I have been publishing books for 10-years now. Ever since my, I had my first daughter and I wrote a blog post called 50 Things to Know Before Having a baby that then became my first book. Below are the things that I have used in the past to help promote books. The largest tip I have it o make your books into a series. Please share in the comment how you promote your books.
1. Amazon Author Pages
When it is available you can create an Amazon Author page, create your own social media posts, and even your own book release party if you like. https://authorcentral.amazon.com Here is an example of my page: https://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Rusczyk/e/B007MROM4Y
You can create Author pages on other Amazon sites too:
- USA – https://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/landing?
- UK – https://authorcentral.amazon.co.uk/gp/landing?
- Germany – https://authorcentral.amazon.de/gp/landing?
- France – https://authorcentral.amazon.fr/gp/landing?
- Japan – https://authorcentral.amazon.co.jp/gp/landing?
2. Create a Goodreads Page
My example: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5765242.Lisa_M_Rusczyk
3. Create a Bookbub Page
You can also make a BookBub page: https://www.bookbub.com
Find your book on Google after it is published. You can give your book 5 stars or ask friends or family.
4. Amazon Associates Links
5. Bookshop Affiliate
5. Amazon Free Days
6. Create a Promotional Video
7. Make an Author Facebook Page
Make a Group on Facebook to Share Your Skills With Others.
Facebook for Small Business and Others: http://skl.sh/2n1d2NG
My Page as an Example: Lisa Rusczyk Author https://www.facebook.com/LisaRusczykAuthor/
8. Make a Group
This is the CZYK PUblishing secret group. A great place to work together with others towards a goal online. Create a Community Class: http://skl.sh/2n1ajqT
CZYk Publishing Secret Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1820897751493495/
9. Make a Blog
This is a great place to put your work and share it with others.
Class on Creating a Blog: http://skl.sh/2nYivch
10. Sign Up For Amazon Associates- May only be available in certain countries
Make money when anyone clicks on your blog links and goes to Amazon. You will be able to create links, including your book link, that allow people to click on them to go to Amazon. You can earn 6-8% of these purchases on Amazon.
*This IS NOT a royalty for your book. This is a way for you to use Amazon Associates to make additional income on your own.
Class: http://skl.sh/2mBxhFC
11. Start a Twitter Account
Class: http://skl.sh/2o1TltN
12. Start a Pinterest Account
Class: http://skl.sh/2mreiwX
13. Make a Press Release
Press release template. Please save as or copy and paste. Make sure you change everything that needs to be changed. I can look at it for you if you like.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YZSnFbE1-YFDhp0HjBWWN4kuCm2dQdzkO4ks6Y1N_F0/edit?usp=sharing
14. Create a Book Launch
Here is a past book launch that may help you get started. Lisa would love to be invited but not create it. Also we can schedule a free book day during your launch (ebook).
https://www.facebook.com/events/128077564476392/
15. Author Email Address
You can make a fun gmail address that goes with your book. For example, Kim Kaiser wrote "50 Things to Know About Birds in Michigan" and she created the gmail address 50birdsmichigan@gmail.com. You can also include #50Birdsmichigan in your book to promote and find your book on social media.
16. Add QR Codes
Spotify-The following playlist contains songs about Augusta, Georgia or by
people from our town - whether they were born here or just lingered here a
while Spotify URL: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7DBDYnHQ3M4Tg6XmUZloGL?si=d195557b72d54920
YouTube -The following playlist
contains videos on YouTube about people from Augusta and stories mentioned in
this book. YouTube URL: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL64HoYnUs6mgh8dM9RLnnURsuXjSV38vr
HASHTAG #LoveGUS & Google Album -
Tag & share your photos to the following #LoveGus album. Album URL : https://photos.app.goo.gl/GFVHJB62PCxqcJE48
17. Use Images and Text for Social Media
I have included a few links of images that you can include to catch more eyes and algorithms in social media. Facebook Album Link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1842032882669263&type=3
Spotify-The following playlist contains songs about Augusta, Georgia or by
people from our town - whether they were born here or just lingered here a
while Spotify URL: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7DBDYnHQ3M4Tg6XmUZloGL?si=d195557b72d54920
Tag & share your photos to the following #LoveGus album. Album URL : https://photos.app.goo.gl/GFVHJB62PCxqcJE48
18. Create Free 3D Mockups of your Books
Learn more from Lisa's Skillshare Classes
Again, thank you for your hard work and hopefully, we can work together again in the future. If you would like to take any of my skillshare classes, please let me know and I can send you a link: https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/lisarusczyk
A Note from Kelly Hawkins, Author of 50 Things to Know About Being a High School English Teacher:
As for reviews on the first book, I have been teaching for nearly twenty years with an average of 120 students or so per year. I have tried my best to build and maintain relationships with my students. Once they graduate, many of them reach out on social media. I continue to interact and help them long after they leave my classroom. Now, they have repaid the favor and have been extremely kind and generous with purchasing my book and leaving positive reviews. They have also told me that they have shared the book with others that would have an interest in it. They are my best salespeople! Don't be afraid to politely reach out to folks that have read your book and ask them to leave a review. They often do just simply forget and a little reminder goes a long way.
A large number of them are on goodreads, so that has helped as well. FaceBook was my social media venue of choice, but I just started an Instagram account and have reconnected with even more students through that. Therefore, my best advice to other writers is to get your book out there as much as possible. Post on social media, send emails to places you think may be interested in the subject matter, send press releases, offer to be a guest speaker at your local library or schools, and create a network of other authors so you can support one another. I am not one to boast about myself, so "selling" the book was really uncomfortable for me at first, but my readers have helped to take that pressure off, which has been a lifesaver! You just never know what other opportunities will arise from the exposure your book gets. A former student of mine posted a pic of herself with my book and a lovely review on FaceBook. Someone she is friends with saw it. That friend just happened to work at the college where I received my Master's and now works at the college where I received my Bachelor's. She reached out to me and invited me to be the guest speaker for their Kappa Delta Pi induction ceremony last week, because my book was about education. It was an amazing experience. The stars aligned and there was definitely a little luck involved there, but getting your book out in the public view as much as possible will help it fall into the hands of the right people.
I also want to thank Lisa for the helpful list of ways to promote our books. That has been a wonderful tool as well. So far these techniques have earned twenty-four five-star reviews on Amazon for my first book.
I hope that helps. Good luck to everyone with their writing endeavors, and let me know if I can support you!