3 Brilliant Ways to Promote Your Book as an Indie Author
If you’re an indie author, you know that promotion is the key to the success of your book. After all, if no one knows your book exists, how will they ever find it? While traditional publishers often help with marketing and promotion for their authors, there’s never been more opportunities for indie authors to do some great strategic marketing for themselves!
If you’re finishing your book but aren’t sure how to get the word out, our Red Bird Social team can help. Here are three great ways to promote your book as an indie author.
1. Get involved in online book communities.
There are a ton of online book communities for new and upcoming authors. Participating in them and genuinely building connections can be a great way to get the word out about your book. Not only will you be able to connect with other authors and readers, but you’ll also be able to share your work with a wider audience. As a bonus, many of these communities offer opportunities for authors to guest post, be interviewed on podcasts, and more. All this can be a great way to get your name and your work out there. One big community you’ll want to get involved with as an author is Goodreads. You can also find author support and community groups on Facebook and through the #Bookstagram hashtag on Instagram.
2. Use social media strategically.
Social media is a powerful tool that every author should be using to promote their work. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram make it easy to reach a wide audience, even without paid advertising. When using social media to promote your book, make sure you’re posting interesting, engaging content that will capture the attention of your followers. Instead of making every post promotional, try diving into the process of writing your book. Talk about the inspiration behind your writing and share your other favorite books and authors. This is the perfect way to build an audience that connects with YOU, which will in turn make them more interested in buying your book.
On your social profiles, be sure to include links to where people can buy your book, read reviews, and download any free resources you have to offer. Lastly, don’t forget to use hashtags! Here are some of the most popular ones used by authors and avid book readers on social: #amwriting #amreading #books #bookstagram #writerlife #indieauthor #selfpublished
3. Offer a lead magnet, giveaways, and contests.
If you’ve been around for a while, you’ll know that we regularly talk about the importance of a lead magnet. This is a free offer that you as an author provide to build your audience and increase awareness around your book.
In the same way that a free chapter or a group discussion guide can introduce new readers to your work, people also love giveaways and contests. You can offer signed books, free e-books, swag, or even just promotional materials like bookmarks or buttons. Giveaways can be done on your social media page or through an email list. Just be sure to have a clear set of rules and an end date that works well with your promotional efforts.
Launching a book into the world for the first time can definitely feel scary and intimidating. But we hope these ideas will encourage and empower you to introduce your work in a creative way to the world!
What are some other book promotion ideas that YOU’VE seen work well for other authors?
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Do you feel like you could use some promotional and marketing help with your next book launch? That’s what our Red Bird Social team does best! Reach out today for your FREE consultation to find out how we can help YOU successfully share your book with the world.