As authors, we often find the actual process of writing our book easier than figuring out its marketing plan.
Don’t get me wrong. Writing a book is no easy task, and there are a lot of steps required to make it happen. But as writers, and not just any writers but those who actually managed to make our book writing dream a reality, we know we have skills in this area. As for marketing? We often don’t need where to start.
This can be a real problem for authors. While the rise of self-publishing has allowed for more fresh voices to be heard than ever before, its also created an unprecedented level of choice for readers. To stand out from the crowd, you need to market your book effectively.
Thankfully, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. There are a range of tried and tested methods which enable you to get your book into the hands of the right readers. Even better, many of them are free or low cost.
Let’s check them out!
Utilize Your Author Network
One of the many great things about being a modern author is the ease with which you can connect with your fellow writers.
Whether through social media groups devoted to writers, or by joining a specialist online course for authors of your type, there are more ways than ever to find like minded writers to lean on for mutual support and advice.
As well as being a vital support network during the stressful process of writing your book, and a source of information about the ever changing world of publishing, your author network can be a great promotional tool around the time of your book launch.
Here are some effective ways to call upon your author network to help you promote your book:
- Social media. Hopefully, some of the authors in your network have respectable social media followings, on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. There’s no harm in asking them to share your book with their followers, provided it’s a genuinely good fit for their interests. Just be sure to return the favor when you are in a position to!
- Author blogs. Do any of the authors in your network have their own blog? If so, you can ask to guest post for them. Make sure to provide a genuinely useful guest post, which will be of use to the readers. Then, you can mention and include a link to your book in the guest post author bio.
- Mailing lists. Have any of the authors in your network built their own mailing list? Author mailing lists are a great way to get the word out about your book. See if any of the authors are willing to mention your book the next time they reach out to their list.
Promoting your book might seem like a daunting task at first, as it feels like you have to start from scratch. However, by utilizing your author network, you already have some effective promotional tools at your disposal.
Use Book Promotion Sites
Book promotion sites are often one of the most effective ways to promote a new book.
The best promotion sites have a dedicated following, and know when and how to get the word out about a new book for maximum effect.
There are a mixture of free and paid promotion sites out there, and you can consider using both. So what are some things to keep in mind when using book promotion sites?
- Suitability. There are a wide range of different promotion sites out there, some for specialist genres. Make sure that the promotion site you are choosing has a following that enjoys the type of book you are promoting.
- Numbers. With book promotion sites, a large part of their success comes down to the numbers of people that follow them. By comparing the numbers of different book promotion services, you can choose the one which is likely to turn out best.
- Reputation. Not all book promoters are equal. Be sure to choose those which have a good reputation in the author world.
Think of book promotion sites as a shortcut for getting your book noticed by the largest number of people possible. The free ones are often effective, and when carefully chosen, the paid ones will more than pay for themselves.
Harness The Power Of Offline Promotion
An often overlooked aspect of promoting books in the modern context is the power of offline promotion.
Naturally, as authors focused on the modern world of book publishing, our thoughts first turn to online methods. However, there are a whole host of effective offline promotional methods. The best thing of all? Many of your fellow authors will overlook these, meaning its often easier to get results than it is online.
So what are some of the ways you can promote your book in the offline world?
- Local bookstores. If you’re lucky enough to still have one, your local bookstore is a great place to promote your book. These places are often eager to support local talent, and will be more than happy to host you for a reading or a signing. This is a great way to build a presence in your local community of readers.
- Book festivals. People are increasingly turning to specialist festivals as a form of entertainment, and there are plenty that cater to readers. If you can find a festival dedicated to your genre, enquire about the cost of attending. You might find it to be a great way to make a real connection with the most passionate fans in your genre.
- Libraries. Often, libraries are incredibly busy places, and do a lot more than just loan books. Find out if your library hosts any events for authors. You might find this is a great way to connect with local readers, and it can be a good way to build your local offline network.
By combining offline and online promotional methods, you give your book the best chance of success. Leave no stone unturned in your mission to get your book into the hands of the right readers.
Affordable Book Promotion – Final Thoughts
Hopefully by now you see that promoting your book effectively doesn’t have to cost a whole lot. You can draw upon the relationships you’ve already built, harness tried and tested promotional services, and reach out to eager readers in your local community.
Be sure to approach learning to promote your book in the same way you would anything else. It takes time to become effective, and you are bound to make mistakes on the way. Just learn from them, and over time you will develop a solid sense of how to effectively promote your book.
We wish you the best of luck with your next book promotion, and hope you make the methods in this article work for you.