Publishing your book is a daunting task if you’re new to the self-publishing industry. More often than not, self-publishing authors start to take it easy after their book is out in the market, but the truth of the matter is that your book needs you now more than ever. Whether you’ve used Smashbooks, Amazon or Bookbub, you’re going to need a marketing plan for your book if you want it to get sales, and even a general interest online.
Nobody will know about your book unless you inform them about your book. In this blog post, we will talk about some of the strategies you can use to create awareness of your book, while getting social proof and endorsement along the way.
Get Your Book Reviewed By Followers
Your book is a product, and like any other product, it needs to be reviewed. If you have a following on Twitter, ask them to review your book on platforms like Goodreads, which are often browsed by prospective readers looking for the next thing to grace their bookshelves.
Reach Out To Review Bloggers
Review bloggers come in all shapes and sizes, and you’ll find plenty of bloggers willing to have a look at your book. Book reviews are great at getting new, diverse audiences who now know about your book. To begin researching for book reviewers, check out this list by Readsy, containing review bloggers of every stripe. Ideally, you want to send out emails to a large number of reviewers, especially if you’re a debut author as you will get plenty of rejections.
Using social media, and with an online graphic design tool like PosterMyWall, creating fun content for your social media channels is free as well. If you’ve published a poetry book, you can sample and share excerpts of your poems, add them to a nice little quote template, download for free and share.
If you’re using Instagram, we recommend using relevant hashtags for example, #instapoets, if you’re a poet.
Run Ads With Self-Publishing Platforms
If you’ve used Bookbub to publish your book, using the platform’s Ads options is a good way to guarantee new readership. Here’s why you should consider running ads via Bookbub:
- Full control over budget and who you target.
- Ads will only be shown to people who actively read and search for new books.
- Allows you to use retargeting ads for people who’ve shown interest in your book but didn’t quite make a decision.
Alternatively, KDP by Amazon also offers their Expanded Distribution Program, which gets your book cataloged in online retail stores, libraries and bookstores in the US. In other words, you get more exposure.
Look for Influencers In Your Niche
Fiction or nonfiction, and regardless of the topic your book discusses, you’ll find online a whole community of people interested in that particular topic. And within these communities are voices of authority who help form the opinion of others. For example, Tim Ferriss is an important voice in the lifestyle and entrepreneurship circles, and thousands interact with the content he puts out, including podcasts, blog posts and email blasts to learn something new within that niche, including book recommendations.
Identify similar voices in your niche, and reach out to them. Instagram and Twitter are great places to start. You can also contact them via email and send them an authentic request to be featured as a guest on their show. Include a synopsis about your book to pique their interest and establish relevance in their eyes, and provide links to where they can buy or download the book. In exchange for a feature, offer to promote the show on your social platforms.
Read Excerpts Via Live Video
As you grow your following, readers don’t only want to read your content; they want to know the brains behind the brilliance. Why not go Live once a week to read an excerpt from your book? Instagram Live and Facebook Live are the perfect tools for your livestream. You’ll get more of your content circulating online and put a face to your name in the process!
Over To You!
Whichever route you take for publishing, marketing is a crucial part of it, and even with traditional publishing, you’ll need to take out time for marketing efforts, before and after the book launch. With these strategies, you’re set to market your book all the way to the bestseller’s list!
