Creative Ways to Market Your Fiction Books and Build Your Brand

It is not easy selling books these days when there are literally thousands to choose from. Readers only have so much time to read and, as an author, you are competing with other forms of entertainment like music and movie streaming, podcasts, video games, unique YouTube channels and more. 

But that doesn’t mean there is not a major reading market to be tapped into for business-minded authors who know how to trademark a name and logo, construct a unique website, become a savvy social marketer, and above all, write really great stories that serial readers gobble up as fast as you can get them to market.

This is especially true of independent, or indie writers who do not have the marketing backing of a traditional publisher.  

According to a new report, an indie author is expected to do all his or her own promotion and marketing (the same holds true for most traditionally published authors). The number of readers who pick your books up will boil down to the branding and promotional strategies you learn to develop via trial and error. 

However, when it comes to most marketing techniques, it can sometimes feel frustrating for an author. After all, just about every marketing strategy has been “done to death.”

That said, here are a few unique book marketing and branding tactics that help you survive not only as an author but as a business person.

1. Guest Posts and Blog Tours

For both traditionally published, indie published, or hybrid authors, one surefire way to get the word out about your new novel is to work with reputable book bloggers and influencers. Book interviews and reviews are a necessary component of promoting a book.  

But you can also work with bloggers in other ways, such as engaging in a blog tour. A blog tour means that a certain number of freelance writers will get together and blog news and reviews about your book. One unique blog per day for about a period of a month will appear all across social media.   

Blog tours aren’t always effective, but they will create at least some buzz about your book. Some book tour companies will even create a book trailer for your book which you can use to promote your book for years and years. 

Bonus Fiction Books Marketing Stuff

Lots of authors invest in merchandise like bookmarks, coffee cups, and even T-shirts on behalf of their book. This is called swag and it is largely ineffective when it comes to moving units. However, there are other effective bonus materials you might consider to get the word out about your new opus. 

For instance, you can write a prequel story to your novel. If you offer this for free, interested readers will be eager to grab it up. Make sure it is available on launch day. 

Book club kits are also an effective marketing tool, especially for book clubs. It usually consists of a series of questions and talking points that can make for some interesting discussions regarding the writing and overall plot of your novel.  

You can also establish a Pinterest Moodboard and/or Spotify Playlist that can assist in inspiring your personal writing process. You can share it via social media with potential and current fans.

2. Team Up with Other Fiction Authors

Because writing is a solitary process, authors tend to find themselves isolated. But by teaming up with other like-minded authors, you can come up with some new and creative ways to promote your indie or traditionally published book. 

According to the marketing experts, these are the types of creatives you might want to contact: 

Professional Bookstagrammers: Said to also be reviewers, bookstagrammers are happy to receive a free copy of your new book. They will create promotional shots of your book cover, plus your author photo while publishing a review on Instagram too.  

Book Subscription Box Businesses: Said to be a relatively new tool for promoting books, having your book entered into a book subscription box is a good way to reach newer and potential readers. 

Podcasts: It might be a longshot nailing a spot on the Joe Rogan Podcast since it is the most popular show around, but are there some book-related podcasts out there that might be willing to feature you on behalf of your new novel?

Almost certainly there is. Do a little online research and simply reach out to these podcasters. 

All this said, what is the very best way to establish your brand/trademark and promote all your published works? By writing the next one, and the next one, and the next one…