Marketing your self-published book.
Step 5 in the ‘How do I self publish a Children’s Book’ series.
(The words and opinions of this blog are that of the author and her experiences. This is not professional advice, and should not be used in lieu of that.)Self marketing, I feel like it’s a creative’s biggest hurdle (indirectly saying that it’s my biggest nightmare).
I am not a marketing superstar, and if the success of my books rested on my marketing then there would be none of this (imagine me gesturing to everything around my name, presence, and business). So dare I say again… DISCLAIMER! Please use my blogs as research to build upon rather than concrete steps.
One thing I do believe is a strong element of my marketing is authenticity, I don’t try to be polished and perfect (but remembering not every drama and stress is for the world to know), and I don’t pretend to be more or bigger than I am. I’m an adult who wonders if she ticked all the boxes to be considered a functioning adult, a lucky mother to two loving kids, and a perpetually overwhelmed AuDHDer.
Pre-launch to do list.
In Australia, it is a requirement of every author to submit a copy of your book (can just be a digital copy) to the National Library. In South Australia, they also require to have a copy submitted to the State Library of South Australia too for records and files and what not. Sounds daunting, but it’s a good thing, you become a part of history and who knows where this book will take you!
A lot, if not most, of libraries, schools and other Government places can only order books from designated Library Curators. I found this out from through our local council that South Australian libraries use a curator called ALS, and they supply Australia wide. Click here to head to their website and read how to submit a book for consideration in their catalogue.
Get your book ready in all the formats you want to offer it in - Hardcover, Paperback, eBook? To have an eBook option on Amazon allows a pre-order option through KDP as well as marketing a reduced rate / free rate for the eBook. Can be a marketing strategy, or just a gift for the world.
Think about if you want to host an in person book launch and where that would be?
When do I start talking about my book?
If you are asking yourself that question the answer is most likely now, to a degree. Take people on the journey with you. BUT, before you go spilling everything online - get a bit of a game plan happening.
For me, I begin talking about the book publicly when I have decided a launch date. I do that once I have received my test print and approve it, meaning I am ready to order my first batch of books. I do this because I cannot talk about something when there is an air of ambiguity, until it is really real, it doesn’t feel real. Does that make sense?
Topic Suggestions:
In the beginning I make subtle hints I am working on a book and what the general content focus will be.
I introduce character/s and concepts.
Show my art style, progress of writing and illustrating, what the art medium is.
I reflect on points of progress and steps. Celebrate them as I go.
Share lessons, in my journey.
I show small irrelevant details in the illustrations that make it personal or a nod to something dear to me.
My favourite pages and my core messages of my story.
Events and dates that are coming up that I’ll be at or hosting.
Where and how to buy my book (this one is kind of important).
Where do I talk about my book?
Where are you active online? There is good. Talk about your book in the way that it is most naturally received on that platform, in language that is natural to you and relevant to that platforms audience.
I’d love to offer a loving suggestion here. Don’t ‘chase likes’, or ‘fish for followers’. Hollow follows do not show the success people think, instead create an unengaged community where you may end up feeling detached.
I use my socials like a public diary (the key word being public, not every thought and photo is for the world). Having this public diary mindset has relieved the stress of posting, I post as a reflection and memory for myself rather than for virility. My posts will bomb occasionally (or often), and it’s not because the content is bad (all the time) - remember the other factors of algorithms and pure chance. Sometimes, it may be just not the right audience - I have posted content that has bombed on Instagram (ego sting as that’s my favourite platform) but when I posted that same content on LinkedIn it went sub-viral.
At the time of writing this I have LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook Page, Youtube, and my website that I am active on. Each have their own purpose and reward. My quick view and experience on my socials is…
LinkedIn - a great place to connect and share to white collar professionals (if your book’s content with catch their attention professionally as well as personally).
Instagram - has always been my favourite place to be, being referred to as the artists platform. I find I connect with a lot of allied health professionals, parents, carers, families, teachers, and individuals.
TikTok - mostly parents, carers and individuals… I think. I find it hard to connect and have community there as I use it as a doom scroll escape and I personally am a little scared of TikTok as it can be a pretty brutal place in the comments section.
Facebook Page - a lot of families again, great for community groups too!
Youtube - a great place for teachers looking for resources and author reads!
Email - Especially if you are hosting an in person book launch. Emailing local schools and community centres is a great way to get local families to know your event is happening! I can’t take credit for this idea though, as I haven’t tried it but my friend did and she said that it gave great results!
In person - if you don’t talk about your book CONTINUOUSLY, how are people going to know that it exists?
Staying up to date socially can be exhausting but also beneficial - for multiple reasons.
Facebook took out Myspace, but has now lost its monopoly grip on society.
Having a Book Launch / Launch Day?
A book launch is a great way to ‘release your book into the world’, and the best thing is it can be whatever way you like and your capacity. Online events like live streaming, or in person at a relevant location can really help you connect to your audience. If you’d like to host an in person book launch, begin talking to places before you lock in your launch date so to work in with their availability. You could reach out to…
Your local library for story time session.
Community centre, or playgroup.
Kid friendly cafes and play spaces.
I didn’t hold a book launch for my first or second book, as when I released My Brain is a Race Car I had no idea that it would gain any attention, then I still was learning and growing when I released My Body has a Bubble maybe some imposter syndrome too). But they still had a launch day.
Woodcroft Library
My first book launch! It was for ‘My Feelings are Waves’.
Hosting an in person book launch can be a magical experience. To connect and share your story with a room full of kids usually results in connective and sometimes hilarious stories being shared back with you.
Woodcroft library is such a welcoming space, the credit going to Tammy and the team there. After reading my story, I provided some colouring in pages fruit and biscuits, and the library provided water, tea, and coffee. I then gave a small presentation about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria to the adults present and then some chats and sold some books!
Do I gift books to ‘influencers’ / industry leaders?
A question I’ve been asked a few times and a big ‘hmmm’ and pause as I begin to type my answer to this question, as everyone’s experiences and successes will be different with this.
If you’re asking in advice to yourself, I return the question to you to ask yourself where do YOU go to be convinced (influenced) to buy a product? Peer reviews, if you will. In particular ask yourself, where would YOU find advertisements for books in the same category as the one you have written being displayed to you?
Admittedly, I do go to my peers on social media when I want a review or to find a product BUT I rarely will listen to or take advice from the ‘larger’ accounts - and I would love to know if your opinion is the same? I believe the era of the influencer has begun to wane (I’ve been watching Bridgerton, hence the fancy language) and as soon as I see reviews from people with high follower counts, I can’t help but doubt the genuineness.
I also believe that when we are given things, even before we know of it or want it, the appreciation is less. The desire to share with the world is lower. It’s not your discovery when it just plops in your lap. So no, I have never sent a book to a person of influence without them reaching out, ordering, and paying first. BUT some pretty cool people have bought my book, in fact a lot of cool people have!
But, but, BUT!
A lot of the reception of my books has come from the right book in the right place at the right time. I do love recognising luck as ‘when hard work meets opportunity’, and the hard work of creating my books, and talking about them, met the opportunity of the right eyes seeing my books.
I do give a lot of books away. To places and people that need them, not people who are abundant in finances. Community centres, places with limited budget or survive on grants, etc.
I am also aware that while the influencer era is waning, influencer impact cannot be denied. Having a large social account positively promote your product (paid, donated or otherwise) shows time and time again that there is BIG reward in that.
So please, remember this is my opinion and experience. If you see it to be tactful to pay or donate your book to get a larger reach, do not let me hold you back!
Summary of what I do to market a new book:
Submit a copy of your book to my country’s National Library.
Submit a book of your book to my State or District Library.
Apply to have my book listed on Library Catalogue services.
Get in touch with a local library, community centre, or relevant organisation to organise an in person book launch event (this is not compulsory, it comes down to what you want and how you want to engage).
Host a book launch or have a launch day.
Talk about your book. EVERYWHERE. If you don’t talk about your book, how are people going to know it exists?
Marketing plan and/or support (or none at all like me - not advised haha).
