Learning to market your self-published book can be super frustrating, and most of the time it feels like a full-time job. I have many self-published author friends, and one of the things I hear all the time, especially on Twitter, is “I hate marketing. Talking about myself is so hard.”
While this is a valid attitude, it makes my heart sad, because I have read some amazing books by indie authors, and I know there are tons more out there that I’ve never heard of.
So, below I’ve listed some fun and (hopefully) easy things to do to help you on your journey to market your self published book.
Some links in this post are affiliate links. I’ll get a small commission through your purchase, which helps keep this blog alive!
Use your unique personality
Just like your book is your own voice and personality, your marketing should be the same way. Don’t look at what Joe Public is doing and copy his technique verbatim. You are you, and that’s what makes your marketing unique.
If you’re a bubbly person, use that! If your book is a cheeky romance set in 1790, but you’re copying the marketing technique for a horror writer, do you think that would work?
No, it wouldn’t.
When I started my proofreading business, I didn’t have a bunch of degrees to back up my experience. I still don’t. But you know what I do have? Bookworm experience.
I’ve been a reader since I was 3 (yes, I learned to read at 3 years old, but that’s a story for another day), so even if I don’t know all the perfect rules, I know what looks good on a page.
So, when I started marketing, I told authors I would give them “a reader’s viewpoint,” because that’s the experience I have.
And you know what? It worked. Authors email me all the time to help them make their books awesome, and I love every second of it.
Share the history behind your book
My friend Lacey is amazing at this. When she talks about her book, you will find her mention at least once that it started as a comic book when she was in high school.
Her series, The 13th Zodiac, was 20 years in the making, and it’s an amazing series! So don’t be afraid to share where you got the idea for your book. Readers (especially me!) love knowing what inspired the author!
Who knows? Your inspiration could inspire someone to pick up your book!
Market Yourself First
I say this a lot on my podcast, but it’s SO true! If your idea of marketing is to wait until pub day, then DM all your peeps on Twitter to get them to buy your book, let me tell ya…
Don’t. Do. That.
Many people, myself included, will not only ignore an author who does that, but you may find yourself blocked for your trouble. It’s rude, creepy, and very rarely successful.
What to do Instead
Make friends with people. Comment on their posts, on whatever platform you like. Many book bloggers like to hang out on instagram, but I have tons that I follow on Twitter as well.
I love when a new author comments on one of my posts, and tries to connect as a friend, before saying, “hey, yeah, so I have this book….”
My friend Bailey is so cute when it comes to this. She writes poetry. I don’t read poetry, but that doesn’t stop her from having the goal of getting me to read her book.
But you know what? She made friends with me first.
I loved her as a person way before I knew about her book. And even though I may never read it, I’m super tempted to buy her book, in order to support her art.
Oh, and One More Thing….
I absolutely LOVE seeing links to books in my twitter feed. When an author shares that link, with a small comment about their art, it makes my heart SO happy!
I may not be able to buy the book at the moment, but do NOT be afraid to share your book link every couple days or so, along with a cute comment.
You will likely get people to at least add your book to their wishlist so they can buy later. I do that all the time. My amazon wishlist is probably 90% books.
Use The “Hashtag” Holidays
If you google “social media holidays,” or “hashtag holidays,” you can find an absolute treasure trove of ways to talk about your book.
For example, If your main character just loves his Krispy Kreme, you can mention it on National Donut Day. Using these fun holidays give you a way to mention your book in a way that is out of the ordinary.
If I read posts like these on social media, I would be super excited to at least check out the book. Even if I didn’t end up buying the book, I’d love seeing unique posts show up in my feed.
Build a Network
Famous authors don’t really need this step, because they have a huge team of publicists and PR people who keep them in the public’s eye at all times.
As an indie or self-published author, all the work falls to you.
So by building a network, and keeping in touch with those people who have read your books and loved them, you’re giving them a chance to sell your books for you.
They will not only tell people about this awesome book they read, but they’ll be able to say, “yeah, I know the author, and he/she/they are freaking awesome!”
Personally, if the author is a dick, I’m way less likely to read their books. I think that’s why I’ve grown to dislike Stephen King’s books. If you follow his twitter feed, he doesn’t seem like a very nice person.
For me, I have to feel some sort of connection to the author. Even if the book isn’t in a genre I normally read, if the author is awesome, I will definitely consider it.
A good example of this marketing technique is my friend Gabe. He writes queer erotica, which is SO far outside of my comfort zone!
He and I have really connected and become good friends, though, so I recently purchased his book, The Orchid and The Lion. I will even be reading it soon!
Gabe makes no bones about the fact that he writes queer erotica, and is so open and honest about it.
Don’t be afraid to be yourself. More times than not, your personality sells your books, not the book itself.
I hope I’ve given you some good tips to help you on your marketing journey. I absolutely adore indie books, and I love bring exposure to them through all the avenues that I have available.
Please let me know below what your favorite tip was, and if you have any other tips to share with your fellow authors, Please comment them below too! Writing is not a competition, it’s a team sport, so let’s all support each other!
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Until next time, Friends!
