• Home
  • Speak With Annie
  • Book Promotion Blogs
  • Publicity Blogs
    • Radio Publicity Blogs
    • TV Publicity Blogs
    • Online PR Blogs
  • Branding Blogs
    • Author Publicity Blogs
  • Marketing Blogs
  • Real Stories Podcasts

  • Home
  • Speak With Annie
  • Book Promotion Blogs
  • Publicity Blogs
    • Radio Publicity Blogs
    • TV Publicity Blogs
    • Online PR Blogs
  • Branding Blogs
    • Author Publicity Blogs
  • Marketing Blogs
  • Real Stories Podcasts

Self-Published Authors Market A Book For Sales Strategies

 

Self-published author PR, Marketing, Promotion Tips

Self-publishing author book promotion, publicity and marketing strategies.

Self-published author book publicity tips

With the self-published book publishing services available to everyone, there are now millions of self-published books available to sale.  Now, that’s a lot of books. Self-published authors are looking for more ways to market a book for sales.

Below is a summary of how real authors sold books. Keep in mind, there are numerous factors in selling books and there is one very important one that can make an immediate difference. Connect with your readers wherever they may be.

Self-published Authors Should Get Up Close & Personal With Their Readers!

Annie Jennings, National Publicity Expert, queried authors on how they sold their books. Many of these authors reported great success with their “do it yourself” book marketing and promotion ideas.

Below is a summary of how these authors sold books and had lots of fun and adventure doing it. Annie has provided additional insights on each idea to provide publicist insights on how to optimize the method.

Annie says, “once you start brainstorming ways to add value to others via your book, lots of great ideas are born along with fun experiences too. And remember this,” says Annie, “getting up close and personal with your audience works very well when it comes to building buzz and selling books.”

Newsletter: If you have a newsletter, let your subscribers know of your book before it is published and offer them the opportunity to purchase your book, perhaps at a pre-publication price. You may want to offer a sample chapter in advance of the publication date with a call to purchase at the end of the chapter, again, perhaps at a special price.

Social Media: Create a digital presence on all the social sites. Authors report excellent results in sharing about their books on social media. Be sure to use a variety of posting styles to avoid the ‘always be selling’ approach some authors use and provide meaning and valuable content. Include a high-resolution book cover along with each book post to build up familiarity with the title, look and feel of your new book. Consider each post a touch point with your audience. Create posts that speak to their needs and provide a link to your website to get more info or a link to your online book seller, such as Amazon, to purchase the book.

Amazon Reviews: Ask those who read your book to post an honest Amazon review. Never manipulate the reviews of your book. It is better to earn your good reviews by writing a great book. At the end of the day, a good book lives on but a book that can’t live up to “planted” reviews will lose it sizzle and hurt the author’s brand. Plus, when you think about it, sometimes reviews can reveal valuable feedback that can help the author become a better writer.

This feedback, although you might feel it as negative, is actually helping you, especially if you want a long and flourishing career as an author. A good idea before you publish is to get feedback on a pre-sale copy of your book. Ask people around you for honest assessments about what they liked and where they feel you can improve. I know it’s hard to ask friends and family to be honest, but perhaps a writer’s group would be a good choice for this strategy. If you are not a member of one, start one. This way, writers can help each other by offering truthful feedback.

The goal is to publish a great book and the path to writing one is to find out what readers like about your book as well as whether or not you can improve on areas where it falls short. This is important for sales because many readers use the reviews to decide whether or not to buy a book.

Sales: Pitch outlets that might be a good fit for your book. One of the authors we queried sold her book to area schools, got their books placed in school book fairs and libraries and conducted book readings at the school.

Local Exposure: Communities are a great resource for authors. Your local newspapers love local stories and might publish a feature article about you and your book. You can get your book displayed by the register (independent stores can do this) or in the local author area of bigger chain stores. Area gift shops can carry your book as can local bookstores. An example of this idea is this, what if you wrote a cookbook? Wouldn’t the local “all things cooking store” love to carry your book on consignment? Why not, right? And you can offer to perform a cooking demonstration for the store too.

Optimize Amazon: Create an author page, provide compelling promotional copy for the book, look into buying the up-sells and various bells and whistles offered by Amazon such as sponsored advertisement. Learn all you can about Amazon book selling opportunities and ways to favorably position your book. Amazon has the traffic and your goal is to stand out among the millions of books available in today’s self-publishing world.

Book launch party: Who doesn’t love a party? You can hold the event at your home, serve some fun desserts and coffee and have signed copies available for your guests. You can create a short presentation about your book writing journey and share some meaningful and valuable info from your book.  You can even sign books during the event so you can personalize the message. If you have written a book that lends itself to a hands-on experience, you can also do a “hands on’ party where guests can sample the experience!

Audible: Great for non-fiction or “how to” books and if you have a good voice, record the audio yourself as it makes a difference.  Avoid hiring a “reader” who makes your book inaccessible to the listener in that the reader is boring or monotone or just sounds like everyone else. Read the book yourself. Inject your own life, energy and experience into your book. You will naturally sound like a million bucks and your audience will love it!

Get Booked: Contact your local talk radio shows and asked to be interviewed as a guest. Send the producer and host a copy of your book along with your press materials. Also, send a list of 10 questions that you would like to be asked to showcase the value of your book. Radio talk shows work very well for non-fiction books. Radio shows are conducted via telephone interviews and they are guest friendly, allowing you to responsibly promote your book and website during the show. And they are lots of fun to do as well!

Go Live: Enjoy the interactive benefits of going Live on Facebook and Instagram. You can video a short presentation and if you have viewers watching, you can answer their questions LIVE. Also, lots of fun. Be sure to have your book on hand to show, of course. You can post advance notice that you are going LIVE at a certain time. Ask your friends and family to plan to attend the event and share the invite with others.

Sales: Pitch outlets that might be a good fit for your book. One of the authors we queried sold her book to area schools, got their books placed in school book fairs and libraries and conducted book readings at the school.
Local Exposure: Communities are a great resource for authors. Your local newspapers love local stories and might publish a feature article about you and your book.

You can get your book displayed by the register (independent stores can do this) or in the local author area of bigger chain stores. Area gift shops can carry your book as can local bookstores. An example of this idea is this, what if you wrote a cookbook? Wouldn’t the local “all things cooking store” love to carry your book on consignment? Why not, right? And you can offer to perform a cooking demonstration for the store too.

Optimize Amazon: Create an author page, provide compelling promotional copy for the book, look into buying the up-sells and various bells and whistles offered by Amazon such as sponsored advertisement. Learn all you can about Amazon book selling opportunities and ways to favorably position your book. Amazon has the traffic and your goal is to stand out among the millions of books available in today’s self-publishing world.

Book launch party: Who doesn’t love a party? You can hold the event at your home, serve some fun desserts and coffee and have signed copies available for your guests. You can create a short presentation about your book writing journey and share some meaningful and valuable info from your book.  You can even sign books during the event so you can personalize the message. If you have written a book that lends itself to a hands-on experience, you can also do a “hands on’ party where guests can sample the experience!

Audible: Great for non-fiction or “how to” books and if you have a good voice, record the audio yourself as it makes a difference.  Avoid hiring a “reader” who makes your book inaccessible to the listener in that the reader is boring or monotone or just sounds like everyone else. Read the book yourself. Inject your own life, energy and experience into your book. You will naturally sound like a million bucks and your audience will love it!

Get Booked: Contact your local talk radio shows and asked to be interviewed as a guest. Send the producer and host a copy of your book along with your press materials. Also, send a list of 10 questions that you would like to be asked to showcase the value of your book. Radio talk shows work very well for non-fiction books. Radio shows are conducted via telephone interviews and they are guest friendly, allowing you to responsibly promote your book and website during the show. And they are lots of fun to do as well!

Go Live: Enjoy the interactive benefits of going Live on Facebook and Instagram. You can video a short presentation and if you have viewers watching, you can answer their questions LIVE. Also, lots of fun. Be sure to have your book on hand to show, of course. You can post advance notice that you are going LIVE at a certain time. Ask your friends and family to plan to attend the event and share the invite with others.

#self-publishing #self-publishedauthorPR #howtomarketabookforsales #bookpromotion #freeprtips #bookingmarketing #anniejenningspr #publicrelations

Self-Published Authors Market A Book For Sales Strategies was last modified: October 23rd, 2024 by Annie Jennings
previous post
SpeakerMatch Teleseminar Replay
next post
Is Your Brand Collecting Dust? It’s Time To Get Moving & Shaking!

You may also like

Media Dreams Come True!

Publicity Podcast Blog Story: With Annie, The Momentum...

Real #Publicity Story: She Spent $70,000 for Nothing...

With #AnnieJenningsPR “THE RETURN ON MY INVESTMENT WAS...

What We Love About #AnnieJenningsPR

Branding Strategy! Create a Powerful, Influential Brand w...

PUBLICITY RISING – Reach Your Highest Levels Of...

Real Client Says “5 Stars Out Of 5!”...

Author Publicity Strategy Tips To Sell Books, Share...

Publicity Questions To Ask – “What Do I...

Real Stories Of Success

  • Publicity! Do You Know About The Halo Effect? #AnnieJenningsPR’s Clients Do.

  • Publicity Podcast Blog Story: With Annie, The Momentum Was Always ON!

  • Real #Publicity Story: She Spent $70,000 for Nothing with a Retainer #PRFirm!

  • Branding Strategy! Create a Powerful, Influential Brand w #AnnieJenningsPR

  • Publicity Podcast: Author Says “When I Have A New Book, I Only Call Annie Jennings PR!”

  • Publicity For MBA In Major Business Media, Booked By #AnnieJenningsPR!

  • Publicity Real Client Story: “After Each Radio Interview, Book Sales Were BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!”

  • Real Publicity Podcast: “New Clients Called Me! I LOVED My ROI & Increased Visibility

  • Real Publicity Podcast: “Annie Is Amazing. Annie Is Powerful. Annie Changed My Life!”

  • Real Publicity Podcast: “With #AnnieJenningsPR You Get More Than Expected, I Did”!

  • Publicity Real Story “I Got Prestigious Speaking Events From Being Heard On The Radio!”

  • Real Publicity Story: Col. Cedric Leighton Says It’s All About Leveraging Annie’s Talents

  • Publicity Story: “I Would Say 100% Hire Annie Jennings. It’s A Guaranteed Deal!

  • Publicity Story: “I Came To #AnnieJenningsPR With Zero In Radio & TV. Now, I Am A Legal Analyst For Major Media!”

  • Publicity Story “Annie Jennings PR Could NOT Be Surpassed By Any Other PR Firm.”

  • Publicity Story: “Working With Annie Is The Best PR Money I Have Spent!”

  • Annie Here, Are You Thinking Of This For Your Publicity?

  • Real Story: Annie’s Radio Campaign Gave Us Power, Impact, Credibility!

  • Publicity Client: “Work With Annie. It Will Be The Best Thing You Ever Did For Your Career!”

  • Watch Our Clients On National TV, Booked By Annie Jennings PR!

  • The Story Behind This Major City TV Booking!

  • Mekdela Author PLUS SIZE Real Publicity Story

  • Real Publicity Story: Working With Annie Was The Best Decision I Have Made For My Career!

  • Real Publicity Story, Author Was Heard On 2,300+ Radio Stations Via National Shows!

  • Publicity Story: Seriously, Is This The Definition Of Insanity?

  • Publicity Real Story Podcast, Author Says “Annie Exudes Confidence, She Knows She Can Do It!”

  • Real Client, Brian Fielkow, Featured In WSJ Print Edition. Big Career Boost Media!

  • Real Story: Andrea Says Working With Annie’s PR Firm Is Just This Beautiful Relationship

  • Publicity Story: “Annie Is A Powerhouse Of Honor & Integrity. I Have Always Wanted To Work With Her!”

  • Real Publicity Story, “I Appreciated Annie Jennings PR Professionalism”

  • Real Publicity Story: “Don’t Delay Working With Annie. There Are NO RETAINERS. That’s Big!”

  • Publicity Story: Annie’s PR Strategy Skyrockets Andrew To The Top, Here’s How!

  • Publicity Story: “I Trusted Annie, She Puts Her Money Where Her Mouth Is!”

  • Real Publicity Success Story: Author Says Annie Is “Most Amazing PR Firm I Have Ever Worked With”!

  • Real Publicity Story: With Annie, Be Careful What You Wish For … She Will Get You There!

  • Real Publicity Author Says “I Am 100% Convinced That Annie Jennings PR Is The Way To Go”.

  • National TV Appearance: Watch Our Client’s Success – Booked by Annie Jennings PR

  • Watch Our Client On Global News TV, Booked By Annie Jennings PR

  • Watch Our Client On Houston NBC TV, Booked By Annie Jennings PR!

  • Real PR Story: “Make Sure You Are Ready For Annie, She Will Exceed Expectations!”

  • Publicity Story: “Annie Is The Only Publicist Who Guarantees Her Contracts!”

  • Real Publicity Client On NBC Miami TV, Booked By #AnnieJenningsPR

  • Publicity “Annie Gave Us Tremendous Energy That Fueled All Of Our Marketing!”

  • Publicity Story “I Wanted National Exposure For My Book. I Got That With Annie Jennings PR!”

  • Real PR Story: “Annie Opened Doors For Me That I Could Not Open For Myself” Says Author Jason Greer

  • Publicity Story: Angie Says “Every Promise Was Kept Or Exceeded. Campaign Was Perfect!”

  • Publicity Story: “Annie Keeps Her Promises, She Treated Me Like Family!”

  • Publicity Real Story: “I Don’t Think Annie Has Any Competition. Great Prices. Loads Of Perks”

  • Now THIS Is How Annie Jennings PR Works For Your Career & Business Growth

  • Real Publicity: “Annie Has A Powerful Reputation In The Media, Her Reputation Became My Reputation!”

  • Real Publicity Story “I Could Not Have Been As Successful Without Annie!”

  • Book Promotion Story: Zelda Hayes Says Working With Annie Was The Pivotal Point In Her Career (lots of new clients came!)

  • Publicity Story “A Friend Said Go With Annie Jennings PR, You Will Never Regret It!”

  • Real Story – “Annie Is At The Top Of Her Game, Sheer Competence, Unparalleled Excellence!”

  • Real Publicity Story, Client Says “I Am Getting Higher Fees Already!”

  • Real Publicity Story: It’s Best To Invest In Yourself With Annie Jennings PR

  • Real Publicity Story “Annie Has The Best Book Promotion Firm I Have Ever Worked With!”

  • Real Publicity Story: “Annie Provided Everything She Promised & More!”

  • Book Promotion Story: Annie Was The Only PR Firm That Guaranteed BIG Bookings!

  • Real Publicity Story: Seriously, They Just Had Dollar Signs In Their Eyes

  • Real Publicity Story: Ryan Says “My Phone Is Constantly Ringing Now With New Client Opportunity!”

  • Publicity Story: We Unanimously Chose Annie After Searching USA

  • Client Says “Then I Did The Smartest Thing I’ve Ever Done, Hired Annie Jennings PR”

  • Publicity Story: Annie Is The Only PR Firm Who Offers Guarantees!

  • Real Story Podcast: Vladimire Calixte Says “If You Want Your Book Out There, You Have To Go With Annie Jennings”!

  • Real Publicity Story “Every Penny I Have Spent With Annie Has Been Worth It!”

  • Real Book Marketing Story: “I Chose Annie Because I Trusted Her & She Saw My Tremendous Potential”

  • Real PR Story: Seasoned Author Impressed By Annie’s Book Promotion On Big City Radio Talk Shows!

  • How Author Angelique McGlotten Created Amazon Bestseller Status For Her New Book – Process Revealed!

  • NEW AUTHOR WEBSITE By Annie – Lauran Star Says “Now I Command Higher Fees That Represent My True Value!

  • Real Story: Author Says “Annie Helped Me Get The TOP EXPERT Position In My Industry!”

  • Book Promotion Story: “Annie’s Radio Campaign Was Flawless,” Says Attorney & Author Cecil Kuhne

  • Book Promotion Real Story: “I SOLD OUT Of All My Titles On AMAZON Working With Annie,” Says Author Anne Deidre

  • Real Publicity Story: Dr. Edelstein Says He Was Hooked On Annie From The Beginning!

  • Real Book Promotion Story: Renee Meloche Says Annie’s Reputation Cuts Through The Noise & Gets The Job Done!

  • Real Book Promotion Story: Bob Allison Says Annie’s Big HEART Won Him Over, “She Really Cares”!

  • Real Publicity Story: James Holzrichter Says Annie’s Radio Campaign Led To More Speaking Events

  • Real PR Story: Author Wilma Jones Says It’s Thrilling Working With Annie Jennings!

  • Real Publicity Story! How Annie Jennings PR Impressed Business CEO, Jim Alampi

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

@2019 - Annie Jennings PR. All Right Reserved.


Back To Top