Half a Dozen Superb Ways [I have discovered this time around] to market my book

As I was thinking about what I might share with you today it came to me that I have done a few things differently this time around to market my book. I have always marketed, but I haven't always wanted to spend any money doing it. I figured there were enough FREE places to get my name out there that I didn't need to spend any money to do it.

What I have discovered this time around is that I still need to be careful with my money, but that, with a little research, I can get my name out there forking out a few bucks. 

Photo by Visual Stories || Micheile on Unsplash

The first thing I read is that I needed to get reviewers before my book came out. I'd heard this before, but the sage advice added something I'd never heard before. Make a goal. They suggested a minimum of 30 reviewers in place before the release date. 

Can I tell you, this was a lot of work! As of yesterday, I am in need of 4, and my formal release date is August 30, so I feel like I still have some time. [Maybe you can help?]

I began to find reviewers asking people I knew personally, then online and from my list of followers, both on my blog and on my newsletter. And then I looked at blogs that had a list of book reviewers on their blog tour! On one particular blog, I received 6 yesses from the book tours listed, so that tells me something! [Though not all of them reviewed, they did give a thumbs up to post my book on their blog]. Unfortunately, I don't have the link for you. Fortunately, I have the list of the six blogs. They are A Blue Million Books, Wall-to-Wall Books; foreverreading@gmailcom [future post in the works], Novels Alive, Quiet Fury Books, B for Bookreview, and Margaret Yelton; mafyelton@msn.com; facebook.com/margaretfyelton.

One of the memes created by Novels Alive

From this list, I paid $25 to have Novels Alive create some memes for me and to post throughout the day on Twitter; something I have never done. Everything else was free. I currently have over 200 entries for the contest, and among the final count, one winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of my book. I wrote a blog post and shared an excerpt from my book, and was given an "About the Book" section, book description bio, links, and author photo opportunity.

 Photo by Katie Harp on Unsplash

Another thing I have done is to go through my list of #hashtags. I have been collecting hashtag ideas for a long while but have used them rarely. I am trying to use them when I send out my social media.

On the day my book was released, I sent out a new

book trailer with short quotes from reviews I'd received. Although I have done this before, I had never thought to release the video on the release date. I pay a yearly fee to Animoto.com for the service to create these book trailers. They are easy to do. I am no techie and they make the process simple.

Another thing I have done this time is to offer my previous eBook, "Enlightened: My Personal Journey with Christ Through Scripture Journaling" for FREE. [You have through the 30th of August if you'd like a copy]. Often, if readers can get a free book, and they love it, they will more than likely purchase your new book.

Yes, marketing your book takes a lot of time and work, but I have found [once again] there are many people out there, both authors and readers, who want to help you - even if it's for a few additional bucks.