Well, we covered a few things that authors can do to market their books a while back (First Steps to Marketing), so now we’re going to go over a few more. Later, we’ll continue the list with More Steps to Marketing. This time we’ll be hitting two topics: Reviews and Giveaways.
Reviews
You already have a list of loyal readers, so now you need to show that your book is worth the time of other readers. For that, you’ll need some reviews. Prior to your launch, send out Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) to a variety of reviewers. Look for sites or bloggers that cover your topic or find folks listed as Top Reviewers for similar books. If you still can’t find enough reviewers, try sites such as NetGalley or Edelweiss+ to find more.
Those reviews can’t be posted to retailer sites until release day, but they can be published on the reviewer’s personal site, blogs, or book review sites such as BookLikes, BookBrowse, aNobii, LibraryThing, and Riffle. Ask the reviewers to copy their comments over to the retail sites as soon as the book is released. (Send them the link to make it easier for them.)
To get any traction from the reviews, you’ll need to have a couple dozen posted in the first few weeks. Once you have those reviews, don’t forget to mention them in any additional announcements you make.
Free Samples
Freebies always get good attention, but there are different ways to get them out there: distribution sites, review sites, your own site, or even printed materials. When you are deciding how much to share, be certain to include enough so that the readers can determine whether they like your style…and the story itself. Your objective is to leave them wanting more, not confused about what is going on in the story.
Other Sites
Some book distribution sites allow readers to download a certain percentage of your book free. If a site doesn’t have that option, you can always publish your own sample to “sell” (for zero cost) right next to the full thing. Just be certain to change the cover and title, so they know they are getting just a portion of the whole book. Don’t forget to include a link at the end directing them back to your site, so they can get the rest of the story.
Some review sites allow you to publish your own sample. Try out Reader’s Circle, Bublish, Book Praiser, Inkitt, Scribd, or Wattpad.
Your Own Site
You can do the same thing by having an extract of your book available as a downloadable PDF (or mobi or epub) on your site. Let your interested readers download it, read it, and pass it around…just make certain you have a link at the end pointing back to your book list page on your site, so they can get the uncut version. You can also encourage them to sign up for your mailing list at the same time.
Instead of sharing pieces of your actual books, you could just write shorts about the characters in your books. Your readers will appreciate the side stories as they give insight into backstory. The extra stories can also branch off and follow certain characters who have a life outside your book. Just set up a separate page on your website to post short stories a few times a month. Each time you post a new one, tell the world about it via your Mailing List and other sites.
Printed Material
Handing out a few printed copies at panel discussions always seems to work. Wave around a few copies of your book and watch the folks rush to the front. I’ve even seen some authors drop off printed copies of their books in public places, such as at a café or on a bus or commuter train. They put a sticker on it that says to enjoy and pass on…but they also include a QR code for folks interested in finding out more!
You can also create bookmarks, postcards, or even posters with teasers from your book. If you include a customized QR code on each, you can track which marketing technique works best. For non-fiction authors, handing out worksheets, lists of tips, and short reminders works well for keeping your book in mind…and the QR on each directs the readers back to your site.