20 Quick Book Marketing Ideas You Can Do Now! by guest @MixtusMedia

By Rachel Thompson | #NaNoProMo

May 05
20 Quick Book Marketing Ideas You Can Do Now! by guest @MixtusMedia #BookMarketing #Book #Marketing #PR #Publicity

If there is one common thread that runs through every author it’s this: we don’t have enough time! For writing, for book marketing, for any of it (whatever it is).

Sometimes when we see a huge task ahead of us, like book marketing, we tend to focus on it as a whole. And that can be overwhelming – which can make many of us put it off for another day, or just give up on it altogether.

But when we break it down a bit, there is actually a lot we can get done in just a few minutes a day.

So I thought I would share some tasks that take 10 minutes or less that will vastly improve your book marketing.

These are tasks that can be done quickly during your lunch break, while you’re waiting in line to pick up your kids from school, or even during commercials breaks while watching your favorite show. It helps you get things done – and each task usually takes less time than you thought.

20 Quick Book Marketing Ideas You Can Do Now! by guest @MixtusMedia #BookMarketing #Book #Marketing #PR #Publicity

Book Marketing Ideas

  1. Research hashtags. Think about keywords your ideal reader would use to find your book. For example, #ya, #mysterybooks or #novels. When you search that hashtag, more suggestions will be offered. Keep a running list of those hashtags and start using them in your posts or start liking and commenting on posts that use those hashtags as well. Your engagement and audience will grow! You can get your list started by downloading our free hashtag list.
  2. Fill in your social media profiles. Your profile is the first impression people have of you. So make sure your about section tells people why they should follow you, that you’re using keywords in your bio, that your links are correct, etc. Remove any guesswork and make sure your information is easy to understand and find.
  3. Create your 30-second elevator pitch. When someone asks what your book or writing is about and you say, “Well, it’s kind of complicated…” you’re missing an opportunity. You aren’t reinventing the wheel. Include some similar authors or genres as a touchstone so readers can relate to it. Focus on a few keywords and craft your pitch around that.
  4. Think about the person you’re writing for. If you could create the perfect person to buy, read, and love your book, what would that person look like? What is their age? Where do they live? What are their hobbies? What do they do for a living? This is the beginning of your ideal reader profile. We show you exactly how to do this (and MUCH more!) In our signature course The Mixtus Method.
  5. Like and comment on posts. Not your own posts, but other people’s posts. Whether it’s your fellow authors’ posts, your fans or potential fans that use certain hashtags (see idea #1) simply liking or leaving a short comment on their posts will introduce you to new people and get your name in front of new faces.
  6. Brainstorm newsletter incentive ideas. Creating an incentive for readers to sign up for your newsletter is hands down, the best way to grow your list. Take 10 minutes to think about what your readers would be interested in. I have a list here to get your juices rolling.
  7. Take one big marketing idea and break it down into steps. If you have a big idea that feels overwhelming, like creating and building a launch team, break the task down into individual steps. This will create an actionable to-do list so you can get it done a little bit at a time.
  8. Take a look at your website with fresh eyes. Go through and make a list of what needs to be updated (your bio, calendar, images, etc.) and things that you need to change for your new book.
  9. Go through your Amazon reviews (or wherever your book is sold) and find pull quotes. Sharing what other readers thought of your books on your website is a great way to give readers insight into why they should pay attention.
  10. Set goals for the next three to six months. When you have a target to aim at you are able to make a plan to get there. Think about what you could realistically do in the next few months.
  11. Make a plan to accomplish those goals. Take your list of goals and outline a way to achieve or complete them.
  12. Research writers groups on Facebook. Tapping into other writers and creating relationships with them is a fantastic way to get the support you need but also expand your audience. Take some time to look at groups you can join. You can start with The Mixtus Meet-Up.
  13. Look at your website analytics. Don’t let this one scare you because you’re mainly looking for one piece of info: where your traffic is coming from. Is it coming from Facebook? Twitter? Instagram? Pinterest? Google? Knowing where people are coming from lets you know where you should spend more time online. If most of your traffic is coming from Instagram but no one is coming from Twitter – spend more time on Instagram.
  14. Brainstorm blog topics. Think about your ideal reader. What sparks their interest? What details or insight could you share about your new book? Brainstorm topics you could write about. Here’s a list of 100 blog topic ideas to get you started.
  15. Read another author’s blog post and comment/share. Take a few minutes to look at blogs, videos, or podcasts from your fellow authors, comment on the posts that interest you, share them on social media, and tag them in the post. It’s a great way to support your fellow authors and gives variety to the types of posts you share.
  16. Reach out to a reader. If you have a reader that is active on your social media accounts, on your newsletter list, or leaves comments on your blog, reach out to them and thank them for their support. This simple act of kindness goes a long way!
  17. Research keywords. Keywords play a huge role in making your content, book, website, and posts easier for your readers to find online. I have a blog post on how you can easily find a long list of keywords to get your list rolling.
  18. Research what others are doing outside of the book publishing world. We often get so pigeonholed and only look at what other authors are doing online. But I want to encourage you to look at other industries and get ideas and inspiration from them. Designers, mom bloggers, interior designers, musicians, filmmakers, companies you admire, etc. Take note of what colors or styles you respond to, what kinds of pictures you’re drawn to, etc. It’s a great way to get an idea of what kind of approach you can take online to stand out in the publishing world.
  19. Create a doable to-do list. Outline what you would like to accomplish in the next month, make a to-do list and assign each task to a day and time throughout the month. Schedule it so it gets done!
  20. Update your Amazon Author Page. If you don’t have an author page, create one! And if you have one, make sure the information is current and accurate. Connecting your blog feed, adding a video, and including your website URL in the bio (even though it doesn’t link to it) is a great way for readers to get to know more about you, your other books, and make a better connection.

You can get a lot done in just a few minutes a day. Put these tasks to work and you’ll see your to-do list whittle down quickly!

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THE GIVEAWAY

Thank you, Jenn! Today’s giveaway is sponsored by David Ratner, PR of Boston.

David owns one of the most successful PR publicity and publishing consulting firms in Boston. I am thrilled to have David offering up a free consultation for one lucky winner!

Want to win this giveaway? Simply leave a comment WHY below!

All comments must be left prior to midnight on Monday, May 6th, 2019 in order to be eligible to win. Winners for the week announced on Tuesday, May 7.

Good luck!

Jenn dePaula

​

Jenn dePaula | MixtusMedia.com

Hi! I’m Jenn dePaula! I’ve been working with authors, musicians, and other creatives for over 13 years helping them find and connect with their ideal audience online. I’ve worked with every type of author – from New York Times bestselling authors to self-publishing authors starting from scratch – and I’ve loved every minute of it!

My passion is to empower and educate authors by simplifying the marketing and social media process (yes, it can be done!) and help them to focus on what WILL work in their marketing, not what might work.

Join me over at www.mixtusmedia.com or I hang out on Instagram at www.instagram.com/mixtusmedia

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For a more detailed plan on developing your book marketing, purchase Rachel’s new book,
The BadRedhead Media 30-Day Book Marketing Challenge
Now on Amazon!
Readers’ Favorite Silver Award Winner! 
 Get this book NOW on Amazon

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About the Author

Rachel Thompson is the author of newly released BadRedhead Media 30-Day Book Marketing Challenge: How to energize your book sales in a month - created to help authors market their book. She is also the author of Broken Places (one of IndieReader's "Best of 2015" top books and 2015 Honorable Mention Winner in the San Francisco Book Festival), and the multi award-winning Broken Pieces, as well as two additional humor books, A Walk In The Snark and Mancode: Exposed. She owns BadRedhead Media, creating effective social media and book marketing campaigns for authors. Her articles appear regularly in The Huffington Post,  IndieReader.com, The San Francisco Book Review (BadRedhead Says…), 12Most.com, BookPromotion.com, and Self-Publishers Monthly. Not just an advocate for sexual abuse survivors, Rachel is the creator and founder of the hashtag phenomenon #MondayBlogs and two live Twitter chats: #BookMarketingChat (co-hosted with TheRuralVA, Emilie Rabitoy) and #SexAbuseChat, co-hosted with C. Streetlights and Judith Staff. She hates walks in the rain, running out of coffee, and coconut. She lives in California with her family.

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Leave a Comment:

(20) comments

Jennifer May 5, 2019

This is my favorite kind of article: practical and actionable! I can commit to doing at least one of these every day and making a habit of some of them.

Reply
Londyn-Heath May 5, 2019

I always enjoy articles that break action into steps. Winning a New York book consultation would top off the pleasure of visiting “Bad Redhead Media.”

Reply
Linda Moran May 5, 2019

You had me at #hashtags! Never thought about the writing piece – I do lots of hashtags from my artist profile on Instagram…I can see this expanding my reach easily and driving more traffic to my Medium site. Interested in how I can blend my fiction/nonfiction lives – right now it’s mostly nonfiction.

Reply
D.B. Moone May 5, 2019

Jenn,

I’m not in the place for a consultation, but I have to tell you this is one of the best #NaNoProMo posts I have read. Your post makes everything appear less overwhelming, and everything you list is doable. You covered many issues that I spend too much time fretting over. And I would be remiss if I did not laud your resources as extremely useful. Where has Rachel been hiding you?

Thank you for your terrific #NaNoProMo post.

Sincerely,
Donna

Reply
Pauline Wiles May 5, 2019

Thanks for this great reminder that although “marketing” seems daunting, there are lots of tiny pieces that we can feel good about accomplishing.

Reply
Sara Ohlin May 5, 2019

This was such a helpful post full of great suggestions! And by breaking it down, it feels so much easier to accomplish. I would love to win the consultation; I have my first 2 romance novels coming out this fall and I feel I could learn so much from a consultation from experts.

Reply
Wayne May 5, 2019

All great ideas! Thank you now to over come the fear

Reply
Charli Mills May 5, 2019

This is a great list of action items to show authors that marketing can be an easy part of their weekly activities. Very practical.

Reply
Kristine May 5, 2019

Loving the NaNoProMo info gold mine. I believe a consultation would help me most with #10 and #11 – setting goals and making a plan.

Reply
Rebecca E. Neely May 5, 2019

Thanks for sharing this! It’s true-there’s so much to do it’s easy to become overwhelmed and then nothing gets done. There are several items on this list I’m going to spend time on. Thanks for the lists of keywords, blog ideas, newsletter incentives. Very much appreciated! 😉

Reply
Rebecca E. Neely May 5, 2019

Thanks for sharing this! It’s true-there’s so much to do it’s easy to become overwhelmed and then nothing gets done. Thanks for the lists of keywords, blog ideas, newsletter incentives. Very much appreciated! 😉

Reply
Raiscara Avalon May 5, 2019

Love the simple steps – I actually did a couple as I was reading. 🙂 It really can seem daunting at times, as you said. Great post and I would love to win the consultation so I can learn more!

Reply
Daniella Shepard May 5, 2019

Hey Rachel,

Some great new ideas for marketing yourself as an author. While I am still definitely in the editing/querying stage of my writing career it would be great to talk with a marketing expert to refine where I have gaps in my strategy.

Reply
Ariane May 5, 2019

So many amazing ideas. So little time!

Reply
J. M. May 5, 2019

In today’s selfie-conscious world, I always wonder if it’s possible to promote my work without showing my face but so many of these ideas fit perfectly with my philosophy. Thank you!

Reply
Marianne Sciucco May 6, 2019

Great tips! When broken down into little tasks book marketing is much more manageable and less daunting. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
Monica-Marie Vincent May 6, 2019

This is a great article that I’m saving. I know I have been doing my marketing wrong & would love to change it. And, I realize, it’s because of that very reason cited in the first paragraph. It’s overwhelming to me, so I keep pushing it for later. Thank you for giving me that one thing I couldn’t fathom, breaking it down into more manageable chunks.

Reply
Dana Lemaster May 6, 2019

Thanks so much for an article that makes marketing less intimidating You’re absolutely correct, it’s a lot easier to ward off discouragement by breaking down each goal into a series of smaller and readily achievable tasks. The lists and downloads offer a good way to get started. I’m sure a lot of readers will benefit from them.

Thanks again,
Dana Lemaster

Reply
Dena Garson May 7, 2019

Well… I got a couple of things on that list but there are plenty more to work on. Thanks for the reminders!

Reply
McKenna May 8, 2019

Whew! This is a great list. I feel as though I do many of these things already (sneaking them in on lunch breaks and such) but I’ll confess, my eyes glazed over at stuff like assessing analytics and such. And while I love writing blog posts, I’m pants at commenting on others most of the time. So you’ve given me some good things to think about and work on–thanks!

Reply
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