Useful Resources
List of useful websites
Maya Poetry Book Awards
Social Media
Social media, although a relatively new concept, has taken the world by storm over the last few years. The term is coined to include all technology that allows the creation and sharing of information, ideas, career interests and other forms of expression via virtual communities and networks.
In simple terms, this means using Facebook, X, Instagram, Pinterest, WhatsApp, Snapchat, YouTube, blogs, websites and many other platforms to share stuff.
Whether we like it or not, hundreds of millions of people all over the planet can now interact with each other online. As a writer, a good way of looking at it is to think of these people as potential readers of your book(s)!
OK, it’s not something any of us actually need, and personally, I’d love to return to a world before any of it, but it can be a useful tool in the modern writer’s armoury. A Facebook page can advertise ourselves and tell others what we do, a Twitter account can tell our followers when a new book is published and so on. There are many online communities or groups for every imaginable interest. Some of these may be interested in your particular genre or style of writing.
Many of the world’s most successful authors use social media on a daily basis. Some self-published authors have even used it to become best sellers, as well as famous, without ever securing a publishing deal!
Like it or not, it’s here to stay.
Below are some free tips for social media marketing:
Each platform is different:
Facebook is good for finding old-school friends and directing people to your website
X reaches new readers if you follow people too
Instagram and Pinterest are good for brand building
Goodreads is good for building a community, but like all platforms, this takes a lot of time
LinkedIn is for people who like job titles or the sound of their own voice
YouTube video is the latest marketing tool
Different Facebook posts work in different ways:
Pictures are good for engagement & shares, not always for click-throughs
Link posts are better for generating hits on your sites
General updates are good for questions and feedback
Make your headlines work hard:
Headlines that ask questions get answered in the comments
Headlines that tease get clicks
Tag people you talk about in your posts:
It helps people to discover your posts
Engage with people:
Answer all comments and notifications
Be positive and excited
Tease and inspire curiosity. Ask people things – ‘Do you know…?’
Tweet the same content again!
Retweet
Favourite
Follow
Schedule
Use a blog/website to promote your book(s):
Write posts related to your book
Use images/book covers
Offer free content
Newsletter
Join writing groups:
Goodreads
Elsewhere on the web
Contribute to discussions and offer advice
Firstly, writers write, and marketers market. So just because you’ve written a book, that doesn’t mean you know how to sell it too.
So, starting at the beginning, let me explain one fundamental concept: the difference between marketing and promotion. This is important because, when most authors talk about ‘marketing’ their book, they probably mean ‘promoting’ it, which isn’t necessarily the same thing. That would more than likely be ‘advertising’.
Book marketing is the process of creating a repeatable system that produces a defined set of goals. This might be a book sale, but it might also be a sign-up for a newsletter or even a simple visit to a web page. The keyword here is ‘repeatable’.
Good examples of marketing would be to create useful content such as social media alerts, blog posts, newsletters, free resources, e-books and YouTube videos. All the things that people who might buy your books would find useful.
This system is repeatable because potential readers/buyers of your book find your content and then sign up for your newsletter. Your marketing is not trying to get people to buy a book but simply to get people on your mailing list. That’s a definable goal. Once you have someone’s email address, you can send them high-quality content.
The more free content you provide, the more people will sign up for your newsletter and so on. This is a long-term system designed to find people who might, one day, be ready to buy.
However, as an author, you also want book sales, and you might feel that the marketing process is often too long and complicated to be worth your while. You need a different (or additional) approach, and this is called book promotion.
Book promotion is the process of convincing someone to buy your product (book). Promotion is a one-off hit, designed to drive people to a sales page with the sole aim of them clicking that Buy Now button.
An example might be a writer who has written three children’s books, one set around Christmas, one about a foreign holiday and one set in the summer. They might decide in the month leading up to Christmas to offer the ‘Christmas’ book for free or at a reduced discount, say 50% off.
The writer then goes onto Facebook, X, you name it, to tell everyone that he/she is offering a great one-time-only deal. This is promotion. The author wants people to click a link, go to the Amazon page/website etc. and buy.
Then, you would hope, the buyer reads and enjoys the ‘Christmas’ story so much that they return to buy the ‘summer adventure’ too.
The key with promotion is not only the deal but the number of people you can reach with your book promotion activities. This is a numbers game. The more people you can reach, the more clicks you’ll get, and the more people will buy.
Example
‘Ever wondered what it would be like to cycle the length of the UK?’
Well, now you can, and from the safety of your own armchair. Welsh writer (and keen cyclist) Dave Lewis has just published a short diary of his exploits doing just that. In 2005, he and a friend cycled from Land’s End to John o’ Groats, having planned the trip on the back of a beer mat one drunken night. To download a copy of this hilarious e-book for just £2.99, click here.
And if you liked this story, then why not find out more about another adventure – Wales Trails.
Book promotion might be targeted (people who follow you on Facebook or X, who know you write), but it will also be crude. A better way to ‘promote’ is to get someone with more influence than you to talk about/promote your book. Why waste time blowing your own trumpet when someone else will do it for you?
Reviews are essential – the better the review, the more well-respected the reviewer, the greater the number of reviews…
Divide your time between promotion (10%) and finding people or marketing (90%)
Website, blog, social media
Features in local and national media (newspaper, TV and radio)
The key to successfully approaching the media is to give them a specific reason why they should feature you and your book. Look to make the decision as easy as possible for them. The less work they need to do, the more chance you have of getting promoted.
Other ways to market, promote and sell your product:
Giveaways in return for reviews
Join a local writing group/library reading group (to meet people with similar interests)
Craft fairs/book fairs (book a table)
Various online book promotion companies, e.g. BookBub, Awesome Gang, etc., although paid promotions can be very expensive, so beware!
The bottom line? Being a writer is great, but it’s hard work! Trust me, I know.
Book Promotion
Awards/Testimonials
“I’m very pleased with the results of my collaboration with Poetry Publisher. My questions to the publisher were answered promptly and always in an encouraging manner. I especially liked Dave’s ideas for the cover.”
– Anita Namyslo
“The book arrived and it looks fantastic! It’ a great feeling to see it in print. Thanks for making the whole process so easy and successful!”
– Jim McCarthy
“The book is spot on, couldn’t have asked for a nicer job.”
– Dee Donnelly
“I was a newbie to the publishing process, and I have to say that Dave Lewis at Poetry Publisher made it happen! It can be a little daunting, actually, to figure out what you need to do. But Dave’s wonderful support, knowledge, skill and patience were absolutely outstanding… thank you, Dave!”
– James Henderson
“Choosing to publish my first collection of poetry through Poetry Publisher seems to have been a very good move. I had read books on self-publishing and it involved more work than I was prepared to do. I wanted to outsource, and Dave Lewis was the ideal person to approach. He took care of everything, was very easy to collaborate with plus providing lots of support and advice. I am delighted with the final product.”
– John Short
“As a young author seeking to publish my first book, David has been an invaluable help. From proofreading and suggesting edits to producing the perfect cover image, Dave deserves a medal for his patience and commitment to publishing!”
– Amelie Ash
