As a rule, the more you market and promote your book, the more people will know about your book, and the more people will buy your book. In other words, the name of the game here is publicity. Pay attention here, because this part is important:
I’ve worked with many authors over the years who have had excellent books,
but few people bought them because nobody knew about them!
I’m a firm believer that you can market all your books yourself without spending a dime. It just takes time and dedication. Let’s talk 12 genius ways to market your book.
1. Build an author website (and keep it up to date).
You can purchase a URL and build your own professional-looking website for a few bucks a month. Include important links to buy your book, an author bio and picture, and a blog. Above all, make sure your website looks professional and is easy to navigate. An author website is one of the top things that authors need to do in order to build a following.
2. Send out Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) before your book is published.
Advanced Reader Copies, or ARCs (also known as galleys), are a powerful tool for getting reviews before your book is even released, setting you up for success starting from publication day.
ARCs are created after your book has been professionally edited and typeset. It should look like a real, professional book. Learn more about creating your own ARC.
Once you have your ARC ready to go, it’s time to put it out there! Connect with your readers on your newsletter list (see #6 below) or announce it on social media. You can submit your book to trusted websites like NetGalley to have them find ARC readers for you. Offer to give readers the advanced reader copy as long as they are willing to leave an honest review on your book’s Amazon page. As a thank you, most authors send their ARC reviewers a free copy of the book once it’s published.
For more exposure, send your ARC to a book reviewer. (Bonus: Some book reviewers will review your book for free as long as you’re sending them an ARC copy.) If you’ve already published your book, keep this information in mind next time, and instead opt for a paid book review.
3. Schedule a book signing event, where you sign your books, read excerpts, and answer reader questions.
This can be done online using social media (Facebook live is a wonderful tool!) or in locally owned bookstores, like my client K.R. Willis recently did with her book Blood for Blood. Book readings are much more effective than book signings, so be sure to schedule an event where you’re reading select passages or a chapter from your book.
Afterward, talk with your audience. People are drawn to conversation, and reading excerpts from your book will give readers an idea of what your book is about . . . and encourage them to want to learn more.
You don’t have to schedule book readings in libraries or bookstores. Depending on your genre, you can set up a book reading at a park, a local cafe, or in a location that’s relevant to your book (such as a gym, a gardening shop, or a bakery). Be sure to get permission from the store’s owner first, then share the details on social media or in local publications to get the word out! While you’re doing your book reading, broadcast it live on your social media pages using tools like Facebook Live.
4. Hold contests and giveaway prizes to generate buzz about your book.
Get people as excited about your book release as you are! Check out giveaways on Goodreads, for example. Host contests on social media sites—post a picture related to your book and have a caption contest. Giveaways are a great way to get reviews for your new book.
5. Talk with local bookstore business owners about selling your books.
Most locally owned bookstores are willing and interested in selling books by local or regional authors, especially if the story takes place there, too. Talk with your local bookstore about selling your books on consignment.
6. Interact with your fans with an e-mail newsletter sharing info on book discounts, upcoming promotions, giveaways, etc.
Have an e-mail newsletter sign-up sheet at all your events (book signings, trade shows, etc.) and outlets (Facebook, author website, etc.). My client, author Tanya SM Kennedy, says her newsletters are like a well-oiled machine: “When someone signs up on the landing page, three or four prepared emails get sent out about a week apart with info on the book to pull interest, possibly the first chapter, and links to purchase.”
7. Reach out to local news outlets (radio or newspaper) that may be interested in interviewing local authors, or connect with book bloggers to review your book.
Local radio stations, especially talk shows, are great ways to share your book with the community. You can also contact book bloggers and book reviewers to review your book.
8. Write up discussion questions for book club meetings.
You can offer to attend Skype meetings with groups or attend local meetings in person. And what better way to spend an afternoon with people who love your work? (Talk about humbling!)
9. Enter your book in local, regional, and national book fairs/contests.
If you don’t win or get an honorable mention, you can at least advertise that you entered! Some of my clients who have entered their book in contests have won an award.
10. Create a press release to generate interest in your book.
Free press release websites include prlog.org and 1888pressrelease.com.
11. Follow-up with everyone who helps you…
…Including your book editor, your book cover illustrator, your beta readers, and everyone else—to tell them you’ve published your book and it’s now for sale!
12. Post positive reviews on your social media sites or your website.
This generates lots of good attention. Your social media followers can like or share your posts, spreading the word about your great books.
So . . . do these marketing techniques work? You bet they do! One of my clients, John Legget Jones, took his marketing seriously. He created a website and a Facebook page, posted constantly (good reviews, readers’ thoughts and messages about the book, and hosted giveaways), and that was it. He sold 3,000 copies of Flannel Gowns and Granny Panties in the first 3 months. And he didn’t pay anyone to market the book.
My client Greg Cheek created a Facebook page, a website, contacted local news stations and newspapers, and worked hard to get his book in front of potential readers. The results were astounding: Before I had even finished editing his book (and during its pre-sale phase), Greg had secured over 7,000 pre-sales of Three Points of Contact.
Yet another self-marketing success story: Jason Fitzgerald & Vijay Natarajan, who wrote Crunching Numbers, relentlessly marketed their book. On Facebook, Vijay is always talking about the book, bringing up points he made in the book and encouraging people to buy it, and on Jason’s twitter handle (@Jason_OTC) has been a massive marketing tool, as he has 19,000 followers. They’ve also been doing press releases, and it’s paid off: The book has been mentioned several times on news sources including CNBC and ESPN, and it reached #7 on Amazon’s bestseller list in the American Football genre. Wow.
Whatever you put into marketing, you get out of it. As long as you’re dedicated and consistent, you can totally tackle this marketing thing on your own. Your success is measured directly by how much marketing you put into your book once it’s published.
On the other side of the coin, the opposite is true: You likely won’t sell many copies without some effort in marketing your book. Unfortunately, I’ve found that all too often, authors don’t take their marketing seriously, and the book doesn’t sell many copies. I hope you take on marketing seriously so that’s not the case with your books!
Book editor Kristen Hamilton is the owner and sole employee of Kristen Corrects, Inc., where she provides manuscript editing services for traditionally and self-publishing authors. Several authors whose books she has edited have won awards and have topped Amazon’s best sellers lists.
Reading is Kristen’s passion, so when the workday is over, she can usually be found curled up with a good book alongside her four cats. She loves watching cat videos and scary movies, eating pizza, teaching herself French, and traveling, and she is likely planning her next vacation. She lives outside of Boise, ID.
My paperback and ebooks are on amazon and B&N. In fact some are published by B&N. So how does it work if they buy from distributors? If B&N IS the manufacturer? How do I get them to place my Book on their physical shelves in their physical stores??? Thx
Hi Joseph! Check out my blog post How to Get Your Book in Barnes & Noble Stores, which details the process how to get your book on B&N shelves: https://www.kristencorrects.com/how-to-get-your-book-in-barnes-and-noble-stores/.