25 Free Ways to Market Your Book
In this mid-week bonus article, discover 25 ways to market your book that don't cost you anything but time
A post in a Facebook group inspired me to come up with ideas for book marketing for someone who can’t afford marketing. I’m a believer that authors should treat their writing as a business, thus, invest in marketing and advertising as you would in any other business. However, I do understand that circumstances sometimes cause someone not to be able to invest anything financially into the book business.
Of course, there’s always a trade-off. If you can’t spend the money, expect to spend more time and do more work. There is an old saying about the triangle of service: good, cheap, and easy—you can only have two of those at a time. If you want it cheap, you either have to sacrifice quality or sacrifice ease.
However, free stuff is worth a try—and many of it is actually effective.
Here are 25 completely free ways to market your book:
Utilize Email Marketing: Start an email newsletter to connect with readers, share updates, and offer exclusive content or promotions. You can almost always start newsletters for free—like this newsletter, which is hosted by Substack (10 out 10!).
Guest Blogging: Offer to write guest posts for relevant blogs or websites in your niche or genre to reach a wider audience.
Online Book Communities: Join online book communities, Facebook groups, forums, and Goodreads groups to participate in discussions and promote your book subtly. Give more than you take!
Author Interviews: Seek out opportunities for author interviews on podcasts, blogs, or YouTube channels within your genre.
Content Marketing: Create valuable and shareable content related to your book's themes, characters, or settings to engage your target audience. If you can’t afford a website, you can try free blogging sites or just do content marketing on a long-form social media platform like Facebook.
Online Directories: List your book on free book directories and author platforms to increase its online visibility.
Press Releases: Write and distribute press releases about your book launch or significant updates to attract media attention. Email them to every local news station, newspaper, and magazine in your area or niche.
Social Media Challenges: Create and promote social media challenges or contests related to your book's themes to encourage engagement and sharing.
Collaborate with Influencers: Partner with influencers in your niche to promote your book to their followers.
Online Book Clubs: Participate in online book clubs or create your own to discuss and promote your book.
Leverage Hashtags: Use relevant and trending hashtags on social media to increase the discoverability of your book-related posts. Find scheduled Twitter chats in your niche and join the conversation live.
Author Readings: Host virtual author readings or Q&A sessions on platforms like Facebook Live, Instagram Live, or live on YouTube.
Free Ebooks and Samples: Offer free ebook samples or short stories as a teaser to encourage readers to check out your full book.
Networking: Attend any free virtual book conferences, author webinars, or online writer groups to network and exchange ideas with fellow authors.
Social Media Cross-Promotion: Collaborate with other authors for cross-promotional efforts, where you promote each other’s books to your respective audiences on social media.
Online Workshops: Offer free online workshops or webinars related to your book's themes or writing process.
Author Newsletters: Exchange promotions with other authors in your genre through your respective newsletters.
Leverage Metadata: Maximize the visibility of your book on platforms like Amazon, Goodreads, and Smashwords by optimizing your book’s metadata and keywords.
Engage with Readers: Respond promptly to reader comments, reviews, and messages on social media and author platforms, fostering a loyal reader community.
Local Libraries and Bookstores: Contact local libraries and independent bookstores to inquire about opportunities for author readings, signings, or presentations. Sometimes this is free, sometimes not.
Book Trailers: Create a captivating book trailer using free video editing tools and free photos and videos, then share it on YouTube and social media platforms.
Reader Reviews and Testimonials: Encourage satisfied readers to leave reviews and testimonials on platforms like Amazon, Goodreads, or your website to build social proof.
Virtual Book Tours: Organize virtual book tours where you visit various websites, blogs, and social media platforms to promote your book and engage with different audiences.
Live Interviews: Go live on Instagram and Facebook with another author or influencer in your niche to have a conversation that benefits both audiences.
Tap Into Your Network: Utilize your connections from schools you’ve attended, clubs you’ve joined, professional associations you're a part of, and community groups you've contributed to, and ask them to share about your book. They may just brag about you to boost their own visibility.
Hope these inspire you!