Today’s guest post is brought to you by author Kathryn Elizabeth Jones. She is sharing other tips writers can use to market their books for free.
When I tell other writers you can market your book for free, they often look at me as if I’m on something, or, at the very least, crazy.
What they don’t know is that I’m actually more than a little pumped up about book marketing.
Why?
Suffice it to say that I have been published for many years and during that time have learned many fascinating things about marketing. Not only what works – and what doesn’t – but the many avenues of marketing that don’t cost me a red cent.
So let’s get to it, shall we?
Book trailers: The first day I stumbled upon Animoto, a site that allows the user to create a video for FREE, I thought, “Is this for real?” My second thought was, “Will I be technically challenged?”
The good news is, it was for real and it was so easy to use! Now, I do almost all of my book trailers using Animoto. As long as my video is 30 seconds or less, the creative experience is free.
I use book trailers I have created on my site, upload them to YouTube, and send them off to all of my social media contacts.
Blog interviews. There are so many readers and writers out there searching for authors who will do an interview with them. And these interviews are so simple! The blogger sends you a list of questions, you fill them out and send them back along with your book cover and author photo. That’s it! Expect to see your interview in an upcoming post and social network to your heart’s content!
Reviews: Reviews are SO important in your book marketing plan, especially the reviews found on Amazon, the #1 place that readers shop! Reviews need never cost you. There are many, many readers and authors interested in reviewing books, and some will even take your book in PDF format! What does that mean for you? Absolutely no cost to you to send them your book.
Speaking Engagements: Having a difficult time getting speaking engagements on your own? I still struggle with this after many years of publishing. The good news is if I piggy-back with a great conference or writer’s event, I am able to talk about some aspect of writing, and, at the same time, make a little money selling my books.
Am I always paid up front to speak?
Nope. But the experience always gives me an opportunity to meet other writers AND sell the books I have brought with me.
Free advertising online. Did you know that there are sites out there that will post your book cover, your book’s synopsis, author photo, links, and sometimes, even a book trailer without charging you for it? I was simply amazed when I discovered this!
Here are a couple of sites to get you started:
www.awesomegang.com
www.BookDaily.com
Marketing your book for free doesn’t have to be difficult, though it can be a bit scary when you get started. I try to remember that it’s okay to be a bit afraid as long as I don’t let the fear get to me and keep me from marketing my book.
I wish you success.
***
Kathryn Elizabeth Jones is the owner and editor-in-chief at Idea Creations Press, a publishing services company offering writing, publishing and marketing services to writers and non-writers alike. She is also the author of six books including Marketing Your Book On A Budget