Want to Promote Your Book?
Talk about it with everyone you can.
Have you written a book?
If so, great! Keep reading to find out my best promotional strategy. If not, that’s okay!
This article will probably still help you too.
But before I do, let me tell you about me and my book.
My First Self-Published Book
I knew I would eventually publish a book, but I didn’t think it would be until years down the road. Nevertheless, I did.
I’m going to begin my senior year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign majoring in journalism with minors in political science and history. At age 21, I already have a book under my belt.
Here’s how it happened:
In March 2021, still in my early days on Medium, I discovered Kindle Direct Publishing. Long story short, you can self-publish your own book through the program.
How cool is that?!
So that’s exactly what I did.
I had written multiple short stories over the last few years, so I edited them, compiled them together, and sent them in for review.
The next morning shocked me.
Amazon told me my book was available worldwide!
After a few weeks of being interviewed with my local newspaper and radio, posting about it on Facebook and selling copies to friends and family, sales sort of stopped.
I didn’t write the book for the money, but the compensation has been great. Honestly, I just wanted to sell as many copies as I could.
So began my strategy.
Talk About Your Book With Everyone
It takes some practice and skill, but somehow, someway, I always find myself talking about my book in everyday conversation.
But the best about it happened last weekend.
My parents and I stayed at a country bed and breakfast in Galena, Illinois. Each morning, we ate breakfast with the other residents in a dining room.
The more we all talked, the more my book came up in conversation. Telling these residents where I attend school and what I’m majoring in led me to mention the book.
Then the unthinkable happens.
“Do you have copies for sale with you?”
Come again?
Luckily I did.
I eventually sold copies of my book to these residents.
- A middle-aged couple from Chicago.
- A family of three from Ohio.
- An older couple from Sacramento.
And I gave one away too. To our waitress at the Bloomington, Illinois Red Robin. She was alone waiting for several tables working for tips.
I wasn’t going to sell her a book. And giving her one is just as great.
What This All Does For You
When you discuss your book with everyone you can, you can eventually sell copies of it at the ready. Assuming you have copies at the ready, of course.
Which you should.
When they purchased my book, I signed and inscribed each one individually for them. This ensures the book goes to customers from the author himself.
It makes it much more personal.
And when you discuss your book with them and they purchase a copy, they will likely go home and tell their friends and family about it.
That means right now, I have copies of my books in four different states:
- Illinois
- Ohio
- California
- Florida (my cousin in Miami purchased one early on)
This also means I have more exposure out in the world. And you will too.
Closing Thoughts
I don’t know where I heard this, but someone once said;
“Work your ass off until you don’t have to introduce yourself to anyone anymore.”
I’m using this quote now and forever. And you should too. It’s the only way to put your name out there and follow the quote’s prophecy.
People like Oprah, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, or J.K. Rowling don’t have to introduce themselves anymore. One day, hopefully, you won’t either.
So do you want to promote your book and sell more copies?
Talk about it!
You never know what will happen.
Noah Nelson is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign majoring in journalism with minors in political science and history. He serves as a senior columnist for The Daily Illini, a writer on Medium and the host of his blog called Nothing But Noah. “Life: A Collection of Short Stories” is his first book available now on Amazon.