Book Marketing Challenge and More Ideas to Get You Started

Some months ago I wrote a blog about a 30 day book marketing challenge. This was very well received with many people saying they found this useful. I thought it was about time to set another challenge to help you, the author, get those book sales moving. So, who's up for the challenge? Thirty days of concerted effort to improve your marketing, and this sell more books. Here are ten ways to get you started.

1. On this day - link your book to a day in history, or a national day. Did you know today, 30th May, is National Mint Julep Day, National Hole in my Bucket Day, and National Water a Flower Day. This can be fun. An example of this. My books are set in Scotland. National Tartan Day was the perfect day for all my books. A quick graphic (see tip 2) and a tweet and there you are.

2. Use Canva to develop graphics for social media. This is a simple tool to help you develop graphics for all your social media posts. Here's an example of my graphics for Tartan Day.

Twitter - Tartan Day Promotion

Instagram - Tartan Day Promo

3. Explore the use of one social media channel you are not already using. Instagram can be used effectively to get the word out about your books. 

4. Follow at least four writers in your genre - do this on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest

5. Be helpful - comment and share another writer's posts on Facebook and Twitter. Do this because you want to support them, not because you want anything back. 

6. Send out four tweets linking to articles which will help other writers. After you have done this send 1 tweet about your books.

7. If your book mentions any areas of areas of special interest then see if you can hold a book signing there. My book, The Dagger's Curse, has a lot of action taking place on The Frigate Unicorn. I spoke to them and held a workshop for children on the boat.

8. Write and interesting blog post about how you got the idea for the book.

9. Write a blog post about one aspect of writing your book. Make this helpful for other writers.

10. Share photo's of your books in interesting places e.g. at the top of a mountain. This is one you will need to think for yourself. 

Now, write a 30 day marketing plan.

I challenge you to start today and remember to have fun. Promoting needn't be boring or stressful. Think of things you can do and enjoy yourself. Ready, steady, go, get marketing.

About the Author

Wendy H. Jones is the author of the best selling DI Shona McKenzie Mystery series of crime novels set in Dundee. Killer's Crew, the fifth booking the series was released in November, 2016, and is currently nominated for the "Silver Falchion Award. Dagger's Curse, the first book in her Fergus and Flora, Young Adult Mystery series was released on 10th September, 2016. This is also nominated for the Silver Falchion Award. An accomplished public speaker and marketer, she also has one non fiction book, Power Packed Book Marketing: Sell More Books.