If you love writing and decide to make a book, you must have the right marketing skills to reach as many potential readers as possible.
Marketing a self published book isn’t easy, but there are numerous ways to enjoy the self-published journey.
The challenge is to find the best one that will work for you.
We will discuss different ways to market your self-published book, reach your target audience, and generate book sales.
One of the ways to do this is through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform, and we have this success guide on how to utilize this program.
Promoting a Self-published Book
The most crucial and nerve-wracking event for self-publishing authors is the book launch.
You must set up this day even before you start to publish to ensure that everything is in place.
Look for the best promotional tools that can help you attract the right audience as part of your book marketing plan.
Identify your target audience and the best places for promoting your literary work to get their attention.
Overall, some of the best book marketing tips include communication and preparation, ensuring better success.
KDP Success Guide
If you are not too familiar with Amazon’s KDP and how to maximize its features, the Kindle Direct Publishing Success Guide can help you.
This guide will enrich your book inventory in the Kindle Direct Publishing platform with creative concepts and bonus topics.
It aims to help boost your booke selling efforts to increase your profit.
Three Essential Book Elements
Skills and talents alone will not suffice in any business if one wants to succeed.
It would help if you also had some monetary investment to enhance and promote the book on the market.
Here are three basic but essential elements to remember for self-published books to succeed.
1. Write a Good Book
This element is where the author’s skills come in.
Though this may sound subjective, something with an interesting topic or story may be considered a good book.
However, relying on your judgment is not enough, either.
Most writers would let their book manuscripts rest for several days, read them, and make several revisions.
After you have done some editing, it’s time to ask for a second opinion from other writers or beta readers who can provide book reviews.
2. Create an Attractive Book Cover Design
We all know that first impressions matter, and so with books. The first thing book readers will see is the book cover.
Most amateur book covers look dull and flat due to low resolution. They also lack eye-catching elements to attract buyers and readers.
Your book cover image is your first book promotional tool, so don’t cut corners on expenses on this part.
Hire a professional to design your book cover, so it stays clear and sharp even when reduced in size by online retailers.
3. Well-written Book Description
The next vital aspect of your self-published book is its description. You must write a catchy one, encouraging readers to buy.
A poorly-written book description is not an effective book promotion technique.
Use your writing skills in creating several book description versions and get feedback from friends and colleagues to know which one has the most impact.
Marketing a Self published Book
Generally, marketing involves sharing information about yourself and your book with your target audience.
Here are some book marketing ideas to boost its online visibility among your preferred audience.
1. Build a Platform
A platform can mean anything you can use to engage with your target audience.
You can build a website, using it to promote your book and to communicate with your audience.
A website also helps build an email list that you can use for your book promotion campaigns.
Social media sites are also excellent platforms for posting book promotion ideas.
Choose one or two social networks to use as an author platform to market yourself and your book.
Create well-written blog posts, good enough for Google to index and hopefully attract visitors to your page.
Alternatively, you can write a guest post for other websites or blogs related to your book’s topic or genre.
YouTube is another platform to promote and market your work through book trailers.
Although some say they will not draw sales, you can still inform your viewers about your book.
2. Get Book Reviews
Getting honest reviews from your readers are excellent book marketing strategy for authors.
There are several ways to get a review. You can organize book giveaway events on your website and other platforms of your choice.
For first-time authors, you can shortlist top reviewers from Amazon, choosing the ones from your genre.
Offer a free copy of the book for review as you politely ask for the favor in exchange.
Asking for a review outright is one of the best ways to gain exposure, especially for independent authors.
3. Amazon Programs and Book Promotional Tools
Amazon offers great programs and books promotion tools beneficial for authors.
Check out the list of programs from Amazon widely used by authors and find the one that suits you well.
KDP Select
Under this program, Amazon will have the exclusive rights to distribute your ebooks for 90 days.
While enrolled, you can use five days out of the 90 to organize a countdown deal.
During this period, you can also offer the book for free as part of your promotional campaign.
On the other hand, completed book sales while enrolled in the program will generate a 70% royalty rate.
Also, your ebook will be part of the subscription service known as Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can discover and read new ebooks.
Authors are paid based on how many pages are read by the subscribers.
Amazon Author Central
When you create an Author Central account, you will have a customizable page on Amazon.
This page has your biography, events, photos, videos, and full details of all your published books.
It’s also connected to the sales pages of your books on Amazon.
You can share the URL on different social media platforms or your email signature, driving traffic to your page.
Expanded Distribution Program
Under this program, your book is listed in the distributors’ catalogs, making the printed version available in different online retailers.
Readers will also find the books in academic institutions, physical bookstores, and libraries in the United States.
Sellers and libraries can order your printed book if they are connected to the ordering systems of the distributors.
4. Maximizing Distribution Channels
Amazon owns two companies providing self-publishing services: CreateSpace for printed books and Kindle Direct Publishing for ebooks.
In addition to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing, you can use other platforms to promote and distribute your book.
These platforms include Barnes & Nobles Nook, Apple’s iBooks, and Kobo, which will cover most of the distribution channels for your ebook.
5. Pen an Enticing Book Blurb
You might have noticed a short piece written on the back cover of a printed book that is a blurb. You can also see this on online sales pages for ebooks.
Most readers would normally check what is written on the back cover of a book to get an idea of its content.
Thus, you must write something that will pique your readers’ curiosity and buy your book.
6. Use Discounting Sites
Book recommendation services like Book Gorilla and Bookbub can help promote and market your book.
These platforms send daily email recommendations to subscribers about new titles from various book genres.
If you want to be recommended, you must offer your book at a discounted price of at least 50% or give it for free for a limited time.
Bookbub is becoming popular among authors based on online reviews. Also, they proved that book promotions can boost sales and reviews.
7. Join Online Author Events
Although online author events are not as frequent as before, you will still find some occasions from time to time.
These events are great for drawing multiple authors from various book genres.
Typically, your book is arranged in front of another author’s fan base while your followers are introduced to a different author.
Generally, joining these events requires a corresponding fee, ranging in different amounts, depending on the organizers.
These online author events can boost your fan base significantly.
8. Book Swag
Who doesn’t like giveaways? Readers love book swag, anything bearing your book or the author’s brand.
Items may vary, and most writers like giving away odd items that leave a lasting impression.
Some ideal items include the following:
- Bookmarks or postcards
- Coffee cups, reusable water bottles
- Keychains, buttons
- Pencils, eraser, pens
- Phone cases
- Stress balls
- Shirts, sweatshirts
- Stickers, bumper stickers
- Tote bags
9. Word-of-Mouth Marketing
You can use word-of-mouth marketing free of charge without limit. It is the oldest form of promoting things back in the day.
It is as simple as telling your friends and acquaintances about your book, hoping they will spread the news so it reaches many people.
You can start breaking the good news to your family because they would love to brag about your achievement.
The only downside to this kind of marketing is its efficacy. There is no way to know how far the news had spread.
How to Market a Self-published Book?
Marketing a self published book may require a lot of work and patience. But it will be worth it once you complete the task.
If you want to ensure a favorable outcome, it is best to subscribe to the Kindle Direct Publishing Success Guide.
It is a comprehensive guide that ensures you have everything you need to succeed.
Everything is covered during your subscription, from providing you with a relevant topic that will sell up to increasing your monthly sales.
There is an assurance of complete guidance from start to finish.
