I’ve noticed with some authors once they release the book, they move on to writing the next book. I don’t knock this process for their business; however, they completely forget about the book they launched as if it will find new readers on its own. I wish that’s how it worked when it comes to book promotion. Unfortunately, we all have to promote our books to reach new readers. Yes, I’m in the after the launch book promotion stage with my new book – Building Your Readership.
This issue I wanted to share a few things I’m doing to stay consistent with my book promotion. Hopefully it will give you a few ideas to continue promoting your book.
If you have a promotion plan, then you probably can skip this issue, but if you’re promoting without a plan, continue reading.
Consistent Social Media Engagement: Keep your readers engaged by posting regularly on your social media platforms.
Once your book launches, this is the perfect time to really get into talking about your book, sharing different things behind the scenes, giving sneak peeks, and sharing your personal journey.
You want to keep this going on your social media. What I tell my clients is to, this is a great time to schedule your social media posts, because if it’s scheduled, you don’t have to worry about promoting everyday as you are working on your next book. This also gives you time to engage with your readers on social media.
If you try to do it all at one time, it can get overwhelming. Then guess what you do. You stop and you go back to your book.
Email List Communication: Continue to connect with your email list by sending updates, exclusive content, and behind-the-scenes insights.
You want to keep communication to your email list moving. If you have an email list, you can send out more information about the book such as sneak peeks of the book. You can send out a weekly post about the book for those who have not purchased a book.
If you have your email list segmented, this will be helpful to you when you send out emails to your readers. The readers who haven’t purchased your book, can get a different email than the ones who purchased it.
Remember readers are on your email list because they want to maintain communication with you. So don’t feel like you’re overwhelming them.
Reader Interaction: Respond to emails, comments, and messages to show readers their opinions matter.
This is a great time for reader interaction. You want to be able to talk to your readers. You can send out thank you notes to readers who email you. You can start building relationships with people you meet in readers groups, book clubs, or events.
This is how you build trust. This is how you build community.
Don’t forget to ask for the reviews. I recommend putting this on your calendar, so you are reminded to ask your readers for reviews.
I know reviews are something authors have a love/hate relationship with. I’m an author who likes reviews. If you are one who doesn’t, skip this part.
I like using reviews as a testimonial for my books. They help introduce my books to new readers. In order to get the reviews, you have to continue to ask the readers to write them. Sometimes they forget and need a little reminder.
This concludes part 1 of this topic. Part 2 will be available in two weeks. Building your readership takes time, use some of these strategies to help you start reaching new readers.
Action Steps:
- Create a Social Media Content Calendar: Plan posts for the next three months, mixing personal insights, book-related content, reader shoutouts, and relevant topics. This keeps your feed active and engaging. Take a day and schedule your posts.
- Send Monthly Email Newsletters: Stay in touch with your readers by sending out newsletters that provide updates about your next project, book clubs, new reviews, and other exciting developments.
- Engage in Reader Groups and Forums: Join book clubs, online forums, or Facebook groups related to your genre. Participate actively, answer questions, and share your book when appropriate.
Non-Fiction Authors:
Repurpose Content into Different Formats:
- Convert chapters or key sections of your nonfiction book into blog posts, podcasts, or video content. This allows you to reach a wider audience and keep your content fresh. You can also create downloadable PDFs or workbooks that tie into your book, offering practical exercises or worksheets for your readers to continue engaging with the material.
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