Frugal Book Promotion Ideas
The Hard Work Is Done, Right?
You have finally finished your book. Months and probably years have gone into the writing of that book, and you are proud of it. Maybe while you were writing it you had visions of fame and fortune as millions purchase your book and you are highly sought-after for guest appearances on Oprah and Letterman.
Then a taste of reality joined you as you sent out query letter after query letter and not one agent or publisher was interested in your book. How can that be? How can they not see the brilliance of your writing? Don’t they know how long and how hard you worked to deliver your masterpiece?
So you do the next logical thing and you self-publish your book. You take your manuscript to a printing company, you pay six bucks a piece for the first printing of one-hundred books, and now you are holding in your hand the finished product in book form.
Now what do you do?
Well this author, and thousands like me, have faced that exact question. Now what do we do?
Let me begin by stating that I hate self-promotion. I would rather have a root canal without anesthetic than promote myself. It is painful and quite frankly I find it a bit demeaning. I just want to write my novels and then have the multitudes flock to my doorstep begging for the chance to read it. I am a writer and not a huckster. What do I know about self-promotion?
Well, in truth, I know a bit about promotion. I have a degree in Marketing and I have owned three businesses in the past, so I’m well aware of the value of marketing. I understand how to buy ads and find the ideal match between my needs and what the different forms of marketing can deliver. However, when it came time for me to self-promote my own novel, money became a major concern. Buying advertising is expensive and much too cost-prohibitive for me and my budget. I needed to find ways to promote my book that would basically cost me nothing but some hard work and effort.
It was time to get creative.
From that experience I learned several methods of self-promotion that basically cost nothing, and today I am going to share those five methods with you. Of course there are many ways to self-promote a novel or for that matter artwork of any kind, but I am going to share the five methods that were successful for me.
Libraries Are Goldmines
If you are a writer then it should be obvious that your target audience is comprised of readers. Duh! And where do you find readers day in and day out, month after month? The library!
Any town of any size has a library and I guarantee you that most libraries are more than happy to have a local writer do a reading. In Olympia, Washington where I live, there are three libraries within the metropolitan area and all three were excited to have me read for them. They put me on their schedule. I showed up with fifty of my books, a pen for signing and a coffee, and they provided the room, signing table and podium. I gave a fifteen minute reading and then sold a few books.
I handed out business cards that had my website printed on them, and I chatted with the patrons about writing and about life. Each reading was a wonderful experience and each reading was profitable at no cost.
Bookstores Will Love You
How many bookstores do you have in your town or city? Drop by and ask them if you can do a reading and/or signing of your new book. I promise that you will receive a warm welcome and before long you will be on their schedule.
I went to five bookstores pitching myself and four offered signing times. Three of them took my book and sold it on a 70/30 split with me getting the 70%. There is nothing quite like seeing your book sitting on the shelves of a bookstore, and on signing day two of those bookstores put my book in their front window with a sign advertising my book reading and signing date.
Total cost: NOTHING!
A Great Resource
- Craft Shows, Music Festivals, Craft Fairs, Fine Art Fairs
Looking for music festivals, craft shows or art fairs? Turn to the best festival database online. More than 24,000 North American events. Search the Festivalnet database.
Spring and Summer Craft Fairs
Every single state has spring and summer craft fairs, and every single craft fair offers tent space for a price. Depending on the popularity of the individual fair, the cost can be anywhere from ten to seventy-five dollars for two or three days.
This was the only self-promotion that cost me money but I made a profit so it was worth it. I went on Craigslist and found a craft tent/awning on sale for $30. Then I sent in my registration fee of $30 for a fair in April, 2012, and headed off to fame and fortune.
Well, not exactly fame and fortune, but I did sell eight books that first weekend for a profit of twenty bucks, and subsequent fairs during that summer netted me over $500 in sales during three months. As a bonus I got to sit with Bev at some fun events and laugh at life. How great is that?
Facebook and the Social Media
I am not a big advocate of Facebook as an advertising medium only because it seems everybody and their mothers promote things on Facebook. I think there is a very real chance that your promotion will be ignored by 99.9% of those who glance at it.
Having said that, I sold twenty-two books because of my promotion on Facebook and it cost me nothing to do it, so how bad of an experience was it?
My only word of caution when using the social media to promote your work is that there is a very real danger of turning people off with your annoying sales pitch. I happen to think you are better off with one main pitch and then a follow-up reminder and that’s it. Why annoy potential buyers and ruin what goodwill you might have?
Have you self-published a book?
Don’t Ignore Other Local Businesses
Books will sell in other stores other than bookstores. Local businesses enjoy promoting local businesses. They understand that their success depends on your success and reciprocity is the lifeblood of a healthy business community.
I was excited when two antique stores offered to carry my novel and yes, I sold some books there. One clothing store gave my books some space on their front counter and yes, I sold some books there.
Do not limit your possibilities. If it is a business it has customers and if it has customers then I guarantee you that they read books. Why not give them a chance to read your book?
Some thoughts from yours truly
My book on Kindle
- The 1259 Shuttle from Yesterday to Today: William D. Holland: Amazon.com: Kindle Store
The 1259 Shuttle from Yesterday to Today: William D. Holland: Amazon.com: Kindle Store
Odds and Ends
I cannot over-emphasize the following point: you should have a website for your book. You should also have business cards and you should be active not only in your community but in online writing communities as well.
I found a printing company online that printed magnetic advertising strips that stuck to the side of our car. The strip was a mini-advertisement for my book, and everywhere I drove my advertisement drove with me. I think I paid ten bucks for that magnet and it was so worth it.
Think outside the box. Remember, this is your book. This is the culmination of countless hours of work and now you need to take whatever steps are necessary to sell your work. I have even given away copies of my book to target audiences because I believe it is profitable in the long run.
I hope these suggestions are helpful for you. There are many more ideas that you can try, and I hope they all work for you. I know from experience how hard it is to write and publish a book, and I sincerely hope you all receive the rewards you deserve. Best of luck to you all! If I can be of any help to you or answer any questions, feel free to contact me at holland1145@yahoo.com.
2013 William D. Holland (aka billybuc)
Related
Comments
Bill, I love it! When I get my first book written, I will definitely keep these ideas in mind. I love how you remind us to be proud of our work, which is our sweat and tears. Awesome article! Hope you are doing well, my friend. I am enjoying spring break right now. p.s. I am honoured to be first commentator. That's a rarity!
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Sharilee, as soon as I saw you pop up I realized it is spring vacation. It's funny, but I used to look forward to those vacations; now I don't even know they are upon us. I hope you are well and thank you.
Loved your suggestions and wouldn't have thought bookstores if you were not covered by an agent and possibly self-published, but seriously thanks for enlightening me on that. Have pinned this Bill to refer to (I always pin your publishing articles, because quite frankly they are filled with such great information). And I have also voted way up, tweeted and shared!! :)
Thanks for the ideas. I've used some in the past and will borrow some in the future. It's wonderful for an author to encourage other authors and not see them as the competition.
There is nothing I'd rather not do than pitch my book to my friends and family. For one thing, they aren't my target market. Your ideas give me other options.
I'd add: send out press releases. Two of my books are in the University of Georgia bookstore just because I'm an alum.
Very interesting. I don't think I'll ever write a book, though. And I'm with you on self-promotion. I am far, far too shy to stand up and give a talk in public!
I am sure these ideas will be useful to those with the right personality and will-to-do,
Bless you :)
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Janine, you are a doll and I greatly appreciate you. Thank you for pinning my work....you just gave me an idea. I love the free exchange of ideas here at HP. Anyway, thank you for always being here.
You have some great ideas, here. Too many people cross their fingers every day, waiting for someone to discover them. Whatever it is you want to do, it requires effort to be successful, amIright? I thought you had your book available in Kindle form. Am I missing something? Cuz that's entirely possible.
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Kathleen, you are right about press releases...thanks for adding that. Competition? There are seven billion people and only what?? a couple million writers? There are more than enough readers to go around. :) Thank you!
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Stuff4kids, I'm actually very shy too and yet I have no problem getting up to speak....but put me in a social arena, like a party, and I clam up instantly. LOL Thank you and bless you as well.
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Lizzy, you are right, it is in Kindle form....I just forgot to mention that. LMAO....I kill myself some days.
Thanks Lizzy! Have a great day in sunny Dunedin.
Great suggestions Bill - I am certainly not ready to write a book but hopefully in the future. Great tips I will have to bookmark for later!
When one has done most of these suggestions there still remains the question of how can I better promote my book? Selling twenty copies here and there does definitely help the Ego. I think a partnership with another related professional or author could help promote both.
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Startstream, I do not have a definitive answer for you. When self-promoting, I think a great deal of success hinges on determination and creativity. Sometimes, also, and this is something I have to be aware of, the book just may not be that good. :) Thanks for stopping by and raising a question many have asked.
Well, I bought your book and looking forward to reading it. I will also share this on facebook as a friend of mine could use this advice. Actually he is in that linked in writers group you started. Good luck selling your book!
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Sheri, thank you so much for buying my book. That was very nice of you and I hope it doesn't shock you too much. :)
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Hey Kelly, thanks for stopping by even though you don't have a book. I appreciate it my friend.
These are some really good ideas. I think I mentioned when I wrote my book in the 90s it was a piece of cake. No internet marketing..just letters and phone calls..It was a huge success. Today even though the internet looks appealing everyone and their grandmother is using it..I think most of us are tired from seeing so many promotions. Anyway your ideas are realistic and mostly just take some legwork..Going to promote your book on all of the above.
I have done the things you have suggested and to tell you the truth, what you suggest here has been my most effective ways of marketing. Two thumbs up!
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Cygnetbrown, thank you for the endorsement. We need to start small and build from there, and establishing a local presence is very important for an author. Well done my friend.
This is great advice :) following the hub for future reference when I hope to write a book of my own someday :) Great hub
Great ideas Bill. I'm enjoying this series and learning all along the way.
Thanks.
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Thanks Carol. It was certainly easier even ten years ago. Today it takes a major effort on the part of the writer to get out there and sell, sell and sell some more. No wonder so many writers quit.
Thanks buddy and I hope you are having a great day.
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apimentel, thank you and good luck writing that book. I hope you do it.
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I'm glad Rajan. Thank you for being so faithful and always being here.
This will definitely help me in the long run.
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I'm glad, vkwok...thanks for stopping by my friend.
Awesome tips and information Bill. This is inspirational and should be of help to many of us!
Mark
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Thank you Mark! I hope it is my friend.
What great ideas Bill. You are very creative. Maybe someday I'll write a travel book about Italy :) For anyone who is writing a book your hub is a must read. Great job.
These are soooooo helpful. And they are like no brainers only I didn't think of them. Inexpensive is where you got me....that is a synonym for my middle name which is CHEAP.
One day I will market my book using your tools.
Thanks Bill
I can always count on you.
Many Angels are headed your way along with hugs and blessings :) ps
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Bill, if anyone could write a travel book about Italy it would be you. I hope you do, buddy, and good luck on that venture. Thanks as always.
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Thanks PS, and I love your middle name....I think we had the same parents. LOL
blessings and a hug to boot,
bill
Bill, these are great tips! As you know, I self-published my first poetry book. I paid a $75 fee to have my book listed in the Ingram catalog that bookstores use to order their stock. I've already made back the $75 in online sales, but still need to convince book stores to stock my pride and joy. I intend to go to my local Books A Million with my book in hand to see if they will stock it.
Your other ideas are awesome. I never thought about doing a reading (gulp!). This is another one to bookmark to help my career.
Thank you my friend and trumpeter of writers! (Let me know when you get sick of the trumpet reference!) :-)
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Sha, I like the trumpet reference. Keep it coming. Go to the library and bookstores and ask for time to do a reading or book signing...many will be more than willing, or at least they are here. :)
Great ideas and in small towns the local newspaper will probably help out too! They have an author...why not?
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Exactly, Jackie! Big towns, not so much, but small towns definitely. Thanks for the addition.
Great advise, bill.
Now, only wish this editing goes smoothly that I can publish my Ebook.
By the way, I am assuming we order some hard copies and keep them handy for the above promotions?
I am going to check your book mentioned above. Thanks a lot, bill
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Ruchira, I don't know if you can order hard copies of an ebook...I've never done that so I'm not going to be much help on that one. :)
Good advice as always. I don't treat selling my books as book promotion; I think of selling books as selling ME! Probably because my subjects are non-fiction, marketing advice books, I use my books as my "business cards" for my speaking and consulting work. Fiction authors can use them that way, too, promoting themselves as storytelling "experts."
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Excellent advice, Heidi. I like that approach because honestly, that's what you are doing. Well done my friend and thank you.
Thank you for all the help that you are giving to your fellow writers, Bill. This is yet another very useful and generous hub!
Thank you, Bill, for your generous suggestions and realistic advice for fellow writers. Compared to the rigors of writing the book, it is the marketing and PR which are most demanding ... in my opinion.
Great useful hub full of information and encouragement. Sounds like a big and major accomplishment!
There you go again, helping in anyway you can. You get my vote for the most giving man on Hubpages. Thank you Bill...
Thanks for these ideas, will keep them in mind. I agree very much with using your own website to promote your book. It starts with that!
These are great ideas... I haven't written a book but I will keep these in mind just in case I do. You have given me some inspiration for my crafts though, thank you! voting up, useful and sharing!
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Alicia, it is my pleasure to help Hubbers. Thank you for the visit.
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drbj, I agree completely. It is easily harder for me to promote than write.
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Thank you summerberrie....I will always be proud of my first novel. :)
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I'm sorry, Ruby! I just can't stop myself. LOL Thank you kind lady.
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Michelle, I agree with you 100%. An online, professional presence is very important.
Thank you for the visit.
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Sasha, I'm very happy to support you. Thank you for your loyalty.
Fine places for promoting our works!!Thank you for sharing this great information. Voted up, useful and interesting. Sharing too.
Great ideas, I am already using most of them to promote my books..
Thank you for these tips. As I am finding promotions, my sales are going up, My disability makes it slow going.
What great ideas! It would never have occurred to me to try these different venues. I guess it never hurts to ask around. Thanks, Bill.
Hi Bill,
Yes I am up again, just brought Coco for a walk in the SNOW . . . . what a picture, black lab against a carpet of untouched white!This is a great read and so on the money for using some creative thinking. I have never published a book but would love to in the near future and would love your thoughts on E-books? Are they a good way to go? Loved your ideas about using the library and book shops for readings and creaft fairs are great too having done them for my cards, jewelry and pottery. Thanks Bill for another gem I will definitely keep but voted up, interesting, useful, shared and pinned.
Hi Bill - superb advice here as always - I'll be sure to keep these ideas in mind when nearing publication :)
Some of these ideas take so little effort. Thanks for the reminder and the encouragement. You are good to know!
Great points here and very useful.Thanks as always for sharing Bill and enjoy your day.
Eddy.
Great tips; self-promotion is my least favorite thing as well. Shared this with other author friends on FB and Twitter. I had not thought of approaching local businesses, and since I live in a rural area, that could be a priceless tip. Thanks!
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radhikasree, thank you for the visit. I hope it helps you in the future.
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Excellent, jainismus! Best of luck with your books.
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Martin, I am quite certain that it is difficult for you. Best of luck to you and thank you.
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Phoenix, I was surprised by the response I got from local merchants. Good luck to you and thank you.
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Suzie, I hope you had a great walk in the snow. Snow??? It's spring for God's sake! Well, ebooks do work, but like any other venue it is hit and miss, or being in the right place at the right time.....but I do know people who have earned decent money with ebooks. Good luck my friend and thank you.
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Thank you Dan and best of luck to you in the future.
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MsDora, it is my pleasure....thank you so much for the visit and kind words.
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My pleasure Eddy! As always, thank you so much for your loyal friendship.
love,
billy
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Donna, we never know until we ask. Best of luck to you in your promotions and writing career. Thank you!
Great hub! This is so useful for me as I am writing my first novel! Thank you for sharing!
Great ideas Bill. I will keep this in my mind and pin it for later use. I have not written a book yet, but who knows one day I´ll do it. Thanks for sharing.
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khmazz, I'm glad these are helpful to you and good luck with that novel.
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Thelma, if that book is inside of you then it will find a way out. :) Thank you for the visit.
Bill, I wish I had known this when I published my poetry collection 12 years ago. I was a teenager, and knew nothing about promotion. But I was able to sell 1000 copies.
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Vinaya, selling 1000 copies is excellent. Good luck with your next book my friend.
Such practical and commonsense advice. Thanks for sharing your wisdom. I was impressed that you sold 22 books through Facebook. I await reading more about your endeavors and learning more from you. Great job, Bill.
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toknowinfo, thank you for the visit. I hope some of these suggestions help someone down the road.
I can attest to the success of #2. When I did it for my book, it was such fun for the store and myself because nobody had ever approached them for a book-signing before. Also, by signing all their remaining books after the event, they couldn't return them anymore to the publishers, which means I wouldn't lose any royalties from their sale. Voting this Up and Useful.
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Aurelio, I love the idea of signing the remainder of the books....great idea. LOL Thanks for adding that personal experience to the discussion.
good advice, thanks for writing this ^_^.
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Willsummerdreamer, you are very welcome. Thank you for the visit.
Thanks for the suggestions. I would not have considered consignment shops as a potential partner. Great idea!
Billy, you are such a kind person to be giving us your ideas that took SO long for you to work up. You will not be forgotten, for you are one of those people that does kind things out of love.
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Thank you Dianna! The consignment shop was Bev's idea.....good thing I have her with me. :) Happy Easter my friend.
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Deb, what a lovely thing for you to say. Thank you so much, and I hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend.
Great ideas. I'm currently looking into getting a website thanks to you!
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mejohnson, I love it! Keep me posted so I can visit your website. :)
Bill, I'm about halfway through the process of getting my first book published through Create Space. I'm taking it one step at a time and will worry about marketing when I get there, but these are great suggestions. What are the titles of the books you've published?
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Nybride, best of luck to you with your book. My only novel is called "The 12/59 Shuttle From Yesterday to Today." thanks for asking.
Well I have been off hubpages for a while, was away on vacation and came home to an ill parent. Just starting to catch up on my reading and commenting. These are some great suggestions. I really like the local bookstore idea and am glad to see that they are interested. A friend of mine published his own book a while ago and I will be sending him this hub. Hope you are well Bill.
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Glimmer, I am well, thank you, and I hope your parent is better. Good to have you back my friend. Don't stay away so long next time. :) Did you have a nice vacation? Where did you go?
These are great ideas here Bill. I've shared these with my author friends.
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Millionaire, thank you so much. I appreciate you visiting me and sharing.
Billy, great hub of advice, for sure. I'm working on a book right now and have been writing for years. Very nice interview you have in here too! You should write a non-fiction book too.
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Thank you honesty....I'm not sure if a non-fiction book is in me. I know that sounds strange since I do so much of it on HP, but doing 100,000 words of it is a whole new ballgame. :)
Hello. Thanks for the advice and information. Never ever giving up is key. When I first published an education textbook as a co-author - it took me 4 years of offering my services politely every six months. I never thought I would get an offer. It seems that we all have different routes to getting published but what I see as constants are: determination, patience and relentlessness. (skill helps too!!! :-) ) Again, thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Randall
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Randall, thanks for sharing your experience. I agree completely with your summation. There are no shortcuts to fame and fortune in writing. Put in the time and work and then cross your fingers. :)
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