8 Easy Online Ways to Market Your Book For Free

Marketing your book whether you went the POD, e-book, or traditional route can be a daunting process. Figuring out what works and what doesn't can take time, energy, and if you're not careful a lot of money. When I first self-published my science fiction novel GETTING OUT ALIVE, I had already done quite a bit of research into ways to market my novel that didn't eat into my pocket book.

Here are the top 8 ways I've marketed my book and seen results:

*Create a presence on the web. There are many ways to do this, but having your own website to promote your writing is the best way. There are lots of places that have free webpages, but Bravenet.com has everything you could ever want (webjournals, tell-a-friend service, guestbook, and mailing lists to name a few) and this includes free hosting.

*Sign other author's guestbooks. The author is not the only one who reads the entries, and make sure you add your website address even if they don't give you a spot to put it. Put it beneath your name when you sign your entry.

*Be a regular on message boards, answer newbie's questions, and don't forget to add your signature with your website address. The important thing to remember here is to pop in on a regular basis, otherwise it looks like the only reason you're there is advertise, and participants won't take you seriously.

*Join writers groups online and post, post, post! That's not to say you should inundate any group with advertising e-mails about your book, but rather to participate in the discussions. If you have a signature line at the end of your e-mails this will do your advertising for you.

*Speaking of signature lines, create one and add it to all of your e-mails. This is one of my favorite freebies. People do read signature lines and I have actually ordered books because I found them via the signature line.

*Give away free PDF electronic versions of your book (not too many now, just 2 or 3) in return for reviews. This has worked very well for me, and I've gotten some good reviews from doing this. Readers like free and are usually more than willing to write a review in return.

*Trade electronic versions of your book with other published authors and do a review for each other.

*Once you have reviews post them on your website and anywhere else you can. There are many places to post reviews for free, just search on google for book reviews. See if your reviewers will post their reviews for you at these websites.

Regina Paul is the author of the science fiction novel GETTING OUT ALIVE, and editor of the free bi-monthly writer's e-zine Regina's Universe. You can read the first chapter of her novel, sign up for her e-zine and find many other writer's freebies at: http://www.reginapaul.bravehost.com

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Book Marketing Information:

Related Articles

7 Vital Book Promotion Tips
As a literary publicist I often am asked about publicity tips, tricks, and the magic behind my work. It's not magic.
How to Create an Amazing Author Website
Without a website, an author is unknown.Without a website, an author sells fewer books.
Sell More Books With Your Sparkling Introduction
Why write an introduction? Nobody reads it anyway. Up until now, this opinion has had clout.
Dont Sell your Book, Share It
Most authors who aren't used to speaking before a group think, "I'd rather get a root canal than have to 'sell' my book." If you think about how great your book is, how you wrote it because you wanted to help or entertain your audience, you can change this fear to the idea of sharing your book.
Book Events - Make Yours Successful
A book event (a book signing) is a popular way for authorsto create awareness for their work. Most large publishinghouses require authors to participate in a 10-city booktour, at the minimum.
Successful Book Marketing The Natural Way - Part 2
Is your mind muddy on book marketing? Do you wake up each day and say, "I'm not a social person and I hate to beat the drum for my book" or "I just wish someone else could market my book for me"?If you could market your book a pleasurable way, you may not think it a chore. Natural marketing refers to the action you take to get the word out about your service and product that rings true to your heart.
How to Make Money With Your Short Stories, Poems, Essays, and Novels
Recently, someone rated my "Online Book Marketing" article a 2 out of 5. That person apparently didn't like the article.
Promote Your Books on Talk Shows and Make More Money
Successful authors are convinced that radio interviews are the very best way to reach large audiences and publicize their books. Interviews give authors an opportunity to expound on the topic of their book and disclose personal feelings.
Top Ten Ways To Prepare for Your Online Book Marketing Success
Still marketing your book through press releases, networking groups, and talks to groups? If these methods have taken a great deal of effort and time and brought you only a few clients or product sales, you may now be ready for your virtual marketing machine, the Internet! To get ready to market your book Online use these ten tips: 1. Buy an up-to-date computer with a 56k modem or more and Internet capability.
Discover 3 Easy Ways to Promote Your Articles
Are you using these methods to promote your articles?If not, you are missing out on some easy ways to get more traffic. Ways that require no additional work on your part once they are set up.
Colour and Book Covers - What You Should Know if Youre Self-Publishing
Color is tricky at the best of times. If you want exact color management (such as a particular shade of blue for a university logo) you really should use something called spot color.
Top Ten Basics on Internet Article Writing to Promote your Book
Whether you have already written articles and published them or not, you may want to check out the difference between writing for online ezines and web sites and writing for print media. While some writing concepts work for both, online writing needs a shorter, more focused approach.
The Booklet Journey Opening a New World
1991 was a pivotal year in my life. My professional organizing business was 8 years old.
Top Ten Ways of Why and How to Write your Books Sales Letter - Part 1
Authors/publishers are great at getting their books written. But after the initial one-year honeymoon, sales slow down.
Writing a Book's Marketing Plan for Maximum Profit
Much has been written about book proposals. But less has been written about book marketing plans.
Marketing Your Book on Radio
Have you listened to radio lately? If you have, chances are you've heard an author talking about his or her latest book. According to the "Let's Talk Radio Marketing" Website, "Radio advertising has proven to be one of the most cost-effective means of reaching your target audience.
Your Book Marketing Plan - Winning Strategies and Tips
Many authors hit a roadblock when it comes to putting together and implementing a book marketing plan. You know you need to have one, you have a vague idea of what it needs to include, but pulling it all together into a step-by-step plan of attack is not nearly as easy as it sounds.
A First Time Authors Publicity Kit Materials
If you're a new author that has been requested to send publicist materials, you may feel left in the dark on what to send. Here's a list of the usual items.
Sell Your Book At Book Fairs, Festivals & Trade Shows
Play a bigger game with your book sales by expanding your audiences at local or nonlocal book fairs, festivals or trade shows. Can't afford a booth or table, rent a space on someone else's table and volunteer to be back for their book.
Secrets to Selling Books by Mail
This is intended for informational purposes only. Selling books by mail is one of the "ideal" spare-time business ventures that can be operated from your home, and with minimal investment.