So you've published your first book...how do you get people to buy it?

In one of my Facebook groups, this question came up and although I answered it with a brief answer, I was a little shocked at her following comments.


She had spent all her time and effort into creating this fantastic novel, however, that's all she did!

If she was going to give the book away for free I could understand her relaxed approach to advertising the book but she actually expected to sell it without doing any marketing along the way.


I explained that before she even published the book, she needed to have people interested and eager for the release of the book by making sure she had done the following:

• created a great website which didn't overload the visitor but was eye catching, informative (without giving too much away) and the navigation would be easy to get round the website, even for the most novice computer user,

• take advantage of all the popular social networking sites (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) and make sure your profile picture advertises your book and directs people to your website,

• use different types of media to make people aware of your work (e.g. video's, audio of chapter one, give chapter one away as a 'freebie' on your website to entice readers to come back for the rest of the book),

• be known in a few writers forums not to spam users with your work but to get involved in discussions, and;

• have a blog which does not just advertise your work but to keep people updated with your highs and lows and link with other popular blogs to, again, make yourself known and to learn more about the self publishing world.

After she has published the book, all she needs to do is:

• inform her followers that the book is ready for purchase, 

• make sure your website is updated on where people can buy the book from,

• occasionally mention her new book in the forums if others ask to be recommended some books in that particular genre and; 

• continue to promote yourself in the social networking sites and on your blog to attract new customers.

Unfortunately, I think it was information overload and although she thanked everyone for there advice, I think she still expected people to find the book by chance and it would be an over night success, however, there is a great quote I love when thinking about self publishing, which is, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work” Thomas Edison