Here are a few tips to promote your new book. An even more extensive review marketing opportunities is available in the Author-preneur Training Audio Recording of An Overview of Author Marketing Opportunities.
Do Free Giveaways
You can use your website and Goodreads to do a variety of book giveaways. The bonus of book giveaways is that they often translate into book reviews. The added bonus is that you often get great word-of-mouth out of free giveaways as the winner celebrates their winnings on social media. That celebration gets people talking, asking questions and maybe heading over to your website. The expense of giveaways is the cost you pay for the book, plus shipping. It is difficult to calculate the costs of NOT doing giveaways.
Do an Amazon Giveaway
Using Amazon Giveaways is another giveaway tool with a large audience. From Amazon.com you are able to run promotional giveaways to create buzz and grow your followers on social media. You can select any Amazon item as a prize logically for an author the best choice is their own book. But everything sold on Amazon is eligible.
Do a Kindle Giveaway
Reviews are fuel for future book sales in the world of book sales. The more people your book reaches, the better the chances you have for reviews. If you book is available on Kindle there are two great opportunities through Kindle Direct Publishing if you signed up for KDP Select. These special opportunities come up every 90 Days for those enrolled in KDP Select. More details can be found in the post FREE Kindle Promotion Opportunities.
Help a Reporter Out (HARO)
HARO is a resource for reporters. It takes a bit of time and energy on your part, but it is the least expensive method to getting your name, book and/or products mentioned in a newspaper or magazine article without hiring a PR firm. You can expect a phone call from HARO within hours to up-sell you into other paid goods and services. Listen to their sales call and determine if any of their current services are appealing to you.
When a reporter wants to write a story with expert opinions and information they will post their request on HARO. If you are an expert on the specific topic they have posted, you simply pitch the reporter with your expertise. The reporter may ask to interview you on the phone or send you written questions with a deadline.
Send Books to Conferences as Door Prizes
If your book covers a specific area of expertise, there is quite possibly a gathering or conference for that topic.
Social Media
Do drawings for your books on social media. You can offer one entry to your drawing for a copy of your book if they use any form of social media to spread your message. Ask them to tag you in the share so that you can see it and add it to your drawing. This method is great to get people sharing. I’ve done it in the past for one month with weekly drawings. You could do it for one week with daily drawings or use whatever timing works for you.
Even without a reward, ask people to share your book release announcements. Ask your friends, family and social media friends with a personal note and a simple prepared message for them to post. To learn more about using social media check out the Selah Press Author-preneur Audio Recording An Awesome Social Media Platform.
Local Events and Stores
Local stores love local authors. They love being able to say that this particular book on their shelf is from a local author. You are not limited to only bookstores when it comes to the local appeal. Look for Made in ‘Your State’ stores, coffee shops and independent store owners.
Inexpensive Brochures, Postcards and Business Cards
You can use Vista Print or a variety of other printers for inexpensive business cards, brochures, address labels, postcards, posters, car magnets, totes and pens. Choose a few inexpensive marketing gadgets that will serve as great handouts and fun marketing tools.
Offer to Speak for Free
Unless you are already well known as a speaker, the phone won’t start ringing off the hook. Be willing to speak at conferences, schools, events, churches, community centers, retirement homes and so forth for free. Pick up the phone or make a social media connection with people that can open those doors for you and make the offer. Being told no doesn’t hurt too much; especially the twentieth time, but yes feels mighty good every time. You won’t get to the yes unless you risk the no.
Do Virtual Book Tours
Old fashioned book tours are a dying art. That is okay because we have a whole new virtual world available to use. You can do a virtual book tour by connecting with bloggers and asking them to allow you to guest post on their blog. What is in it for the blog host? They get a day off from blogging, you can offer them a free copy of your book, and generate new hits on their blog by promoting your book.
Podcasts and BlogTalk Radio
There are hundreds of indie radio shows available as podcasts and on BlogTalk Radio. Find the ones that fit your genre and offer to do a live interview with them. Not only does it get the word out to their listeners about your book, but you can use the interview file on your blog long term.
YouTube Virtual Reading
Use YouTube to do a virtual reading of your book just as you would if you were at a bookstore.
Send out a Press Release
You should compose a press release to send out to local media, target newspapers, bloggers and/or use a distribution service. Press Release distribution services help spread your message to a larger audience.
Enter Writing Competitions
There are positive and negative facets of entering writing competitions. If you win, you will gain publicity, win cash prizes, get a free trip to a writing conference and find a few other doors opened along the way. The only downside is that you might lose, and depending on your fortitude, it just might crush you. You have to decide for yourself if you are willing to take that risk.
Many competitions include written feedback from the judges. This information can be priceless and can help you improve your book. Some competitions allow you to choose a very specific category, which increase your chances of placing. Kayla Fioravanti’s book, Puffy & Blue: The Chronicles of Nine Lives Together, was the 2015 International Book Awards winner in the animal/pet narrative category. That is a very specific classification, which this book fit exactly within.
Many book competitions have a fee and specific deadline associated with entering. The deadline can be a great motivator to put you on course to finish your book in time to enter. I have been both a contestant and a judge in writing competitions. I find that the process is a win/win for everyone involved, but read all the small print, weigh the costs of the fee and make an educated decision that is best for your business. There is an extensive list available on Big List of Writing Competitions.
For more marketing opportunities specifically for authors check out: Author-preneur Training Audio Recording of An Overview of Author Marketing Opportunities.
