Publishing is not a field of dreams. They will not come just because you build it. It's surprising that so many authors today still make that assumption. Unfortunately, that’s just not how things work, at least for most of us. If you expect sales you need to set up your book marketing plan well ahead of actual publication.
When to Begin Marketing Your Book
Writing (and publishing) a book that will sell actually starts before the book is published.
Yes, post-publication book marketing is a huge part of selling more books, but authors need to place more value on what they do before the book is up for sale.
A Big Dose of Reality from a Literary Agent
Jane Friedman recently interviewed a literary agent about the changing landscape of fiction. While it focused heavily on how authors can get a publisher, these tips are equally relevant to indie authors.