Authors with a forthcoming book need to look at many different promotion strategies during a pandemic. I’m learning as I go, since a lot has changed since my first novel was published. Here’s a few tips of mine. If YOU have any, please share!
Write it and Zoom…
Forget book tours. The biggest advantage to Zoom is that authors can appear anywhere without having to leave their living rooms, and anyone from coast to coast can watch. Just be sure to get dressed (right?) and plan ahead where to put your device, make sure the lighting is good, and the background is decent. Take the dog for a walk beforehand.
I’m determined to learn all I can. I already have a few teachers who are interesting in Zoom classroom appearances, so I’d better get ready.
Collaborate
My dear friend and author Cynthia Harrison has a November book release, too, so we decided to do an event together. I wasn’t sure exactly what to do, though. A few years ago, I recall seeing “live” Facebook events, but those consisted of interactive posts, Q & A, they and were not all that exciting.
I suggested Cindy and I do a live stream event on Facebook via Zoom, but I had suspected you needed a paid account to do that. I emailed another writer friend, Jenifer Smythe DeBellis, who’d recently hosted a fellow poet on Zoom. I was right, you do need an account, however Jenifer graciously offered to host Cindy and me.
So we’ll be doing a live Facebook promotion event on November 20, 4pm, at Pink Panther Magazine Presents. Be sure to tune it. I know it will be fun.
Book Trailer
Another great marketing tool is a short book trailer. Book trailers can be shared on Twitter and Facebook.
I make my book trailers using iMovie, and I’ve blogged about the making book trailers here. For Gordy and the Ghost Crab, I used my book illustrations, which I own the rights too. For the text, I used my favorite app, Canva.com, and downloaded the images created.
Share posts on Social Media
Speaking of Canva, it’s terrific for creating Instagram, Twitter and Facebook posts. And it’s free, unless you want to get really fancy. You can use their stock photos or, even better, upload your own photos. If you search “stickers,” you’ll find lots of fun stuff that works well on Instagram. Make your design, download it to your photos, and share away.
Be cautious when using photographs / art you find in an online search because they may be copyrighted. Hubspot has a great source for terrific copyright-free photos that will fit just about anyone’s needs. I found the video I used in my trailer for my novel In the Context of Love there. Morguefile also has free photos for commercial use, but sometimes I find it time consuming to find what I want.
I have yet to join TikTok, but I know lots of authors who use it. If you have any tips on the app, please feel free to share your tips! I’m not keen on making a fool of myself. Yet.
A few years ago when Facebook changed its algorithms, some people feared Facebook Business (author) pages might not be useful. I still have my author page, and I still use it. I might investigate starting a few ads, or boosting a post again. I still have followers though who respond to my posts, so I will keep using it.
Don’t be afraid
I guess that’s the thing– you have to be willing to put yourself out there, and not be overly concerned with appearing foolish.
Remember, there is no one better able to promote your book than yourself. Many years ago, a poet friend of mine was sometimes criticized for being perceived as begin too vocal or pushy about herself. I didn’t. I saw her as wanting to share her work as well as lend her voice to further other poets. So, be willing to share the spotlight. Help promote others. Share. We’re in this together, and there are enough readers in this world for everyone.
Gordy and the Ghost Crab is available for order online and
in bookstores nationwide
Linda is a writer, poet, and artist.
Learn more about her award winning novel, In the Context of Love.
Learn more about her picture book, Gordy and the Ghost Crab.
Thanks for this information, Linda! Promotion is so difficult. I appreciate this advice.
Promotion can be humbling and daunting. It’s embarrassing, almost needy, to even have to say “Buy my book. You’ll like it,” so the trick is to come up with other ways to get the word out. I think your “invite me to your book club” Instagram post is a really good idea.