to sell books at homeschool markets a few times. This year I doubled my sales into hundreds of dollars. They are a unique and yet diverse audience, and it helps to understand their needs.

I homeschooled my youngest child for a while and have helped my daughters as they have homeschooled. It makes a difference if you have been involved with homeschoolers. You’ll discover they invest lots of money in books, but they look for the right books for their families, from authors who share their goals.

Tips For Marketing to Homeschoolers

Highlight Value

A top priority in choosing what to purchase is the value offered. Usually, the mom stays home to school and may have an at-home job, but the main income is often from only one parent. Make sure parents see the value in your books. That includes:

• Books with a wide age-range
• Durable books that are timeless to reuse with younger children
• Adds to the home library in a unique but complimentary way
• Can bridge more than one year of schooling
• Fits a need

My books include art that covers several years, family devotions that are hands-on and can be done with a range of ages, and a woman’s US history faith-based book that offers new insights while complimenting the core course history books. Other friends create lapbooks and supplementary products to add the academic elements to literature books they write. This makes it easier to add those fiction books to their curriculum.

Engage the Audience

Ask the ages, not grades, of children and then share what you have for the ages mentioned. Many families spread out the learning differently from regular schools and their children may be on much higher reading levels, so share what in your books can add to their studies and make sure the vocabulary is rich.

Ask what interested their children and what they need in relation to what you offer. I ask if they want more art, women’s history, or faith curriculum. Then I respond to their comments and answers. If they want faith-based curriculum I share how the weekly prayer devotions offer an easy way to use as a curriculum with hands-on explorations and scripture prompts around questions children ask about prayer with no pat answers. The book includes a new way to pray together each week. That provides value and plenty of ideas to make it a faith curriculum.

Offer a free bookmark or activity kit that helps children can a glimpse of one of your books. I print out a devotion from one of my devotional books for boys and add a balloon that’s needed for the related activity to the devotion. They love the freebies and getting to know your writing before they buy. The bookmark helps them order your book later. Make sure the bookmark also offers value with listing benefits or the book of tips for the book’s audience.

Tips to Increase Sales

As authors, we want to move our books and get them in the hands of readers. That means making it easy for readers to understand what you offer at a glance. It also means building a community within the convention with being friendly and being able to refer families to other booths who carry what they need, and you don’t. 

Make the Most of Opportunities

Being around homeschool families and other vendors provides lots of opportunities. I’ve made friends and found opportunities for other speaking as well as placing books with some vendors. 

I’ve listened to comments people make about my books and consider those as I write new ones. I expect to do and new book on nature for kids and heard a few moms state that it did not contain enough facts and the vocabulary was lower than they want. I’m sure the new book will reflect changes I make as I write.

Display Tips

• Let the backdrop and signage reflect the benefits of the books. If there’s room and electricity consider using a digital frame or device to loop a presentation about your books.
• If you have some damaged books, place them in a container with reduced prices. That helps people with tight budgets get your books.
• Add little cards that can pop pout of books in the display or place them in front of titles. Use these to share information or ways to use your book such as “Great for faith curriculum” in front of a devotional that contains more than a simple daily devotion, or “A picture book that teaches math” in front of one that combines a story with math.
• Place free bookmarks in front for kids and parents to pick up. Pass out freebies such as printed puzzles, science experiments or craft projects in a baggie. 

Highlight Your Homeschool Connections

Families want to know you understand them. If you can mention your homeschool experience or how you help your grands homeschool that helps them know you understand their lifestyle. Chat with vendors who go to several shows to find out what works well and what shows you might try in the future. You might also want to add more on your website about your connections and some photos at homeschool shows.

Evaluate your books and check with a friend who homeschools if you don’t, to decide if a homeschool show if a good fit for your books.

TWEETABLE

How Writers Can Market to the Homeschooling Audience Most Effectively, tips from author @KarenHWhiting on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Karen Whiting (WWW.KARENWHITING.COM) is an international speaker, former television host of Puppets on Parade, certified writing and marketing coach, and award-winning author of twenty-seven books for women, children, and families. Her newest book, The Gift of Bread: Recipes for the Heart and the Table reflects her passion for bread and growing up helping at her grandparent’s restaurant. Check out her newest book Growing a Mother’s Heart: Devotions of Faith, Hope, and Love from Mothers Past, Present, and Future. It's full of heartwarming and teary-eyed stories of moms.

Karen has a heart to grow tomorrow’s wholesome families today. She has written more than eight hundred articles for more than sixty publications and loves to let creativity splash over the pages of what she writes. She writes for Crosswalk. Connect with Karen on Twitter @KarenHWhiting Pinterest KarenWhiting FB KarenHWhiting.

Featured Image: Photo by David Nicolai on Unsplash