Author Topic: Platforms that don't have your genre (in my case Judaica/Jewish culture)  (Read 2938 times)

SCapsuto

In a traditional bookstore, the titles I'm publishing would be filed under "Judaica" or "Jewish Culture/History" or something like that.

But on promotional platforms, that's not an option. The closest they have is "Religion," which is not what the books are about. Besides, readers seeking Jewish books wouldn't often subscribe to the Religion promotions on Bookbub, for instance, since they're almost all Christian titles, and people subscribing to those categories mostly won't want books about largely secular aspects of Jewish culture.

Any brainstorms on how to promote books when there's not a good match for your genre?

I'm already using AMS ads, which work because I can target specific keywords, but I don't see a way to do that on most other platforms.

And I'm already compiling a list of Jewish book bloggers, relevant podcasters, Jewish newspapers, etc. But I'm open to other ideas for more general online promotions.
Steven is a full-time professional translator. His blog, "Between Wanderings," explores Jewish life and culture from the 1850s to 1920s through the words of people who lived then, and he is translating and publishing books from that era on the same topic. Steven is also the author of "Alternate Channels," about the portrayal of lesbian and gay characters on 20th-century American television. "Alternate Channels" was a semifinalist for an American Library Association book award.
Translator, Author and Lecturer
Steven Capsuto | Between Wanderings: Jewish Life, 1850s-1920s | Steven Capsuto, Translator | Steven Capsuto, Media Studies Author and Lecturer
 

Tom Wood

Re: Platforms that don't have your genre (in my case Judaica/Jewish culture)
« Reply #1 on: November 08, 2018, 04:54:32 AM »
There is this BISAC code under History:

HIS022000   HISTORY / Jewish

https://bisg.org/page/History

See how that gets mapped on Amazon, then maybe follow the same trail at the other vendors.
 

SCapsuto

Re: Platforms that don't have your genre (in my case Judaica/Jewish culture)
« Reply #2 on: November 08, 2018, 05:02:07 AM »
Thanks so much, Tom!

That'll be useful on the distribution platforms themselves. It might not help on promotional sites (like the Bookbub wannabes) that only seem to have broader categories.

Also, as I start to add newer titles about contemporary Jewish culture, the Jewish History heading may be less relevant, but I'll look at the other BISAC coding options. This is great.
Steven is a full-time professional translator. His blog, "Between Wanderings," explores Jewish life and culture from the 1850s to 1920s through the words of people who lived then, and he is translating and publishing books from that era on the same topic. Steven is also the author of "Alternate Channels," about the portrayal of lesbian and gay characters on 20th-century American television. "Alternate Channels" was a semifinalist for an American Library Association book award.
Translator, Author and Lecturer
Steven Capsuto | Between Wanderings: Jewish Life, 1850s-1920s | Steven Capsuto, Translator | Steven Capsuto, Media Studies Author and Lecturer