Book Marketing: 4 Tips To Get Free Publicity For Your Book

Are you developing book marketing plans for your book?

Chances are, you’re missing out on opportunities for free publicity. Yes, I said free publicity. Most self-publishing authors, as well as traditionally published authors, miss out on these free opportunities.

I’ve been a copywriter for over 30 years, so seeing public relations (PR) opportunities comes naturally. That said, PR is a specialized field and it’s changed over the years. Today, news releases and campaigns are aimed at consumers, rather than the press.

Book marketing: use FREE publicity

Let’s state the obvious: the more people who hear about your book, the more people will buy it.

Here’s the best-ever tip to sell more books: focus on free publicity.

Newspapers and magazines are faint shadows of what they used to be. So, when looking for free publicity, focus directly on readers, as well as on influencers, such as: bloggers, YouTubers, Instagrammers, and other social media people with big followings.

Here are some tips.

1. Write at least one news release: it’s the gift that keeps on giving

Should you write and publish a news release?

You should—and more than one.

Marketing and publicity maven David Meerman Scott is a fan of news releases. From The New Rules of Marketing and PR:

• Have a new take on an old problem? Write a release.
• Serve a unique marketplace? Write a release.
• Have interesting information to share? Write a release.

 

Your news releases must be newsworthy, but as you can see from David’s list above, in a PR sense, news is whatever is NEW for you.

So, what’s new?

Your news could be that you’re:

• Writing a novel;
• Posting a pre-order for the book to Amazon (more on this below);
• Sending out beta copies. (Add a couple of quotes from your beta readers);
• Now have 1,000 followers on… (a social media site);
• Getting ready for publication day…

By the way, check out my book publicity service; it includes a media kit.

2. Make friends with book bloggers and influencers

Making friends isn’t challenging in these days of social media.

To make friends, you might:

• Follow them on social media;
• Like or retweet their latest blog post or social media update;
• Comment on a blog post;
• Write a review of their latest book…

If you’re thinking: yes, but they have a million followers on YouTube, they’ll never notice me… STOP THAT.

Get creative. Make a list of ways you could promote them. Yes, they appreciate help, no matter how many followers they have.

If you engage ten influencers, over time, one or more will notice you and you only need one to post a link to your book to make a huge impact on your book marketing efforts.

3. Use your blog and social media to post snippets from your book

Use your blog and social media accounts while you’re writing your book. Post about your writing joys. (No woes, or complaints. Don’t be a Debbie Downer.)

Consider posting occasional snippets too. A paragraph is fine. Please remember that everything is cumulative, so every book marketing activity has an effect.

4. Use Kindle pre-order to make sales and increase your book’s rankings

Pre-orders are a brilliant way to get free publicity. Use them.

From Amazon:

You can make your new eBooks available for pre-order in Kindle Stores worldwide. Setting a pre-order allows customers to order your eBook as early as one year before its release date.

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Ready for some free publicity for your book?

Check out my book marketing news release service.

Not only do you receive a done-for-you news release, you receive a media kit too.

It’s the easiest way ever to get free publicity to launch or promote your book.

Tip: get free publicity before publication day. Send out a release when you put your book up for pre-order. (This ensures immediate sales and a better Amazon ranking.)

Order now: get free publicity for your book.

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