Marketing is all a game of chance. There are
no right answers. All you can do is try and see what works for you.
Below are 100 marketing options. I’ve tried
many of them and know they are useful. The things I’ve tried that didn’t work
for me have worked wonders for other authors. You just never know until you
give it a shot.
1. Build your brand.
2. Write a great book.
3. Have a standout cover image that reflects
your story and the genre.
4. Write a prequel to get more readers
interested in the first book.
5. Create a newsletter. Lure people to opt-in
for your email list/newsletter with an incentive, such as a free book or gift.
Then create good, interesting content they will find useful. When the time is
right, promote one of your books. Put a note in your books/eBooks (beginning
and end if possible) asking your readers to sign up for your newsletter.
6. Start a street team. A street team helps you
get the word out about your books. And they want to do it, too. So why not set
one up? You can give them a special badge (image) to put on their blog/website,
and you can also create a Facebook group for everyone to go to and chat.
7. Make business cards and give them to everyone
you talk to about your books. You can even leave them places.
8. Look for award opportunities. Do some
research on yearly book awards and check the guidelines to see if your book(s)
qualify. If you don’t win an award, no harm, no foul. (Most do ask for a fee,
though.)
REVIEWS:
9. Approach reviewers. There are many book
bloggers out there—use the Internet to find them.
10. Encourage fans to post reviews. You can put a
polite note at the end of your book/eBook asking your readers to post an honest
review of the story they just read on Amazon.
11. When you get reviews for your books, pick the
best ones by authors and professional book reviewers. Search those reviews for
a sentence or two that you can add to the Editorial Reviews section on your
books’ Amazon page.
12. Give Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) to anyone
interested in reviewing your book before release day.
13. Also look for snippets of reviews to put on a
testimonial page on your website. This is good because it shows you have cred.
You can have testimonials for specific books, your overall writing, your
services, or even your blog.
14. Mail galley copies to pre-publication
reviewers and major magazines. Most need these copies 3–5 months in advance of
the release date.
15. Approach local book clubs/reading groups to
see if they’d be interested in reading your book. Most members buy the books
they want to read. This will result in quite a few reviews and sales.
16. When you post a review, start it (or sign
off) with “[Your name] Author of XYZ.”
Amazon:
17. Narrow down your book’s categories on Amazon.
Instead of “paranormal,” think “paranormal detective mystery.” Use Amazon’s
search bar to find popular searches for your book’s genre. Click on it and
check out the number of books under that category. You can find this in the top
left-hand corner. The smaller this number is the better. Think 1,000 or less.
Under 500 is awesome because it’s less competition. Use these categories when
you pick the categories for your books.
18. You can also put a list of categories in the
“Product Description” under the blurb and pick one to include in the title.
Example: Ghost of Death – A Paranormal Detective
Mystery. Try to get that on the cover, too, if possible.
19. Add author interview questions to the “From
the Author” section on your Amazon book page.
Goodreads:
20. Join Goodreads Groups. There are many groups
for many different genres. Follow the rules set out for authors in each group
before you post promo. While you are there, connect to readers and other
authors.
21. Use Goodreads groups to get reviews. Many
groups have discussions to help authors get reviewers. You will need to provide
the necessary info as a comment or separate post and interested people will
email you asking for a copy. Make sure to specify a timeframe.
22. Do a Goodreads Event whenever a new book
comes out and invite EVERYONE.
23. “Friend” other authors by clicking the down
arrow next to “Follow Author” and selecting “Add as a Friend.”
Website:
24. Add all of your books to your website/blog.
You can do this on the sidebar and/or create a page. And make the images
clickable with a URL to your books’ Amazon pages, so visitors can buy your books.
25. Use your website/blog to make announcements,
and then send people there using social media to see that announcement.
26. Create a “Special Features” page on your
website for deleted scenes, facts, soundtracks, book/character tidbits, etc.
27. Update your bio as necessary.
28. Find unique ways to promote your website
daily or weekly.
Social Media:
29. Post fun things about your books to social
media instead of pestering fans to buy, buy, buy. These fun things could be one-sentence
teasers, dialogue, short excerpts (Facebook), facts, and odd tidbits your
readers won’t know by reading your books.
30. Create quote images with your tagline,
logline, dialogue, and lines from your blurb and story.
31. Take advantage of Instagram. Share cover
teasers before a big reveal and even images of your computer as you work on
your current WIP.
32. Join Twitter Chats such as #1LineWed. You
can’t share buy links, but you can still generate interest in your writing if
you share awesome lines from your books.
33. Host your own Twitter chat with a unique
hashtag.
Pick a date, a time, and tell everyone about
it. You can talk about your books, writing, share snippets, anything.
34. Update your profiles on all social media
websites at least once a year.
35. Utilize your email signature. Add links to
your social media platforms and even list your books. Everyone you send an
email to will see it.
36. Do Live videos on Facebook to connect with
your readers.
37. Create videos related to your books and
upload them to YouTube. Then upload them to your Goodreads author page and your
Amazon author profile.
Blog:
38. Do a blog tour.
39. Interview authors on your blog. This is as
easy as asking them or putting an announcement out there that you are accepting
author interviews. To save time, have a list of questions already prepared.
40. Do a cover reveal. Use a Google Form so
people who want to help can sign up to post your new cover on their blog,
Facebook, Twitter, etc. Send them everything they need a few days before and
stress the date so no one posts too soon.
41. Guest blog and have guests on your blog. It’s
as simple as asking authors/bloggers. Don’t be afraid. At the worst, they won’t
respond or will say they don’t have a spot available. That’s it.
42. Join the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge.
TIP: Don’t just share excerpts from your book,
though. Dig into topics related to your book that starts with each letter. I
once did a disaster theme for my Disaster
Crimes series.
43. Get interviewed. Many bloggers interview
authors. When you’re setting up your blog tour, see if the blogger offers
author interviews and tell them you’re interested in one.
44. Do a blogfest instead of a blog tour. A
blogfest is more engaging for the people who want to participate, each post
will be unique, and you’ll be blasted on many blogs on a single day. Make sure
to ask a fun question or offer a unique prompt for the blogfest.
Publishing:
45. Publish more books and advertise your
previously published books in them. You can create a list of books in the
beginning or share an excerpt for a book or two at the end.
46. Use more than one book distributor
(self-published authors) to reach more readers. Smashwords links to Barnes
& Noble, KOBO, Apple iBooks, and more. Then upload to Amazon Direct
Publishing. Not Select (unless you really want those 5 free days). Select wants
you to publish exclusively with them for 3 months.
47. Turn your books into audiobooks with ACX.com.
48. Have a series? Put them together in a box
set.
49. Look for anthology opportunities and submit a
short story for consideration. Anthologies are a great way to find new readers.
Release Promo:
50. Ask your supporters to share a release day
announcement on their blog, Facebook page, and/or Twitter feed.
51. Do a Facebook Release Party. Make sure it’s
set as “public.”
52. Add your books to book websites such as Manic
Readers, BookLikes, Book Goodies, Book Buzzr, and Awesome Gang.
53. Look for major book newsletters and email
them to see if they would like to promote your book. Make sure to include all
of your book’s info and the blurb in the email when you ask.
Writing Community:
54. Join Yahoo Groups, websites, organizations,
writing groups, etc. When your book comes out, you can spread the news to all
of these places.
55. Cross promote with other authors. If you know
authors who have books in your genre or who are coming out with books around
the same time, ask if they’d like to be part of a big promo opportunity. Every
author can share promos for everyone on their blogs. You can do the same
locally with a group of authors for a signing/event. Or you can contact other
authors signed with your publisher to cross promote.
56. Ask an author to write an introduction,
forward, or testimonial for your book. This doesn’t have to be a best-selling
author but an author you know and respect.
57. Contact a few famous authors and ask if
they’d like to read your book and give an endorsement. The worst they could say
is “no” or not respond at all. You won’t know what’ll come out of it until you try.
58. Get on your local radio and TV shows, such as
Public-Access Television.
Contests and Giveaways:
59. Do a contest. This can be big or small. I’ve
often asked fans to help me name characters.
60. Hold a giveaway. Rafflecopter lets you use
“like my FB page” and “follow me on Twitter” as things for people to do to get
points in the giveaway. Always offer a Free Entry.
61. Offer your readers sample chapters or short
stories for free.
62. Create unique SWAG for giveaways.
63. Put together a baggie with promo stuff and
deliver it to houses in nearby neighborhoods. I did this once with Ziploc bags,
a postcard, and a business card. I even alternated by including a white tea
candle and a green gemstone for weight and a little extra something.
64. Leave promo items (postcards, business cards,
etc.) and/or a copy of your book in doctor’s offices and airports. People get
bored and may become curious.
65. Carry a couple of copies of your book
wherever you go. If you happen to strike a conversation with someone and they
become interested in your book, you can give them a copy for free or sell it to
them with a discount.
Sales and Free Books:
66. Put the first book in a series on sale
whenever a new book comes out.
67. Make a book free for a short time or forever.
You can use Smashwords to set an eBook as free, if you’ve self-published. If
you do this, Barnes & Noble and Kobo will also follow suit. Then you can
notify Amazon and they will price match your eBook.
68. Use Kindle Direct Publishing’s (KDP’s) 5 free
days.
69. Add your books to discount/free sites if your
book is on sale or free. A simple Google search will help you find them.
Advertisements:
70. Pay to advertise on Facebook. Out of all the
social media ads, this one has been the most effective for me. I don’t
recommend Twitter ads.
71. Pay to advertise on book blogs/websites/newsletters.
But do your research first to see if your ad will get lost in a slew of ads,
and stay in budget.
72. Advertise in newspapers and magazines, even
digital ones like InD’tale.
73. Buy a $10 Goodreads ad and target all
readers.
74. Make fliers and pass them around or ask your
local libraries if you can pin your flier to a bulletin board.
75. Put an ad on a bus bench. Yes, really.
Book Signings, Readings, and Events:
76. Go to book fairs/festivals and set up a
table.
77. Do a book signing at a local spot. Big or
small.
78. Record a video of yourself reading an excerpt
of your book and post it everywhere, even add it to your Goodreads and Amazon
profiles. This is perfect for people afraid of doing a live reading.
79. Do a book reading at a local library, book
store, independent coffee shop, community college/school, etc.
80. Wear a badge with the cover art for your book
or with your name and “Author of XYZ.”
81. Put a review packet on your table so interested
readers can check out the best reviews for your book.
82. Create an atmosphere with your space. Bring a
colored tablecloth, table decorations, and even props to go up behind your
table.
83. Invest in a tabletop easel with your book’s
cover on it to catch people’s attention, or a bigger banner to stand behind
your table.
84. Put a newsletter signup sheet on your table
and ask everyone who stops to sign up. When you get home, send them an opt-in
email so they can confirm subscription. Or have a tablet on your table and have
them sign up at the event.
85. Sell your book at an event for a cause and
donate part of the proceeds to that cause.
Books in Stores:
86. If your books are stocked in local bookstores,
purchase “Local Author” stickers and ask the manager if you can put them on
your books.
87. Also ask if you can sign them. Then you can
put “Signed Copy” stickers on them!
Go to Your Local Community:
88. Look for speaking opportunities at schools,
conventions, libraries, etc.
89. Teach a class or workshop.
90. Go to local schools for career day, do
classroom or media center readings/presentations, have a table at the school’s
spring fling or other fests, and donate a copy of your children’s book to their
media center.
91. Email the directors of your local libraries
and pitch them your book to be added to their collection. Providing a copy is
the easiest way to get your book in their system.
92. Pass out flyers at book stores, book events,
libraries, community events, flea markets, etc.
93. Tack a flyer on bulletin boards in libraries,
book stores, coffee shops, etc.
Press:
94. Create a press kit. Make it available on your
blog and website.
95. Hosting an event? Going to an event? Let your
local newspaper(s) know about it, and they may do an article about you.
Video:
96. Create a book trailer. Put it on your
website, blog, Facebook page, Goodreads, Amazon profile, everywhere.
97. Ask fans to make a book trailer.
98. Get on podcasts created by established
authors.
Magazines:
99. If you are knowledgeable about a certain subject
that relates to your book, write an article on it and submit it to niche
magazines.
100. Submit excerpts to literary magazines.
There are many more things that authors can do
to promote their books, but these will get you started.
Now that you’ve gone through this information,
make a plan to start doing one of these. Then after you do that, try another.
And then another. And... well, you get it.
