As someone who hit “publish” on my very first novel with nothing more than excitement and a vague hope people might read it, I know exactly how frustrating it feels to stare at a sales dashboard that stays at zero. I’ve been there. I’ve tried things that didn’t work, thrown money at ads with no clue what I was doing. I kept looking for quick ways to get sales. Every failed ad and every quiet launch made me feel more stuck. But then everything changed for me! I stopped looking for shortcuts. Instead, I started thinking about how I could build a real audience, people who genuinely wanted to read what I was writing. What helped me most along the way was working with this book publishing company that actually understood my struggles.
They took me away from trying to sell a product and helped me focus on building relationships with readers. The results didn’t come overnight, but they came. Slowly. Steadily. And now, I want to share what worked, what didn’t, and how you can do the same.
1. Forget Quick Wins and Focus on Building an Audience
Ads can bring you traffic, but most of the time they don’t bring real readers. You end up with empty clicks, wasted money, and no real connection. Most promotion services will throw fancy numbers at you (clicks, impressions & reach), but none of that pays the bills unless readers are buying and enjoying your book. That’s why asking how to promote your self published bookis the wrong starting point.
Your energy is better spent building an audience that grows with time. These are people who will keep coming back every time you publish something new.
2. Set Up Your Online Presence
Before anyone can buy your book, they need to know you exist. That doesn’t mean spamming links or shouting into the void of social media. It means building a digital presence that’s real, steady, and worth visiting. Just pick one or two platforms that make sense for your genre. Readers are already spending time somewhere. You just have to show up consistently.
Author Facebook Page
Creating an author page on Facebook is a smart first step. You’re not selling there, not at first. You have to win the trust of your audience. Run simple ads for $1 a day that invite people to follow you. It doesn’t sound like much, but over the months, it adds up. Slowly, those followers start to see your posts. And if you’re sharing good content, they stick around. Share bits from your writing life. Recommend books you love. The goal is to be a human they want to hear from.
3. Use Social Ads
Many new authors throw money into ads hoping for instant sales. It almost never works. The truth is, ads work better when you’re using them to attract attention slowly. The smart way to promote a self published book is to start by promoting yourself using the AIDA model.
Remember:
- Don’t post links all the time.
- Don’t sell all the time.
- People scroll fast so give them a reason to stop.
Make them smile, think, or feel seen. That’s the hook. The book comes later.
4. Start an Email List Now, Not Later
Algorithms change. But if you have someone’s email, you can always reach them. Building an email list might sound like a chore, but it’s one of the smartest things you’ll ever do as a self-published author.
Mailchimp is free up to 500 subscribers. That’s more than enough to get going. Set up a basic sign-up form and offer a free story or chapter in return. Make it easy. Put the sign-up link everywhere (your website, social pages, author bio).
Don’t worry if it grows slowly. It’s better to have 100 readers who love your work than 10,000 who don’t care. These are the readers who will leave reviews, tell friends, and buy your next book. That kind of connection can’t be bought.
5. Guest Blogging and Interviews Can Open Doors
If you’re writing non-fiction, guest blogging is powerful. Reach out to websites or blogs in your field. Pitch them a post idea. At the end of the post, you can usually include a short bio and a link to your book or newsletter.
For fiction writers, interviews work better. Local media, podcasts, or online magazines are good places to start. These spots give you exposure and lend credibility.
6. Make Sure the Book Looks Professional
You can’t sell what doesn’t work. And if your book isn’t polished, no amount of marketing will fix that. Readers are sharp. They notice typos and lazy formatting. Before you market a self published novel, take a good look at what you’re selling.
- Is your cover eye-catching and professional?
- Is your blurb clear and exciting?
- Did you run your book through editing and formatting checks?
These things matter. People do judge books by their covers. They judge them by reviews, blurbs, and readability too.
7. Don’t Worry About Being Perfect
You’ll mess up a few things. Ads might flop. Posts might go unnoticed. Some people won’t click. That’s all part of it. The trick is to keep going without getting stuck in your head. Don’t wait for everything to be perfect. Just start where you are and learn as you go.
Final Thoughts
The worst trap is trying to do everything at once. You’re not a full-time marketer. You’re a writer. Your time is limited. So, pick one or two methods that feel manageable. That might be Facebook and email or maybe a website and blogging. But whatever you pick, go all in and do them consistently. It’s better to do one thing right than five things halfway. You’ll burn out fast if you chase every trend. So ignore the noise. Find your rhythm.
