You finally finished your book — a huge milestone. But now comes the hard part: getting it into readers’ hands. If your self-published book isn’t selling as well as you expected, you’re not alone. Many indie authors run into the same challenge — often due to a few common book marketing mistakes.

If you're excited to introduce your self-published book to book clubs or reading groups, consider taking a friendly, thoughtful approach. Reach out directly, build connections, and make your book easy for readers to find and enjoy. Having a book club kit at the ready will make this process much easier for you when you find groups that you feel would be a good fit for your book. 

Below, you'll find a list of 8 items to include in your kit to make sure you're book club-ready.

*(Plus: When You Should Launch Yours)

If you’re serious about building a lasting career as an author, your website should be the foundation of your online presence.

While social media, podcast appearances, and guest blogs can all help you get discovered, your website is the one platform you truly own. It’s your digital home, your hub for marketing, and a powerful tool for attracting and keeping devoted readers.

Make sure your metadata is in tip top shape for optimal SEO and online discoverability.

Genre fiction refers to books that are written according to a particular theme or style. Crime fiction, romantic fiction, or fantasy fiction are examples of popular genre fiction. Fiction readers are very genre-specific, and your metadata (especially keywords and categories) tells them at a glance if your book meets their interests.

When self-publishing a book, one piece of marketing advice will come up time and time again: secure reader reviews. People reading, enjoying, and talking about your book is a strong social proof signal for potential readers. (If you’re not familiar with the term, social proof is the idea that people are more likely to trust or try something if they see others doing the same.)

Romance and Romantasy are no longer niche genres—they've become cultural powerhouses, captivating millions of readers and redefining the modern book scene. With bestsellers topping the charts, and viral recommendations sweeping across social media, the demand for more immersive, emotionally rich stories is at an all-time high. 

When you're creating your marketing strategy and thinking of all the ways in which you can promote your book, it's likely that Pinterest isn't at the top of your list. It's been around for years, it's not known for the bells and whistles that some platforms offer, and it's been primarily known as the the home of crafts and DIY projects. However, you're actually doing yourself a great disservice by overlooking the promotional possibilities that exist with Pinterest. 

When you think about how to promote your book around the holidays, your mind very likely goes straight to the traditional season of Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the December holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. You may even include New Year's Day, since so many people are looking to start the new year with new habits and a positive outlook. However, what about all those other holidays we observe during the rest of the year? Never underestimate the power of a good promotional opportunity!

According to Backlinko, in the U.S., an estimated 158 million consumers listened to a podcast in the last month (as of 2025)—with the most popular podcast platforms being YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. That's an increase from 135 million monthly listeners in the U.S. in 2024. Obviously, people's interest in podcasts isn't slowing down.

So, what does that mean to you as a self-published author?

In a world overflowing with travel apps and blog posts, a thoughtfully crafted travel guide still stands out. It’s tangible, trustworthy, and easy to use on the go—no batteries or signal required. Whether you're passionate about a local destination or want to share your global adventures, creating your own guidebook can be incredibly rewarding. Once it’s written, the next big step is getting your guide into travelers’ hands.

In today’s crowded book market, attention is everything. For self-published authors, standing out isn’t just an option—it's absolutely essential. One powerful promotional tool that you might not have considered yet is the book trailer. Maybe hiring a professional to create one isn't in your budget, and/or maybe you don't feel like you have the technical skills necessary to make your own… but, did you know that producing a professional quality book trailer is now faster, easier, and more affordable than ever?

Reddit isn’t like other platforms. It’s not a marketplace, a feed, or a digital stage—it’s more like a friendly chat. And if you’re a self-published author trying to promote and sell your book on Reddit without first understanding the culture, you’ll be ignored at best—banned at worst.

But that doesn’t mean Reddit isn’t a valuable tool for you. In fact, when approached genuinely and with patience, it can become a terrific way for you to build trust, credibility, and yes—eventually gain readers.

Here’s how to use Reddit as a self-published author the right way…

I’ve written in the past about the importance of presenting a polished first impression with your indie book. Unlike a Big 5 author, you don’t have the luxury of name recognition or publisher prestige, so you have to refine that first impression in other ways—and one thing you absolutely can’t ignore is your book’s product page. 

While I touched on descriptions, comp titles, and pull quotes in the previous post, I didn’t really get into the nitty-gritty of product pages… but there’s more to them than pure text! On that note, here are four key tips to optimize your book’s product page for reader interest and conversions.

If you’ve spent any time reading through our blog posts or learning about the self-publishing industry, you know how important it is to get reviews for your book. Reviews increase credibility, improve discoverability, and influence potential readers to pick up your book. In light of these many benefits, you should consider running a book review campaign, which involves strategically gathering and promoting reviews for your book. Follow the steps below to create an effective campaign that'll get your book in front of readers and increase book sales.

When growing your book’s visibility, engagement, and ultimately, sales, accessing the right audience is a must. There are over 5 billion internet users in the world today with an average of almost half a million new users every 24 hours.

In today’s digital landscape, authors face the daunting question of how to break through the noise and connect with readers. We’ve all heard the phrase “content is king,” but what does that really mean for author promotion? It’s more than just posting; it’s about crafting a strategic tapestry of online materials—articles, videos, engaging visuals—that build trust and cultivate a loyal audience.

The market for ebooks is growing: By 2027, Statista projects the number of e-reader users to grow to 1.1 billion, resulting in an expected revenue of $15.33 billion in the ebooks market. If you've not yet considered creating an ebook version of your print book, now is the time. As a self-published author, it's essential for maximizing success in today's digital-driven market. 

At IngramSpark, we talk a lot about marketing, and for good reason. It’s a vital part of selling your book and becoming a successful self-published author. Our guides and blog articles delve into the how’s, when’s, and where’s, but it’s also really helpful to know what resources are out there to help you accomplish a well-thought-out and planned marketing strategy.

Are you doing everything you can to promote your book and your brand? Maybe you've got an author website, a blog, a newsletter, and social media profiles across all the platforms. It could be that you've done a few local book signings and gotten some good reviews. You may even have gone so far as to create a book trailer. You're doing all the right things, but is there more that you can do? 

Book conventions, fairs, and festivals are popping up everywhere these days! No matter what kind of book you've written, there's a group of fans out there just waiting to dive into something fresh and exciting. These events are fantastic opportunities for both readers and authors. Readers absolutely love meeting their favorite authors and stumbling upon new books. Meanwhile, authors get the chance to showcase their work and grow their author brands.

Some of you may be seasoned pros at these events, but if you're a newbie just starting out, you might be curious about what to expect. We've put together a handy list to get you ready. Even if some tips seem like common sense, it's easy to overlook the basics when you're off on a new adventure!

Updated: June 10, 2025

There are tons of book-related events coming up this year, and we want to keep you up to date on when and where you can find them! Book festivals can be extremely beneficial for self-published authors aiming to broaden their audience, connect with experts in the industry, and gain knowledge about the current publishing landscape.

Self-publishing your book is quite an accomplishment, but unless you printed something deeply personal that’s just for you or a gift for someone close, you want everyone to buy and read your book. As an indie author, marketing is a huge part of your job, and IngramSpark has many resources to make that easier. One of our newest opportunities is Title Discovery Promotion.

In case you haven’t heard, Taylor Swift has chosen to bypass the traditional publishing route and self-publish The Eras Tour Book under her new imprint Taylor Swift Publications, exclusively at Target on Black Friday. This decision gives her the opportunity to keep more of the revenue from her book than she would if she went through a traditional publisher, and it also gives her total creative control over her book—she can choose when to publish it, what her cover looks like, how much to charge, how to market it, and where to sell it—without having to answer to a large publishing company.

In the world of publishing, generating buzz and reaching new readers is crucial for a book's success. While online sales and bookstore distribution are effective, keeping extra copies on hand can open up new opportunities to connect with audiences in meaningful ways. Here’s why every publisher should make this a priority, along with actionable strategies to boost visibility, engagement, and sales.

It's becoming increasingly clear that BookTok—a subcommunity of TikTok—has significantly influenced the sales of fiction books and is expected to do so for the foreseeable future.

GfK Entertainment and Nielsen BookData recently released their global report for the first eight months of the year, and data shows rising revenues in fiction. Among the fiction genres seeing the most growth are crime and thriller novels, whose sales are up in three-quarters of the surveyed countries.

As a writer, you know that sometimes getting started is the hardest part of a task. But you’ve overcome that hurdle and are a self-published author! Your book is out there for the world to see, but maybe not many people have bought it. Maybe you're staring at the “blank page” of how to market your book. We can help…

The holiday season is coming up quickly, and it's a bit shorter this year. So, why not get ready now for those exciting holiday sales?

If you want people to read your book, you have to write for a particular group of people,  as it's not realistic that everyone will like your book. Knowing who your audience is before you start writing is an advantage—you won't have to work that out after you've already finished a product you’re trying to promote. To be honest, that's not how most writers start out, but whether you’ve already published your book, or you’ve only written the first chapter, taking a deep dive into who you're writing for is a must if you’re doing your own marketing.

Part Four of a Blog Series

This fourth and final installment of the complete guide to creating an author website will delve into monitoring the users that visit, what happens during those visits, and what that can tell you about how well your website is performing. 

Part Three of a Series

While we often talk about authors as a collective whole, the truth is that the advice we give to nonfiction writers often doesn’t apply to those who write fiction—precisely because each set of authors is involved in such a different process (and product).

Influencer marketing has become a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes, but navigating the landscape can be tricky. Whether you're an author promoting your latest novel or a publisher promoting your backlist titles, understanding how to leverage influencer partnerships effectively is key.

There's nothing wrong with book reviews, but there are so many other options to consider when you choose to market your book! No matter how great your book is or which influencers you work with, you need to be creative with the type of content you're using for your influencer marketing campaigns. Ensuring the content is delivered in a fun, relatable, and engaging way will help you stand out in a crowded marketplace and capture the attention of your audience. 

Influencer marketing can be used in a wide range of industries, including books and publishing. Spaces such as #BookTok help authors and publishers get noticed, which can lead to a wider audience and stronger sales. To have success with this kind of marketing, though, you need effective collaboration. Here are some of the biggest things to consider.

Knowing your audience is an idea you’re probably familiar with as it’s frequently mentioned in every writing community and on every writing-related website. It is a foundational concept, for sure, but when it comes to marketing your book, it’s only the very first step. You’ve got to not only recognize your target audience, but also segment that audience to get the most bang for your marketing buck. Read on to discover why the importance of audience segmentation for self-published authors cannot be overstated. 

We’re well into 2024 already, but it’s never too late to stay on top of marketing your book! Trends are constantly changing, and there are so many effective ways to get your book in front of potential new readers these days. Here are some of the top trends that have been gaining momentum this year, and there’s no indication that they'll be going away anytime soon.

When working with an influencer to promote your books, in order to have the highest chance of success, you'll want to make sure you're choosing the right person for the job. That involves doing your research before reaching out to make contact, including using  influencer discovery platforms and tools to find the best people for your needs.

“Success” is a funny concept in the realm of indie publishing. Many authors choose to publish independently precisely because they are uninterested in mainstream success—eye-watering advances, NYT book reviews, etc.—preferring to retain more control over the publishing process and potentially stronger relationships with their readers.

Influencer marketing is a technique that uses the influence of popular social media personalities to bring a brand or product to the public's attention. It's used for everything from health and beauty products to clothing to books.

Updated December 9, 2024

Authors today are living out the glory days for connectivity. Mere decades ago, readers were writing fan mail to authors’ agents, and authors in turn were responding with handwritten letters expressing their appreciation for reading their books.

TikTok is for more than just the latest dance craze or viral challenge. There’s a community for almost everything people are interested in, and this is especially true for book lovers. #BookTok is a large, thriving community. Even brick-and-mortar stores often have a section devoted to books recommended on #BookTok. It’s the perfect place to promote your self-published book.

In a previous post, we discussed the many reasons why you should sell your book globally and how Global Connect makes it easy to get into international markets. The next question you’re probably asking yourself is how to go about promoting your book in those markets. Here, we'll share some things to consider when stepping into the international scene.

You may not have even considered creating author merchandise as a promotional tool, as merchandising is still a relatively new concept in the world of self-publishing. However, think about the power of merchandise in promoting all of your favorite brands, tv shows, or movies. Per Indie Wire, Star Wars retains its 2012 Guinness World Record title as history’s most successful film merchandising franchise. It amassed an unfathomable $32 billion from lucrative merchandise.

So you’ve self-published your book, and it’s available to order online, in bookstores, and even libraries. It’s a fantastic feeling to see your hard work pay off, but if the sales aren’t coming in as quickly as you hoped, it's time to look at other places to sell your book. Schools offer a variety of opportunities, including volume sales, if you have the cash flow and patience to make it past the initial hurdle.

The term “self-publishing” is often associated with the vision of an author struggling to do everything—from editing to marketing—on their own. It’s true that self-publishers wear many hats, but that doesn’t mean they’re doomed to do everything without help.

If you’ve already found success selling your self-published book and are looking for a wider market, you may want to think about translating your book so that as many readers as possible can enjoy it. Less than 20% of the world speaks English, so by translating your work into another language, you can potentially reach hundreds of thousands of new readers. 

Most people think of writing, self-publishing, and selling their books as a solitary endeavor. Though it can be, it doesn’t have to be. Usually, you’ll find great success by working with others, especially in the realm of marketing and promotion. There are many benefits to working with other authors. Here, we’ll share some of those benefits and expand on how you can find collaborators and get them to work with you.

Have you dreamed about your book being discussed by a book club, bringing a community of readers closer, and inspiring lively conversations? Authors don’t write just to have their book sitting on a dusty shelf, and book clubs are a great way to get your work out there. Keep reading to learn how to market your book to book clubs.

So, you’ve published your book with IngramSpark, and it’s available online, in stores, and around the world. Maybe you’ve thought about offering a discounted price or a special run of your title just for your friends and family, or for your followers on social media. Did you know you can now sell your book directly to readers from your author website, social media profile, and more with shareable purchase links?

Undoubtedly, you already know how important networking is to success in any business. Being an author is no different, and for self-published authors, networking is something you cannot neglect. Here, we’ll cover some of the benefits of networking and the best places, virtually or in person, to accomplish this.

Updated October 24, 2024

The new year will be here before we know it, and it's only natural to look back at what we've done over the last year. As we see the past months in review, we often think about what we want to accomplish in the coming year. This is especially necessary as a writer. Now is the perfect time to take stock of writing goals: which ones you met, which are still valuable, and which ones you should set for the coming year.

Here, we offer some goals to consider adding to your list for 2025 to make the year even more successful.

Social networking is powerful. One-third of the world uses social networks regularly. Studies show that 71% of shoppers are influenced by social media in making purchasing decisions. While physical book clubs and reading groups still exist, online communities for book lovers make it easy for readers to share the books they are reading and their thoughts about them with a much wider audience. Social networking sites for books allow readers to connect with other readers around books.

If you've recently joined a new writing group or if you've started one of your own, you may be looking for some activities for your group meetings. Some groups may have stated rules and goals, depending on the type of group to which you belong. However, there are many fun and productive exercises you can incorporate into your meetings. 

Writing and self-publishing are not solitary endeavors as some might assume. Sitting alone in front of a computer can only get you so far. If you're struggling to get your words onto the page or to cross the finish line and self-publish your book, joining a writing group can help.

One of the wonderful advantages of self-publishing and print-on-demand is that you don’t have to have a large stock of your book taking up space in your home. Nevertheless, indie authors should definitely have some copies on hand for a variety of uses. Neglecting to do so could cause you to miss out on many sales opportunities. Here are 11 reasons why you should buy your own book.

There’s one distinct difference between a good author and a great author: a good author knows what their audience wants, but a great author knows what their audience needs. They understand who their audience is, what drives them, and, most importantly, how to sell to them. 

Whether you’re excited or not about AI and using it in your author business, it is here to stay. We are in the early days of AI systems like Chat GPT and Jasper.ai and their power and utility will increase. That doesn’t mean you have to use these things as an author, but if you’re looking for some low-cost short cuts, especially for research, AI could be your answer.  

Many people still believe they need a literary agent to become an author. They spend months crafting the perfect book proposal and then months searching for an agent. If they are lucky enough to find an agent who wants to work with them, they then can wait six months to a year to hear if any publishers are interested. In all of that time, a book could have been written, edited, designed, and published!  

Updated October 23, 2024

Now that everything has turned into 24/7 holiday shopping, you may wonder if it’s too late to get your book onto someone’s "must buy" holiday shopping list. While it’s too late in the season to be thinking of your holiday strategy, there are definitely some great things you can still do to nudge sales in your favor! 

In my experience, I’ve learned there are many reasons why authors don’t want to be on social media. Some think it’s too complicated, some tell me they’re too old (which always makes me laugh), and some just literally don’t have the time to manage their social channels. 

Writing your book is a phenomenal accomplishment; the rush of typing those last words and putting the finishing touches on it is akin to climbing a mountain and finally reaching the summit. Once you get to the top, you’re hoping you can stop, enjoy the view, and relish in your achievement, and you can—but not for too long. Once you've completed your book, the next leg of the journey begins: marketing it. 

Many authors write a book based on a subject they like, or perhaps on a unique experience they have had. As a book marketing consultant, a question I frequently hear is, “My book is finished, now what do I do?” Successful book marketing lies in giving prospective readers what they want to read. Figuring that out depends on four pillars: target market, customer needs, integrated marketing, and profitability.

Updated October 22, 2024

If you haven't kicked off your holiday book sales planning yet, don't worry—you're definitely not the only one! With the holidays just around the corner, it's the perfect time to get excited and start gearing up to boost those sales. 

Succeeding as an author isn’t just about writing strong books. Sure, that may be the most important factor, but the rise of self-publishing has resulted in authors facing more competition than ever. If you want to stand out in the crowd, you need to make sure that you also write strong marketing copy.

Making a habit of marketing your books is important for all authors and publishers. Some habits are good, leading to long-term success. Others are not so good and can keep you from reaching your goals.

Our world needs memoirs.

It needs individuals who are willing to share the honest reality of who they are and the things they’ve experienced. When someone chooses to read a memoir, it means they’re searching for something. They’re searching for understanding, to gain perspective or insight, and they’re hoping to find something within your story that they can resonate with—perhaps something that gives them hope. 

Creating an ebook version of your book may seem intuitive to most authors, but not everyone agrees. I get pushback from authors all the time about creating eBook versions because they insist their readers won't gravitate to electronic forms of reading. But are you sure? Let's look at some reasons why adding an ebook can be an excellent addition to your overall catalog and a strategic book marketing decision. 

Writing a book is hard work, but it’s only half the battle. Once your book is finished, you’ll need to promote it through marketing and publicity—and we’re not just talking about book signings and social media! Article writing is a great way to grow your audience and build a community.

Want to instantly capture readers? No matter who you are or what genre your book falls into—nothing beats getting engrossed in a book description that leaves a reader wanting more. Short and long book descriptions both serve a purpose—to make you and your book look good. Before you start writing, here are a few things you need to know.

When some authors begin the writing process, they do so with their target audience in mind and a marketing plan in place. This allows them to focus on creating and promoting the right content in order to build their author platform and sell their books. Even before you begin writing, you should first be aware of what you are trying to accomplish by writing. You should also know what message you are trying to promote, who the message is for, and how the reader will benefit from reading your book. If your goal is to attract as many readers as possible in order to sell your book, here are six tips to help. 

Let’s face it. A lot of people decide to write children’s books because they seem easier. I mean, it’s a 32-page book for 5-year-old kids. There are lots of 5-year-olds in the world, how hard could it be right?

The thing is, you don’t realize just how hard it is because when you Google “How to market a book”, you get 2 billion results. The problem is that the majority of the book marketing strategies online focus nearly entirely on the adult market.

It’s not until you become a children’s author that you realize that children’s books are an entirely different beast.

Let's face it - many indie authors (which I generally refer to as "independent publishers," albeit smaller ones) will dismiss podcasting out of hand.

Too hard. Too time-consuming. Don't quite get it. Pass.

And that would be a bad idea.

When you decide to self-publish a book, you are signing up for all the duties a traditional publisher would typically take on. That means you not only have to write a great book but you also take on the job of marketing it. Where do you begin? You construct a book marketing strategy and forge ahead step by step! Here are a few key elements for a good book marketing strategy.

Getting your book reviewed is a crucial step in your book marketing strategy. Positive reviews tell readers that your book is worthy of their time, entice your potential audience with plot descriptions, and give you instant credibility. But there’s more to the book review process than simply sending your book off to a reader and waiting for the result. First, you need to ensure that your book is ready for to be reviewed. Second, it’s important to choose the type of review that will best help you achieve your goals. And finally, you need to learn how to use your reviews to your advantage to sell more books. 

Remember the days of Harry Potter mania? Practically every chain and indie bookstore in several countries had a release party for the latest J.K Rowling tome. Children, teenagers, and even parents clad in cloaks, crooked plastic glasses, and eyeliner lightning bolts waited for hours to get their hands on a copy of the latest book. I was a fixture in these lines, complete in my Hermione costume. We look back at these midnight literary festivities ten years later as a pop-culture touchstone. However, to people in the publishing industry, this is the perfect example of how pre-orders can make your book a success.

You could sell more of your books if you'd answer two questions honestly. First, how often do people think about your book? Second, how often do people think about their own problems? You will probably agree that people think more about how they can solve their own problems, learn something, improve themselves, or be entertained than they do about your book. However, if you can show them how reading your book helps them achieve these things, you are likely to increase your book sales and revenue, so let's cover how to target your book's audience.

Part One of a Blog Series

Authors and small publishers must have their own mobile-friendly, professional-looking website. It is, by far, the most important element of a book marketing strategy. I've developed over 150 author and publisher websites in the last 20 years, and although a lot has changed when it comes to developing websites, some things remain fundamental. This blog series is the complete guide to creating an author website—from domain names and costs all the way down to specific content categories. Read more and learn how to create a professional author website.

Book metadata and keywords might seem scary, but they’re really only the words and phrases that you use to describe yourself and your book. Your book metadata will consist of basic things such as your title, author name, author bio, book description, publication date, etc. Keywords are one or more words used to indicate the content of your book. Simply put, metadata and keywords are what make your book appear when a reader goes looking for a specific thing online, whether that thing is a book or not.

Congratulations! You’ve lined up an interview with a media outlet. Now you’ll get to share information about you and your brand, connect with new potential readers, broaden your network, and deepen your knowledge of promoting a book. 

These days, there’s a good chance you won’t even need to leave the comfort of your own home to do that. But before you get too comfortable, there are a few key things to keep in mind before, during, and after your interview that will ensure a smooth and successful experience.

With so many book marketing strategies available to promote your book, it's easy to get overwhelmed and have difficulty determining what to do and when to do it to give your book the best chance. Marketing a book is a complex part of the overall publishing process and takes proper planning. This book marketing timeline for indie authors is designed for the author who is just about to begin writing, however since all these strategies are important, you can begin to address each one no matter where you are in your publishing process.

Social media is one of the best ways to connect with readers. But, where do you start? In this post, I'll share tips for branding on social media, choosing what social media platforms to use, and following the social media "rule of thirds."

Prepping for your book launch is often shrouded in mystery. Let’s face it, there’s a lot of information out there about how best to do this. I know it’s tempting to give yourself some time to relax after all of your efforts to get the book ready for publication, but when the book is done, the planning starts. Launching your book without a plan is a plan to fail.

Pinterest was once a relatively niche social media platform with only a small marketing and ad presence. That has changed dramatically over the past few years as the platform has grown exponentially and attracted more and more brands for advertising purposes.

Updated January 8, 2024

When it comes to getting the word out about your book, many authors immediately think of spreading the news with a press release. A press release—typically a one or two-page document offering a summary and highlighting the main themes of your book—is an important element of marketing your book. However, there’s another piece to the promotion puzzle that may be even more important: the book pitch.

Do you think people actually read all the information in your literature, in your press releases, or on your website? Think again. Most people do not read your marketing copy word for word but quickly scan the page looking for information that is helpful and important to them.

Social media writer's block. It's a thing! You have no problem hammering away at an 80,000-word novel, but when it comes to a 280 character tweet? Forget about it! You end up posting about what you had for dinner or what you did during the day, and nobody seems to be listening... or following. If that sounds like you, then these 13 social media marketing tips are just what you need.

For some writers, building a strong author platform comes naturally, but for others, essential book marketing steps might feel uncomfortable. Here are some tips that will make it easier.

Marketing. It’s a scary, dark hole that awaits published authors. The process of promoting one’s work can be intimidating and extremely overwhelming. The positive side of marketing is that there are endless ways to market with seemingly infinite possibilities. The dark hole – the challenging part – is not knowing where to begin while trying to figure out which path will be most beneficial for your book.

What I have learned is that there is only one way to know which of the many paths will work for you and which won’t, and that is by jumping in head-first. Before you sign up and pursue every path out there while also potentially emptying your pockets, read further for some helpful advice.

No matter the industry, the tech you use everyday requires regular maintenance. You take your car in every few thousand miles, the office copier gets monthly visits from the service tech, and the software you're using to write your next book gets regular updates from its developer.

But what about your website? 

You’ve officially started the process of self-publishing your book! Congratulations; you have put in a significant amount of time and effort, and now the next step is beginning the process of marketing and publicizing to help let others know about the project you worked so long and hard on. This can seem like an overwhelming task, but you can learn to think like a publicist and incorporate media outreach into your marketing strategy. 

Fanfiction is a word that is being bandied about more and more in the publishing industry. But what is it exactly? Fanfiction is basically writing a book in another author’s “world.” You use some of their characters and locations and weave them into your own story. Of course you can’t just write this kind of story and publish it on your own, without the approval and blessing from the original author (you don’t want to be accused of plagiarism or “stealing” another author’s ideas and characters). So how does fanfiction work?

According to Bowker, the official ISBN issuing agency in the United States, self-published books were up 40% in 2018 over 2017, with an estimated 1.68 million self-published print and ebooks published. Through the boom of self-publishing, long before 2017, book promotion dramatically changed. Publicity campaigns that were once focused solely on a book greatly expanded to make room for the personality behind the content. An established author platform, in many ways, has become more of a necessity than the book itself as it drives much of the reader, reviewer, and media engagement. Most authors know you can’t just release a book into the wild to wait for something to happen, and that promotion—whether at the hand of a professional or the author herself—is necessary. There are, however, critical steps to prepare your author platform before diving headfirst into publicizing your book. Taking these early steps, amongst others, will ultimately provide you with channels you’ll later need to leverage your publicity results.

I will start by saying, my virtual book launch was not planned at all. My original book launch party was planned for 4^th April, just before the government stepped up restrictions, banned gatherings, and closed all establishments. I wouldn't let COVID-19 stand in the way of my celebrating—so I decided to throw a virtual book launch and want to help others looking to do the same! 

Twitter is for politicians, musicians, comedians, but authors? Authors are best at writing novels, not 280-character tweets. Still, hundreds of writers have used Twitter successfully master social media marketing: Augusten Burroughs has over 40K followers on Twitter; Jackie Collins over 170K; Joyce Carol Oates has over 200K; George R.R. Martin has over 1 million; Stephen King has over 5 million; Paulo Coelho has over 15 million. These writers aren’t just popular on social media because they have popular books—they’re popular because they’re actually saying things on Twitter that people are responding to. Here are seven tips to help break down Twitter for authors and make sure you are tweeting like a bestselling author!

There is no question that the Young Adult (YA) genre has taken the book world by storm. Gone are the days when the only titles that fit into this genre were dystopian fantasies, or when the only readers were teenagers. The YA genre has evolved—and continues to evolve—along with its readers and their tastes and now includes more realism, romance, diversity, and inclusivity than ever. As a result, the number of YA books published and sold each year has exploded.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is often seen as a complex and confusing term. And for authors, it can often be another rabbit hole of information, one that seems endless and complex. But it doesn’t have to be. Getting found online is really about doing stuff that Google likes. Google’s number one goal is matching websites to consumer search—and that’s it. So, the key really is not in understanding the various changes in Google’s algorithm but understanding how search impacts your website—and how to turn this to your advantage.

A challenge is something that requires special effort. It takes special effort on your part to sell your books. Therefore, selling books is challenging. With more than two million books published every year, the book-selling climate is fiercely competitive. Every author must meet and overcome three challenges to sell books: attention, time, and declining readership. Let's talk about how.