HOW TO MARKET A BOOK FOR FREE!

So you’ve written and published your book—congratulations! Now here comes the exciting (and sometimes daunting) part: marketing. If you’re an indie author or just getting started, you might not know where to start, and might not have a big budget. The good news is, you don’t need a huge budget  to get noticed. With smart strategy, persistence, and creativity, you can successfully market your book for free. In this article we will share some strategies on how to market a book for free, to help build momentum, and reach more readers.

Build An Online Presence

In today’s world, you are your brand. To build your brand, start with the basics:

• Create a website – A simple author site with a bio, your books, contact information, and a blog goes a long way. There are free websites you can use such as Wix or Weebly. When you use a free website, normally the website host will keep their name in the domain url, such as AuthorName.wix.com. After you've had some sales, and are ready to invest in the website, you can later purchase a custom domain from the website host of your choosing, and your site content will automatically transfer over if you stay with the free website host you originally chose.

• Use social media – Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, and even LinkedIn can help you connect with your ideal readers. Post consistently, such as two to three times a week by sharing updates, giving sneak peeks about your book or other books you are writing, and share about your life as an author.

  
  

List Your Book On Amazon and Other Online Distributers

You need your book to be accessible. Yes you can have an online store and sell direct to customers, which is recommended. But it is also recommended to have your book available through online distributors, and specifically on Amazon. There are some great programs through Amazon to help market your book. 80% of the world's total sales on new ebooks, and 50% of the world's total sales of new print books are sold through Amazon. Here is how to optimize your Amazon listing:

• Write a compelling, keyword-rich description (this is what the book is about and why the person should read the book)

• Choose categories that fit your title (the more niche the category of your book, the more likely it will stand out)

• Leverage KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) – KDP lets you publish and sell your ebook and paperback for free (although they do take a percentage off each sale for print and administration), and if you enter their Kindle Unlimited program there are some promotions you can use to support marketing your book.

Engage In Email Marketing

Email marketing is still rated as the top form of sales marketing out there. Even a small email list is powerful. To build a list, offer something for free, like a newsletter or short story, or when attending in person events offer a chance to win a gift basket (with your book and some other goodies) in exchange for email list signup. Then:

• Send updates on releases, behind-the-scenes writing tips, or sneak previews.

• Use free tools online like Mailchimp, Kit, or other scheduling software to help you along.

• Schedule consistent emails based on the level of content you are providing your audience, but do not spam.

  
  

Secure Book Reviews: Early and Often

One of the biggest supporting methods of how to market a book for free counts on reviews. To gain reviews:

• Offer ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) to beta readers.

• Kindly ask readers to leave honest reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, or from where they purchased the book.

• Use your social media or email list to invite feedback—and to share it!

The more reviews your book has, the higher credibility and visibility your book will have.

Participate In Author Events, Locally and Online

Get out there—literally! Look for existing local events, create your own events, and work with community partners to help get the word out about your book.

• Attend open mic nights or literary readings and read an excerpt.

• Join or host local author events—collaborate with other writers and authors.

• Sign up for online author forums like Reddit’s r/selfpublish,  Absolute Write, or Facebook writing groups—talk about your book  and engage with the group without being spammy.

  
  

Request Your Book (and Other Titles By You) Be At Your Local Book Stores and Libraries

Walk into your favourite local bookstore or library and make a request to have your book on their shelves:

• Bring in copies of your book and ask them to stock your book or ask if you can do a signing event.

• Suggest your book for local book clubs or community reads.

• Visit your local library, explain you are a local author, and ask to do a reading.

• For children's books or YA books and poetry, go to local schools and offer to do a reading.

Places who sell books and encourage literacy often support local authors—you just have to ask!

Mastering the Power of Word of Mouth

Ask yourself, “What made me read the last great book I read?” Chances are, it was a recommendation. Word-of-mouth is free and priceless. How do you get readers to spread the word?

• Ask satisfied readers to recommend your book to one person.

• Encourage book clubs and reading groups to feature your title.

• If they comment about your on social media, thank them, and ask if they can share about your book to help spread the word.

• Ask friends and family to post about your book on their social media, mention it in conversations, and leave honest reviews if they've read it.

Master Search Engine Optimization (SEO) And Use It To Your Advantage

Just like Google, Amazon and your website rely on keywords. Use terms your ideal reader might search for:

• Genre-specific phrases

• Emotional hooks (“heartbreaking love story”, “fast-paced thriller”)

• Niche tropes (“grumpy/sunshine romance”, “found family fantasy”)

Learning how to use key words will help people find your book faster.

Understand and Make Use of Amazon-Specific Algorithms

Another way to consider for how to market a book for free is maximizing the power of Amazon's algorithms. The more sales, reviews, and clicks your book gets, the more Amazon will promote it.

Ways to work with the algorithm:

• Encourage early reviews (even 10 makes a difference)

• Promote your book in its first week—Amazon loves momentum

• Use keywords in your book description and listing that readers might type in (think: “cozy mystery with a cat,” “slow-burn fantasy romance”)

• For support figuring out how to use key words to your advantage, there is a helpful blog featured by Kindlepreneur.

  
  

Host A Book Signing Event

You don’t need a major publisher to have a book signing event. Often you can secure the space to have the book signing for free such as with:

• Local cafes

• Independent bookstores

• Art markets or fairs

• In public parks (check your local bi-laws)

Invite your friends, hand out bookmarks, have a free give-away to build up that email list, read from your book, talk about your journey, and have your books available for sale and signing.

------------------

Hoping these tips help you consider ways to work smarter and not harder with your marketing and your money. Make sure to use the free tools that are available to your advantage to help spread the word about your book. Remember: You don’t need a huge budget to get marketing started—a can do attitude and willingness to put in the time can get you further than you might expect.

You’ve got the book, and now you’ve got the strategies of how to market a book for free. So take the leap, share your story, and let the world know you’ve got something worth reading.

Your days of being a successful author are just upon the horizon. Contact us  today and let us help you get started on your publishing journey, and ask how we help market the books published with Raspberry Press!