When it comes to book promotion, there are two ways to go about it, either you’re using ads or you’re relying on your social media strength.
How to promote a book for free; is a very common question among writers. And there are so many articles suggesting ways that you as a writer can make use of in marketing your book.
When it comes to writing there are 4 sets of people you’ll meet in the industry:
- Those who want to write a book
- Those who finish the book
- Few who have a plan on how to market the book
- Few who have a book marketing strategies
You need to have a solid plan if you want to get your book into the hands of people.
However, some writers think that it is just the story that matters nothing else is important.
Right?
I believe so…
But the fact is, they’re wrong.
If you’re yet to create a plan, after reading this article (how to promote a book for free) I’d advice you to create a your plan.
In addition, I’d also advice you get a pen and a paper because you’re about to discover 10 proven methods that are helping authors promote their books for free and make sales.
Let’s dive in…
How to promote a book for free
As I said earlier, there are 4 categories of people you’d meet in the writing industry – however, the 5th category of writers are writers who are trying hard to implement their plans and book marketing strategies.
Therefore here are the steps to take to promote your book for free:
Have a goal
When it comes to promoting your book(s) for free first thing you should always ask yourself is what is your goal with your book? Are you hoping to make a career of it? Just sell a few and make some profit? Perhaps you are an expert in some area and your book is a way to get your knowledge out there and maybe capitalize on it. So whatever is your goal stick with it and run with it.
Know your audience (+genre)
Next, consider who your audience is and what is the genre of your book. If the book is in romance, sci-fi, fantasy, etc. Consider where those readers go to find out what’s next to read.
Some are word of mouth, others are what librarians or booksellers recommend, and yet others rely on reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, and other sources.
Then there are podcasts, blogs, bookstagram, booktok, and other social media platforms and reading groups that recommend books for their audience.
Also consider the expectations of your given audience, know that what works for a children’s book won’t work for a thriller novel. So you have to know the feasible expectations of readers of your genre.
Know your theme
The theme of your book is also what to consider. Is your book about loss, are they about friendships, starting over after losing a job, finding love while on vacation, or a hero who upholds strong morals but is frequently confronted with situations that force him to question or reevaluate them?
To put it another way, if one of your topics is alcoholism, you might want to consider marketing to AA groups and finding a platform to share your experience with them.
If your book is about motherhood or pregnancy, think about contacting lactation groups, mommy groups, etc.
You might also want to subscribe to magazines that deal with that topic. The same is true of historical fiction—you may reach out to audiences interested in that era. Consider reaching out to people who participate in historical reenactments and belong to historical groups if your novel is about the Civil War.
Think of why
After you’ve identified a few potential customers, consider WHY they ought to purchase your book rather than just buy. Why would that audience find it appealing? Is it an original viewpoint or a different take on the category your work is in? Will someone glean something new and help them feel better…Then market that!
Start Engaging
Engaging your audience is nurturing them to become interested in what you have to offer and then become a fan.
It’s about creating a tight-knit community that will eventually become eager-buying fans. The key is you have to be genuine in your approach as well as your message(s).
There are different social media platforms you can use to reach your audience – however, your goal is to pick the right one.
On these platforms are so many distractions, everyone is vying for attention but the key to building a successful community that will love your book is to create content that would add value to their lives and dish it out to them for free.
Getting eyes on your book (before the release date) and working with your community to get reviews will benefit your book sales long term.
The next question is…
How do you engage your audience?
1. Choose any platform that resonates with your audience
2. Start by sharing your background story
3. Share valuable content
3. Network with other authors in your niche and learn
4. Reply comments
5. Do talks with groups
6. Have a few Zoom meetings
7. Podcast interviews
Run an early promotion
Start promoting your book very early some authors promote their books a year in advance and they get the most reader engagement.
No platform is good enough to carry out your book promotion, some authors prefer to make use of Instagram, others prefer Facebook, and some are on Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, etc.
Publish a lot of books
This might not be your first time hearing this; yes I know the stress and work that comes with writing. However, here is how this works; you can publish short books between your book. Authors who make use of this method have found it as a great marketing strategy. The short works can be both poetry and prose of different genres.
With these combinations, you stand the chance of attracting new demographics of readers and it also increases your SEO.
Consider publishing more with small presses or magazine publishers. The more your works get out there, the more you’ll make more connections, and your chances of having an invitation for book readings, presentations, and interviews will increase.
Get your name out there via various means, write, write, and write…as readers see your name more often, your sales will increase.
Make use of Tiktok
TikTok is a platform where you can easily grow fans, you start by posting daily perhaps twice a day, engaging with EVERYONE who comments.
Try to use trending sounds and hashtags, and follow back everyone who follows you but seriously, booktok can be your free way to promote your book and make sales if you try it.
Network with writers and influencers
Networking has played a big role in helping authors and their books get exposure, you can leverage this by reaching out to other writers or influencers within your space and trade something with them. As for influencers you can work with bookstagrammers, bloggers, or content writers. You can decide to trade blog posts, Instagram takeovers, or book giveaways.
It’s very simple, just look for something valuable and unique you can exchange with them. Things like podcasts, live events interviews, and case studies can be something of value if you offer to promote them to your social media audience or newsletter subscribers.
Start an email newsletter
The best part about email newsletter is that the subscribers are aware of who you are and they are interested in what you have to offer. Similarly, an email newsletter is one of the fastest ways to get to your subscribers.
If you already have a list of subscribers then it is an added credit, however, if you don’t it is never too late to build one.
Many authors don’t know the power of having an email newsletter and as such they shy away from it. Having a group of engaged readers you interact with regularly can boost the sales of your book.
How to promote your book via email newsletter:
- Learn some basic email marketing skills to make the most of your newsletter.
- Share your personal story with your subscribers; this will help create a bond.
- Tease your new book before its release date to build anticipation.
- Offer discounts to readers who pre-order or buy more than one copy, or buy within a specified date.
- Grow new subscribers, by offering book discounts or free bonus content to those who sign up for the first time.
- Promote your newsletter on your social media channels and your author’s website.
- Create good graphics and images for your newsletter using Book Brush and Canva.
Let’s wrap up
Book promotion is not a day’s journey, if you want to see commensurable success you’ve to be ready to utilize all the strategies available at your disposal.
However, I’d recommend that you have more books in a series to lead readers to, create engaging content, create a lot of buzz, be friendly with your audience, and if you’re gunning for serious sales making your first book free will not move the sales needle.
Above all take your time to learn the ropes of book promotion, and stick with the strategies that work best for you. I wish you all the best.
