It can be difficult for indie authors to market their books, but there are several accessible and cost-conscious marketing strategies out there that might help. These methods don’t require a marketing degree or a budget to get off the ground but rely on low-cost tools and creative tactics to help you build visibility and drive sales. Here are a few strategies that might help you find success in self-publishing.
Organic Discoverability
You can’t always expect readers to stumble upon your books, but if and when they do, they should find something that catches their eye. Authors tend to see significant success by improving their product instead of marketing it and spreading it through natural attention. Whether this comes in word-of-mouth or an optimized Amazon book page, these are free tactics that can have a high impact.
Authors can look to improve the appeal of their cover design, make their title more compelling or trendy, write a more engaging blurb, or look to optimize SEO keywords. These simple, affordable (mostly free) tactics improve the likelihood that someone will pick up your book.
Author Platforms: No Cost But Time
In today’s digital age, an author should never underestimate the power of online communities to drive attention. Authors can publish excerpts or chapters on Wattpad and Ream to create engagement, connecting with massive communities of readers outside of bookstores or online marketplaces. By posting engaging, trendy videos in TikTok’s “BookTok” spaces, authors gain access to an even wider audience.
Cross-Promotion and Reader Magnets
Many indie authors have begun collaborating on box sets, newsletter swaps, or genre-specific book bundles to expand their reach collectively. A reader can pick up a set of books for a lower price and may associate your book with others in the set, integrating with existing communities for mutual growth.
“Marketing on a budget is really about building ecosystems,” Fiction Profits Academy founder Karla Marie stated, “sharing readers, not competing for them.”
Reviews and Social Proof
Online reviews are more important than ever, and indie authors need to gather reader reviews ethically. Early feedback not only helps you improve as a writer but also helps browsers decide whether or not to buy your book. Look to connect with advanced reader copy (ARC) readers or micro-influencers who might offer a review for your book and help create attention.
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What You Might Want to Spend Money On
There are plenty of free ways to market your book, but there are a few key factors that you may want to spend money on. You may not judge a book by its cover, but cover design is crucial in grabbing a reader’s attention. With hundreds of thousands of books on the market, an eye-catcher has a natural advantage. A good editor is another worthy investment, ensuring that occasional mistakes in the text don’t put readers off.
Self-Published Fiction Marketing
These tactics for self-publishing can make all the difference for an indie author. The process of finding your niche or mass appeal isn’t easy, but these methods have the potential to help you grow.
By spending carefully—and only when necessary—there’s no need to break the bank while selling books.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.
