Sadly, many self-published writers learn that it’s probably even more difficult to sell a book than to write one.

Why?

For starters, there are around 2 million self-published books published every single year. That means the competition for the eyes of readers is tremendous. If you’re not careful, your book can be buried under a tidal wave of new releases, never gaining enough attention or traction to be relevant.

But fear not.

99% of self-published writers go into the journey with no idea of how to market their book and no support from their publisher.

The fact that you’re here means you’re already in the elite 1% of people who are actively seeking knowledge to make sure your book doesn’t fall flat of expectations.

If you wrote it, you want it to succeed, and you’re taking action to ensure it does.

And that’s why I’m here to help. As a best-selling self-published writer, I’ve learned some amazing tips for marketing a self-published book. In this post, I’ll share the four best tips with you.

4 Tips for Marketing a Self-Published Book

Two of the most important marketing tools for a book are a professional-looking cover and an expertly written blurb. For the sake of this post, let’s assume you already have both.

In that case, since your book looks—and reads—like something coming from the traditional route, here are a few of the best strategies to market it.

1.    Build an author website.

Building a website has never been easier than it is in 2021. Websites like Wix and Squarespace empower authors to drag-and-drop to create their websites.

A website provides a great hub for all your networking activities. You can connect readers to your social media channels, your book, your bio, and you can also create a blog to help gain an online presence (and Google SEO traction). On top of that, you can link all your social media profiles together in one place.

While there are free options on Wix or Squarespace, those options come with ads and a URL tied to the hosting site. In other words, it looks very unprofessional, so I’d advise against going that route.

The paid option is better, and for an up-front fixed-price and monthly fee, you can create your personal author site.

Or, better yet, if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of creating your own website from scratch, another option is to have it designed for you. Some of the best self-publishers, such as MindStir Media,  offer custom author website design. With services like these, authors can have their say about how their website looks and functions without having to make it themselves.

When it comes to making your own site or having it made for you, you’re spending money on a website either way, so I recommend leaving it to the experts.

2.    Use social media

Don’t overlook the power of social media.

Sure, there’s a fine line between promoting your work and constantly flooding your follower’s timelines with your self-promotion, so tread lightly. But if used correctly, social media can be a valuable marketing channel.

One great approach is to actively post things that provide value to your followers. Social media marketing, like most business relationships, is a give-and-take. If you’re committed to teaching or helping your followers in some way, they will most likely order your books to show your appreciation.

And when it comes to social media, don’t overlook the power of video. Of all marketing channels, video has seen the most growth over the last two years, so don’t discount the idea of creating your own YouTube channel or other video marketing strategies.

Again, the best self-publishers can often help with these strategies. For example, MindStir Media has a social media publicist package that will pair authors with a social media expert to hand-craft a social media marketing approach for the book.

3.    Create your own opportunities

Many writers fall for the trap of thinking that once their book is finished and posted online, it’s only a matter of time before readers find it, buy it, and it begins to take off.

That thinking is probably more fictional than your debut novel.

Instead of awaiting readers, you need to create them. This means doing whatever it takes to get extra publicity for your work.

Sometimes you’ll need to make cold calls or send cold emails. As a self-published writer, you’re often your own publicist, so there’s a lot of potential benefits in personally reaching out to different outlets.

Who should you contact?

Consider these groups:

• Local news outlet
• Book bloggers, podcasters, or YouTubers
• Niche groups aligned with your topic matter
• Other groups that make sense based on your book

During these engagements, be sure to offer a free review copy of your book for the person/organization you’ve contacted. While it might be an extra cost, it’s a very small one that can lead to big returns.

4.    Work with a self-publishing team that can help

While there are ways to do it on your own, you’ll have the best experience when working closely with a team that can guide you through the entire process.

My recommendation is the book marketing and advertising services of MindStir Media.

MindStir Media has published many bestsellers, and the repeated success is no happy accident. Instead, top-level marketing and advertising services have made this possible.

The #1 rated self-publishing company offers a number of marketing and advertising packages that provide authors with 360-degree support for any part of the marketing process.

These packages include everything from expansive PR campaigns to more niche services, like a professional Goodreads page design, a book review service, or even a traditional book advertising program.

As a self-published writer, you can accomplish a lot by marketing your book on your own, but working with a trusted partner that has valuable experience in the industry will raise your ceiling of sales potential to a whole new level. That’s why I think MindStir Media would be a great partner for you.