Social Media and Promotions: Tips and Tricks to Launching Your Book
- gabrielladennany
- Sep 4, 2024
- 5 min read
What is one of the most daunting things a new author has to cope with once they begin to consider publication?
If you were to ask, most would probably say marketing. One of the big reasons why it’s the dreaded factor of self-publishing is because we are authors. We are creatures who like to curl up in the fetal position and try to think of a good way to get our characters to hold hands. Nothing about us screams ‘social media manager’. Suddenly, an author needs to be a spokesperson and motivational speaker. Suddenly, we must have some kind of an elevator pitch ready in our back pocket for anyone curious about what we’re working on.
Marketing is also too big a handful when you decide to “Google” how to have a successful book launch. Half the results are SEO-jargon-full lists spouting all the work you need to exactly do, while the other half are paid services. And when I say paid services, I mean pay an arm and a leg. Maybe some fingers too. After paying all these limbs towards some faceless company, you’ll wait a few weeks to a month to only realize you’ve been royally scammed.
Scams fill the internet specifically aimed toward self-published authors who are looking for a little assistance. I’ve seen my fair share, and after a close call, I do as much research as possible before looking into anything. That being said, the biggest lesson from all of it is to rely on myself as much as I can. Though this is the other big daunting factor pertaining to marketing, we can look to ourselves the most for all the creativity we need.
As the author, you know the most there is to know about your story! Even if it’s still a few sentences floating around in your head, you are the maker, and only you can say what it is. This is the reason why, in my opinion, authors themselves are the biggest tools toward having a successful marketing period. In this blog post, we will get into the nitty-gritty tips and tricks to promoting your book during its launch.
Before the Launch
So you’re debut book is finally ready to hit the shelves. After multiple drafts, countless nights editing, and makeshift graphic designer courses, you have done all the work, and are ready to reap the awards.
Except…you’ve just got a little bit more work to do.
Promoting your book before its launch has never gotten easier with these tips and tricks I've learned over the course of releasing my book, The Halls of Valhalla. A few months before your projected book launch date, the marketing process should begin. By this point in the writing journey, an author is incredibly attuned with their work, and have the design of its book cover and interior finished. This allows an author to do a cover reveal, to release the book before its release date to reviewers (these are advanced reader copys', or ARC readers), and to design quippy graphics to grab readers’ attention.
Take a day when you have a few hours free of work. Get yourself a brand new calendar that has the months leading up to your release date. After marking off your intended release, flip back at least three months, and begin to plan out your marketing schedule. Every other day, post something on socials that relates to the book. Introduce your characters, show the book cover, share a glimpse at the interior design, and hold a giveaway to get some ARC readers interested. This time is meant to grab someone’s attention long enough for them to remember when the book is released.
Better yet, begin your preorders this far ahead, so once someone is interested, they have all the tools to make sure they get their copy right away!
On this day when you have all this time, spend some of it making a folder full of graphics. Use free online design sites like Canva and Kittl to post trending graphics featuring key things from your book. Take the graphic I made for this blog post! These tips and tricks for promoting your book can be as simple as 1-2-3!
Your favorite quotes and characters can be released perfectly during this time!
The Launch
It’s finally the day! Your book has popped up on Amazon and other retailers, ready for the general public to give it a go. One of the most important things for a book to have on the first day it releases are reviews. Most people don’t understand how this gets done, but it’s pretty simple!
With the use of advanced reader copies (ARC), chosen readers can divulge in a book before its official release. Though some of these books might not be finished, the story is how it should be. Readers get the chance to be a very important part of the publishing process. By receiving this special edition, readers normally leave a review on the day the book is released. Through Goodreads and Amazon, a successful author can have more than ten reviews already waiting for them. Not only does this serve as needed help for writers it also gives consumers a reason to purchase a book.
The tips and tricks to promoting your book doesn't stop there. Don't stop working when the book launches! This is the fuel to the fire that'll push you through your writing career.
After the Launch
As soon as your book hits the shelves, the long-term marketing journey begins. Theoretically, as an author, you’ll be keeping your book alive by being its number one spokesperson. With social media specifically started for your story, the most important part now is keeping up with it. The moment all this stops, that little fire that was there on your book launch will puff out.
This is when the schedule becomes important. Even though scheduling doesn't seem like the most exciting thing to do, these tips and tricks to promoting your book will make an immense difference. Hold yourself accountable and meet those days you set aside as posting days. Spend some time looking at other authors doing the same thing as you. We can be each others' greatest inspiration! Have fun with everything you post, because if you don’t the audience can always tell. The passion you hold for your story is what will fuel you through this second job you managed to pick up. We are our own social media managers, and we know what is best for our books.
Further down the line, look into reviewers still and reach out to them. Have them read your book, and encourage them to leave a review - or better yet, to post about it on their own socials! Hold more giveaways, and think about special things to include for winners. Write a special short story that adds to the ending, or shows a different perspective with a fan-favorite character.
The possibilities are endless!
Despite it being the most tedious part of writing a book, marketing can be as fun as we make it to be. Don’t forget to get creative! Get the scheduling and boring parts out of the way, get your headphones, and let it rip. Film yourself reading your book. Make simple graphics announcing your local events and upcoming books. And with all of this, the embarrassment of putting your work into the world will come. Every last one of us are faced with that moment: I’m not like the other authors, I shouldn’t be doing this.
I hear those thoughts constantly, even here, writing this. But I remember the joy of writing, the imagination running wild, becoming a child again as I only grow older. Every last word is worth it. And we should all be doing this. Tips and tricks to promoting your book will always be available in this blog. Comment below if you have any suggestions to first-time authors that I haven't discussed yet!
Thanks for tuning in. See you soon :)
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