Dear readers, did you know authors need YOUR help in promoting their books? Yes, they really do!
Many readers already do a superb job promoting the books and authors they love.
Some promote formally by signing up with a publisher’s book review program or with an author who asks for Influencers. (An Influencer is a fancy term for someone who gets a free book for the purpose of helping spread buzz about a new release).
Some readers prefer to help authors on a more informal basis. In fact I’ve met some very sweet readers over the past few years who have book blogs and support authors out of their love for fiction. They’re passionate about what they read and want to share the joy with others.
Whether you help an author formally or informally or both, we appreciate each and every thing our readers do!
On the other hand, there are many readers who don’t realize just how much authors need their help. Or if they do know, they aren’t really sure what will be most beneficial.
So, how can readers help?
There are a zillion different ways! But here are twenty easy but effective things readers can do to spread the buzz about a book:
1. Write a review for an online bookstore. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can even copy and paste that review onto several of your favorite shopping spots.
2. Add the book to your Goodreads shelf. And when you write the review for the online bookstore above, copy and paste it onto Goodreads too.
3. Write a blog review and then invite your followers on Facebook and/or Twitter to come over and hear what you think.
4. While reading the book, post comments on Facebook or Twitter about what you’re reading and what you like about it. On Twitter, you can even use the hashtag #FridayReads (even if it’s not Friday!).
5. When finished reading the book, let your followers know your final thoughts on the book and include a link to the author’s website or book page.
6. Write a review for a print newspaper, magazine, or newsletter.
7. Suggest the book to your book group (if appropriate), whether an online or real life group. Many books have discussion questions available, and many authors are willing to meet with book groups via Skype.
8. After reading the book, give it away as a prize on your blog. Everyone likes the chance to win a free book.
9. Donate your copy of the book to a public, school, or church library, or ask them if they’d be willing to purchase a copy to add to their system.
10. Offer to host the author on your blog. Ask unique and interesting questions that you think your blog readers might enjoy. Be sure to invite your friends and family over to “meet” the author.
11. Start a discussion about the book over on Goodreads in one of your groups. You could even consider asking the author to join you for a Q & A time.
12. If the author is local, invite him or her to speak to your group about the book and writing journey. Offer him or her the opportunity to sign and sell books after the presentation.
13. Pass the book along to all of your family and friends that you think might be interested in reading it. Ask them to pass it along when they’re done.
14. Buy the book as a gift for a holiday, birthday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, etc. Books always make great gifts! Ask the author for a personally addressed and signed bookplate that you can affix in the book.
15. Offer to distribute bookmarks, postcards, or other promotional items the author might have available.
16. Take the book with you to public places (like ball games, doctor’s offices, etc.) and be sure to have a spare bookmark to hand out if someone asks about the book.
17. Pin the cover of the book onto Pinterest onto a board you’ve created for your favorite books. Make sure to link back to the author’s website or book page.
18. Take a picture of yourself with the book (and make it creative!). Post that picture onto your blog, Facebook, or Pinterest.
19. Video tape your review of the book. Keep it short, entertaining, and give a summary of what you liked most. Then upload your video onto Youtube.
20. Most importantly, TALK, TALK, TALK about the book. When you’re genuinely excited about the book with others, then they’ll want to check out the book for themselves.
What other ways can readers promote a book they love? I’d love to hear more of your ideas! What have you done or seen done by others?
Jody Hedlund
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I love this, Jody! Or you can do what my husband does, talk really loud about his wife’s books when he’s talking to a friend on an airplane. LOL
That’s too cute, Trish! Don’t you just love that our husbands are so proud of us? 🙂
A wonderful book does promotion on its own. As a writer and reader I promote books I love because I can’t stop talking about them. I don’t promote books I don’t like. Nobody has to ask me to promote. I send recommendation if the book is too wonderful to keep quiet. And I can be very loud if I really love something. I don’t let it die.
Sadly, I don’t like so much promotion going on. Blogs have been turned to ads.
As a person who worked in sales for a long time it doesn’t help to talk about me, me, me, and again me. Most buyers don’t care. It’s them, them, and them again. What’s in it for them?
And yes, good deeds are remembered. 🙂 Kudos to all who do it.
But writers should do it with grace and turn off the speakers.
LOL, I’m laughing at Tricia’s story. I love to carry around my book I’m reading and make sure the cover shows. 🙂 I’m always surprised at how many people will ask about it. Love your list! I will make sure to bookmark it and use it for my favorite books. I love to write reviews knowing it helps out the authors.
As for your book – that is awesome!! I live in Michigan and have a deep love for all things regarding Mackinac Island. This is now on my “want” list!
These are fantastic tips!
I love reading a good Christian fiction book. I do try to leave reviews on any that I think are at least a 4, 5 or 5+ Gold Star. I usually leave reviews at Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, Christian Fiction, Deeper Shopping and Book Club Network (www.bookfun.org). I do regular reviews with Book Club. I love reading new authors and genre’s that I wouldn’t have probably read. I’ve found a new interest in historical, westerns, love books on Amish, I’m a huge suspense fan. Any of those with a suspense them (any genre) I love it. I’m a big fan of Tricia Goyer, Deborah Raney and I’ve got a book now of Tamera Alexander to read for Book Club, also have read some of your authors and enjoyed their books. Also, have taken bookmarks to bookstores, handed them out in a doctor’s office, gave them out to other readers.
Hi Jody,
My friend,,, You maybe sure I will promote your books over here ,as much as I can. Those books go with me wherever I go….from the Dr/Dentist… to the Schools that my G’K’s attend( which I add are Church schools). .
Great minds think alike Jody! I am already in the process of speaking to my G’ks school librarians giving them a few copies for their book shelves.:) Obviously ones suited for the particular age groups, but even children enjoy historical fiction and there is no tardiness attached to these books. My two Grand daughters aged 13 and 12, really enjoy books such as these and they have plenty of friends with whom they will share their love of reading . One Grand daughter lives here and the other in Singapore and Singaporeans have a reputation for being avid readers! (just ask my Granddaughter. lol
Even my Grandsons have been known to peruse my books and they share them with their girlfriends, so an exposure there as well.
I constantly speak to the manager of our local book shop and have come to know her well enough now, that I can promote your books, on a regular basis.:)
Also had a thought donating some of my books to our local clubs eg Rotary, Lions and our Hospital Auxiliary because that is how I came to buy some of Robin’s books at their weekly fairs. Last but not least,there is always our Church fete !
Looking forward to your next release Jody!:)
Loved this post and am printing it out to keep it handy and give to some of my book reading friends. I have been an influencer for a few people and enjoy it immensely. I have bought some of the books and given them to my church library. I try to help the author out by buying the book as you said in your post. I do go to book sites and Goodreads to post reviews. I would like to be an influencer for you.
What a thorough list! Thanks, Jody. I’m pinning it to my ‘For Readers’ board now. 🙂
I love promoting my favorite authors’ books, and have been an “influencer” quite a few times. 😉
It’s kind of funny, because so many of my relatives and friends know how much I love books (and writing!) so they’ll often
ask me for recommendations – – which I’m very happy to give. I’ve also featured authors on my little blog and love to give books as gifts to friends and family. 🙂
Love these tips! Thank you, Jody!
I love Jody Hedlund’s book!!! I am also answering which book I would like to win, if I do. It would be Such a Time as This.