Any online marketer of any product or service understands that the Internet is a huge, noisy place, and the first step is always to define a customer persona, find out where that audience hangs out online, and use those venues for marketing.<\/p>\n
Finding your audience means that you will follow other authors of your same genre. Join the same groups, forums, etc. as they do. Follow their blogs and participate in discussions; follow them on social media. Their followers are your potential readers too. Your cost? Nothing.<\/p>\n
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- Craft an Amazing Blog and Guest Post<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If you are a writer, then you know how to engage an audience. Do so with your blog. Be entertaining; be inspirational. And drive readers to your blog from your social media platforms, from forums,<\/p>\n
When you create an especially stunning post, don\u2019t let it just stand there. Do the research to find blogs that are followed by your readership and submit it as a guest post. Don\u2019t be discouraged if there are rejections. Keep at it.<\/p>\n
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- Seek Out Interviews<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
There are podcasters who interview authors. It will take some research to find them, and then you have to make a pitch. Think of that pitch as a story \u2013 your story. Why did you write the book? What will readers gain from it? What were your challenges in the writing? Anything that is unique or of interest about your book-writing journey can be just the thing that gets you that interview.<\/p>\n
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- Be an Author First<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
You may have a regular \u201cday job.\u201d So, when you are at a social gathering, and someone asks you what you do, do you say \u201caccountant,\u201d \u201cteacher,\u201d etc.? Perhaps it\u2019s time to change that up. When others ask you what you do, start saying, \u201cI\u2019m an author.\u201d You never know who will be on the other side of that conversation and the networking potentials.<\/p>\n
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- Seek Out All Free Platforms for Online Promotion<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Goodreads is one of the most popular spots for authors and readers. Set up an author page; list your book(s) on its Listopia and ask your friends to vote for your book. If you can afford it, advertise on Goodreads, and target fans of authors who are popular in your genre \u2013 you may spend anywhere from $50 – $500.<\/p>\n
There are lots of other free promotional platforms too. For example, Natalie Anderson, founder and CEO of tutoring company GetGoodGrade.com<\/a>, recently finished a book titled, Conquer Essay Phobia<\/i>, which is now featured on an authors\u2019 promotional website, Pronoun<\/a>. Authors can write a synopsis and link to sites where their books can be purchased.<\/p>\n
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- Take a Local Book Tour<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Contact libraries, book stores, even schools or museums (if your book is a \u201cfit\u201d), and offer a portion of sales if they will let you set up a reading and book signing. Even if non-profit, like libraries let you in for free, make a donation based upon your sales.<\/p>\n
And while you\u2019re at it, contact local radio and TV stations. Tell your story, just as you would to a podcaster. These stations like to feature local talent.<\/p>\n
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- Participate in Group Promotions<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Get together with other authors who are involved in group promotions. You can usually find these on Facebook author groups. Set up reciprocal arrangements to promote each other\u2019s\u2019 books with your communities and networks.<\/p>\n
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- Join Readers\u2019 Groups<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
You will find a lot of these on Facebook. Join any group that relates to your genre and become a participant. Do not talk about your book and certainly do not promote it. That\u2019s not the purpose of these groups. These are fans of specific genres and like to discuss what they have or are reading. Read the same things an participate in discussions. Once you are trusted, you can casually mention that you have written a book, in the context of a related discussion. Say not more unless someone asks you about your book. Then you can provide a great synopsis without any type of sales pitch. At some point, you may be asked where it is available and then you can give that information.<\/p>\n
Obviously, this is a short list of promotional possibilities. But if there are one or two that you may not have yet tried, give them a whirl. There are no miracles in promotion \u2013 it takes time and commitment (and certainly your passions for what you have written).<\/p>\n
- Join Readers\u2019 Groups<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Participate in Group Promotions<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Take a Local Book Tour<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Seek Out All Free Platforms for Online Promotion<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Be an Author First<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Seek Out Interviews<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"Natalie\"](\"https:\/\/bookbuzzr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_5147.jpg\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"