Ways to Market Your Book for Free

Millions of books are self-published each year worldwide. Most authors sell about 300 copies, while a small percentage go on to become huge successes. However, the authors who don’t do any marketing or self-promotion will have very few sales. Why isn't my self-published book selling, and how can I boost my book sales is a question I often get.

There could be several reasons why your book isn't selling as much as you'd like, or at all. The good news is that there are many things you can do to fix this. The primary reason your book isn’t selling could be because you haven't advertised it, so not very many people know it exists. In order to make book sales, people must first be aware of your book's existence.

If you are advertising, and you’re still not making sales, it might mean that you are advertising to the wrong people. You want to figure out who your target audience is and where those people “hang out.” The goal is to get your book in front of people who will actually enjoy it. Don't be shy about your book. You need to ask readers to buy your book, and you shouldn't be afraid to do that. Shout it from the rooftops. Whenever you can, use good old-fashioned word-of-mouth to get the message out to as many people as possible.

When it comes to marketing your book, the best cost is always free. Here are some other free and low-cost ideas you can use to get your book sales moving.

1. Create a Twitter profile and tweet book updates from it.
2. Create an Instagram author account and use it to post updates from your book.
3. Follow book lovers and social influencers.
4. Follow Christian authors and writers in social media.
5. Create Instagram Reels to engage your audience via short video promos.
6. Post to Instagram every day in the run-up to your book launch.
7. Engage in Instagram takeovers to leverage other authors’ followings.
8. Create a Facebook author fan page, and invite your social network to join.
9. Run a contest or giveaway for your Facebook fans.
10. Join book lover groups and author promotion groups on Facebook.
11. Create a TikTok account and upload videos
12. Use Christian hashtags in social media: #christianbook #christianbooks #christianauthor #christian #christianbookstagram #jesus #bookstagram #christianity #bible #faith #christianblog #christianwriter #book #christianwriters #devotional #christianblogger #butfirstjesus #faithblogger #god #authorlife #christ #christianliving #booklover #books #christianbookclub #christianlife #bookworm #proverbs #devo #author #christianbusiness #lesshustlemoregrace #woman #biblestudy #shewritestruth #authorsofinstagram #christianbookstore #gritandvirtue #newbook #holybible #holyspirit #raptureready #signsofourtimes #endtimes #bibleprophecy #jesusiscoming #reading #israel #jesuschrist #wordofgod #christianparents #biblebeliever #momslife #love #christianfiction #christianwomen #prayer #biblejournaling #tokobukukristen #churchHashtags #biblestudy #readmorebooks #christianliving #mustread #dailydevotional #newbooks #bookstoread #readmore #christianblogger #newbookalert  #youngadultbooks #booksigning #greatreads #biblegram #biblicaltruth #christiantestimony #christianmemoire #christianfiction #christianauthor #devotions #christianwriters #christiansofinstagram #christianauthors #christianbook #authorlove #hopeinchrist #christianspeaker #bestsellingbook #readersclub #bookoflife
13. Create a book trailer on YouTube.
14. Record yourself reading from your book and upload it to YouTube.
15. Interview other authors on YouTube.
16. Build an author website and include links to your author website and your book sales pages on YouTube.
17. Add your book as a publication to your LinkedIn profile.
18. Add an events calendar to your website to share where you will be on your free book tour.
19. Always include the same author photo across all promotional materials so that people can recognize you and associate you with your book. Your face + your book = your brand.
20. Create an Amazon Author Central account and a related Amazon author page.
21. Populate your Amazon author page with your author bio, headshot, and book data.
22. Add an RSS feed to your Amazon author page with a link to your blog
23. Ensure your book is tagged under the correct category (provided by Amazon), and write a full description, including your genre and relevant keywords.
24. Create a Goodreads author profile so that people can review your book
25. Include quotes from your book on Goodreads.
26. Answer interview questions on Goodreads to engage with your audience
27. Run a Goodreads book giveaway.
28. Encourage people to review your book on Amazon and Goodreads. These reviews really do matter!
29. Reach out to relevant blogs and websites and offer to write a guest post, with a link back to your website and/or book.
30. Offer to contribute to relevant newsletters in exchange for a link to or short promo of your book.
31. Comment on other people’s blogs and articles. You can leave a link to your book, but don’t make it spammy.
32. Visit relevant forums and comment on threads; again, make it natural and not salesy!
33. Create a press release and send it out to free press release distribution sites.
34. Create an author newsletter and send frequent communications.
35. Add your book to your email signature with some nice graphics, and include a link to purchase.
36. Ask your writing community, friends, family, teachers, co-workers, and dentist (basically anyone you know who has a website) to link to your book on their social media and website.
37. Contact your local newspaper or magazine and ask if they will run a feature.
38. Host a launch party that speaks to the theme of your book. Invite friends, family, and church members.
39. Host a virtual launch party livestream.
40. Go “live” via social networks or use webinar tools like Zoom to host live Q&A sessions about your book.
41. Contact Christian book clubs and offer to join their club for an author Q&A.
42. Go on a free book tour. You can reach out to coffee shops, consignment stores, schools, book clubs, writing groups, and more. Most will be happy to host you.
43. Reach out to your local library and offer to do a free reading.
44. Reach out to your local independent bookstore and ask if they can host a book signing.
45. Offer samples & free copies. Readers looking for a new title may be hesitant to invest when they know nothing about the author or their writing. Offering sample chapters or timed free downloads is the friendliest way to make your work known.
46. Encourage another author to host an “in conversation with” session with you. Two authors attract more audiences than one.
47. Get involved in your niche. Keep yourself relevant. Reminding readers that you ‘exist in the now’ is a sure way to retain their interest, and keep your books at the forefront of relevancy, even if they were written a year or more ago.
48. Contact relevant podcast hosts and ask if you can appear as a guest.
49. Send Facebook event invites for all your in-person appearances.
50. Join meetups & local writing groups.

These ways will work to increase your book sales if you use them.