Book Launch Promotion Ideas
Now it’s time to explore how some authors are using the platform to boost their success! One way to do this is by promoting their books, and some have done so with great success https://ippwatch.info. Let’s take a look at some case studies of authors who have successfully promoted their books on TikTok, including some of the most popular BookTok books.
Unless you’ve been living under a pile of unsold manuscripts, you’ve probably heard the buzz about BookTok by now. This corner of TikTok dedicated to all things bookish has exploded over the past couple years, turning unknown authors into overnight sensations and reviving backlist titles faster than you can say “plot twist.”
Indeed, the “BookTok effect” is real. Titles like “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” and “They Both Die at the End” saw sales skyrocket years after publication thanks to BookTok buzz. Publishers are scrambling to get ahead of trends, some even creating dedicated “BookTok teams” to capitalize on the platform’s marketing potential.
Shelby Leigh is a poet and author who achieved success through TikTok. When she first joined the platform, she had self-published two poetry books. But it was her engaging content about mental health issues that helped her build a following on the app. Although initially nerve-wracking and challenging, she persevered and soon found that her TikTok presence was driving sales for her books. In fact, her bestseller was re-published by Simon & Schuster in July 2022 because of her sales track record. With a third book on the way, Shelby has left her corporate job to pursue writing full-time. Her success on TikTok feels reminiscent of other Instapoets like Rupi Kaur, who began using Instagram to share poems in the early 2010s and went on to commercial stardom.
Book Launch Promotion Ideas
Have you ever gone for a stroll around a pond and enjoyed looking around at the nature? If not, find a pond near you and give it a try. Now imagine a short page or two with some illustrations or photos set up about every 10 feet. With some inexpensive posts and a piece of extra wood or a clipboard, you can prop up pages of your story to give other pond visitors something fun to engage with as they enjoy the nature around them. This can work in parks, down public streets, or other areas that get foot traffic. Be sure you get permission to post your story, and make sure it’s appropriate for a general audience.
If you have space in your budget, paid promotions with sites like My Book Cave, Book Rebel, Love Kissed Book Bargains, Bargain Booksy, ENT Book Promotion, and others can be excellent ways to draw attention to a new release, a book sale, or a free book giveaway. These sites tend to have hundreds of thousands of newsletter subscribers and website visitors, so the chances of you getting some sales and finding new readers are good. BookBub is considered one of the pinnacles of paid promotions—authors tend to see dramatic sales and bumps in rankings, but be aware that this book promotion often comes with a hefty price tag.
If you’re a better speaker than a blog post writer, you can also offer yourself up as a podcast guest. Just make sure, as always, that any podcasts you’re on are relevant to your audience. For example, if you’ve written a book about DIY home improvement, don’t pitch yourself to a podcast about the most swoonworthy couples in Jane Austen’s novels; find a lifestyle or life hacks podcast instead.
Book signings can be a great way to get new readers. Have a contact form or promo ad on Facebook offering a unique signing that gives a special shout-out to the reader. Suggest your autographed book as a gift for special occasions like anniversaries, birthdays, etc. Just like celebrities are doing on Cameo, you can write something more than just a simple, “For Jim. Signed, Me” in your signed book. You can even turn this into an upgrade – free basic callout to recipient; $5 for a special short message; $15 for a specially written paragraph just for the recipient.
One of the book-related pages already built into Pagewheel for you to customize quickly is an event page that collects your RSVPs, allows you to give them a freebie (if you want), assembles their contact details and even sends them a reminder email.
Instagram Book Promotion Ideas
Thank you for the detailed information on how to promote my ebook on Instagram. I will be launching my ebook (How to Teach a Child How to Read) soon, hoping that I could bring more leads through Instagram. 🙂
Great post! Instagram is a growing platform. Used correctly it works to sell books. I have published 13 successful tech/business books – it is all about reaching your audience – ‘if you just build it and do not market it they will not come’. Marty Fox ‘Digital Transformation Success Secrets’
Instagram is a social platform, so engaging with other users is essential. The more you engage with your readers and fellow Bookstagrammers, the more visible and connected you’ll become. Here are some ways to do that:
Consider setting time-based goals, such as 15-30 minutes a day, that you dedicate to using the platform. Another effective strategy is dedicating an hour at the beginning of each week to prepare all your posts, reels, and stories and saving them as drafts. Then, all you have to do is share the content throughout the week at your convenience. Try out different strategies until you’ve found one that works best for you! Here are some rough estimates of how frequently I suggest posting and engaging with other users on Instagram if you are looking to grow your presence on the platform:
Thank you for the detailed information on how to promote my ebook on Instagram. I will be launching my ebook (How to Teach a Child How to Read) soon, hoping that I could bring more leads through Instagram. 🙂
Great post! Instagram is a growing platform. Used correctly it works to sell books. I have published 13 successful tech/business books – it is all about reaching your audience – ‘if you just build it and do not market it they will not come’. Marty Fox ‘Digital Transformation Success Secrets’
Book Promotion Ideas for Authors
140. Share insights into your writing process for aspiring authors. Sharing information about your writing process is incredibly helpful to people who are learning how to write a book. They will be interested to read your own book afterward, too!
127. Host a book-related online escape room or puzzle challenge. Online escape rooms are almost as fun as the real thing – I know, because I did a ton of them during the pandemic lockdown. Why not host one related to your book?
64. Leverage Amazon’s Author Central for enhanced book pages. If you don’t have your Amazon author page set up, now is the time to do it! Amazon Author Central allows you to make interactive eBooks with visual and audio elements.
Think of it this way: J.R.R. Tolkien didn’t invent a whole genre alone—he had C.S. Lewis hyping him up (and probably pointing out plot holes over tea). Collaboration is the secret sauce behind some of the most successful creative ventures. So, why not bring that energy to your own book marketing?
“The best collaborations I’ve had started with total honesty. What are we both hoping to get out of this? When expectations align, it’s magic. When they don’t, it’s mayhem.” –Rachel Aaron, The WriteTreat Zoom sessions