Book published, now to publicise it...

I've just published a self-help book via Creatspace and KDP, and it was a straightforward process in both cases.

However, I am under no illusions that the hard work starts now - marketing the book and getting people to know about it and, with luck, buy it.

I've set up a blog and have been promoting the book on social media (I have a fair number of followers on Facebook and Twitter, thanks to a business I run), and have been interviewed for a podcast. But much more work is needed, and I wonder if anyone can offer some pointers.

I have looked at Amazon adverts and promotions, and Facebook adverts, but am unsure of how effective they would be.

Cheers

Phil

 

Sorry, I have just realised there's a separate forum for marketing so will post this there. I can't see any way of deleting this, so maybe a moderater can help?

 

I'm in the same spot Phil. From one self-published author to another, some of the best advice I've heard from recent publishers is working together with other authors to help promote each others work is always really helpful. I host a Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram page for my current series, Sem and Ally Adventures, and I am totally interested in helping promote your work if your whiling to help promote mine?
As authors, its good to make connections and work together. Especially in this flooded media filled world we currently live in. That also applies to anyone else on the forums who is looking to collaborate.

 

Hi

Thanks for your reply. I'd be delighted to collaborate with you in doing some shared marketing. I have a Facebook and Twitter account for my book, Save Your Life. How do you suggest we move forward?

Cheers

Phil

 

Best I can suggest would be push and promote each others content, helping get the word out and form a platform. The world of publishing has changed so much over the past decade, so it's really anyones best guess what's the most effective way. Social media is obviously the big thing currently. The more people hear about it, the better.

~ T.S.

 

OK, let's see what we can do. Anyone else want to join in?

Here's my website www.saveyourlife.me

 

Same boat, one 47 pager published, one 550 pager pending, same outlets. I have an author's facebook page, linked but separate from my personal one, and linked to my website. Updated my website with a Buy Now button that takes viewers directly to Amazon, I paid $5 for a small boost, then $20 for a 7000 reach boost.

I am going to host book signings, waiting for the bigger 550 pager to come out this month, in my local bar another by my Navy watering hole for my coworkers, one in my gym, others TBD. Getting myself a writeup in my local newspaper which has a section on local authors. Given out a few free copies to deserving coworkers... make sure they give you an Amazon review. Will talk to local bookstores about carrying it, if they are independent: I can provide TBD copies at my production/shipping cost, mark it up a buck, and let them charge what they will. Since the first one is a religious theme, working through local churches to generate interest.

Hope this helps, it is a lot of work and not cheap

 

Also go to success stories on this page, and put a link in to your book, publicize it here. See "Come, Follow Me" on that section, and add it to your signature block.

 

Thank you, Lew, that's useful information.

I also have a website, which links to Facebook, Twitter and Amazon.

I've looked at Amazon promotions and set a couple up but not seen any benefit yet.

Press releases to the press etc will follow soon.

Cheers

Phil

 

Thanks again, Lew, I will do that now.

 

I would suggest that you add a regular website, so that people don't have to log in to Facebook to see your site. In fact, I'd make that, not Facebook, the center of your online presence. There are people (including me) who decline to use Facebook, and there are probably people who just don't, but whose money you still wouldn't reject.

Edited to add: I see that you have a site. I'll still leave the advice here, because a startling number of people use Facebook as their primary, sometimes their only, online presence. I doubt that they'd consciously say, "Keep your dirty Facebook-free money! I don't want it!" but that's the equivalent of what they're doing.