Book Promotion.com

How to promote a book

If you are looking for a great way to promote your book for free, get involved in the social networks. And we mean INVOLVED, don’t just sign up for an account and leave it at that. They are a free way to connect others with you and your book and there’s a ton of them out there. As a general rule, if you are wondering which social networks you should use to create an online presence for yourself, the answer is: use them all. Just recognize that how you use the medium and the way you communicate with others may vary from site to site and be prepared and organized so you can stay on top of them. To get started, make a list of all the online sites you are currently a member of – and not just Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., it could be a blog, your own website, or a forum where you have a profile and link. Then sign up for some new ones to increase your online presence.

If you don’t have a book yet, there has never been a better time to self publish and get your work out there.

If you want to self publish a book and want exceptional service, visit www.lulu.com to learn more about what they can do for you.

Social

Guest Post: Top 6 Lessons From BookExpo America You Need To Know NOW

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Today, BookPromotion.com would like to welcome Rachel from Bad RedHead Media with an awesome recap of the crazy flurry of activity that was BEA last week. Rachel is not only a great writer, but is smart about social media. I definitely think you should get her working on book stuff for you right away, and you’ll find all of her contact info below to go over there, start following her, and engage her services right now if not sooner.

Take it away, Rachel!

After attending BEA12 last week, I came away with a head for knowledge and a bod for…

Wait a minute. I’m not Melanie Griffith and this isn’t Working Girl (and I’m clearly not a tall, leggy blonde).

But wait. I AM a working girl, and I went to BEA12 to learn stuff. Which I did. Stuff that applies to my work as a published author and blogger, and stuff that applies to my work as a social media consultant.

If you’re any of those things, also, here’s the stuff that applies to you:

1) Where’s The Digital? Publishing is still very much stuck in the traditional model. This is probably no surprise to anyone, but many of us at BEA12 felt that digital would have more of an impact on how they ran things.

For example, the book signings were still long lines of people waiting to have the author sign their book. Their paperback book. While the amazing app Autography LLC (and I applaud them and encourage all authors and publishers to check them out) was there holding digital signings for eBooks, it was infinitesimal compared to paper.

This makes no sense to me. Why can’t I simply scan a QR or barcode to download the book? Take a pic with the author and have it sent to my iPhone/Kindle/iPad? People were walking around with suitcases filled with
books.

What is this…2012?

People buy eBooks because it’s convenient and less expensive than paper, not to mention greener. No eBook? You are missing out on sales.

2) Discoverability and Authenticity: Many of the panel discussions were about discoverability. Meaning, how can we as authors best show people where to find us? Of course, social media is key.

The second component of that is authenticity – are you employing a one-way only, automated, broadcast model to your social media? It shows.

But it’s more than just being on a bunch of different channels. It’s the buzz you create that makes you discoverable. Think beyond self-promotion in a traditional sense. Blogging, reviews, interviews, guest blogging, YouTube along with your social media – it all goes into the mix.

Readers want to interact with authors. Find out about us. Learn what inspired us to write our story. This is how you can best use social media. What I teach my clients and recommend in my own posts is to engage with people. What does that mean to you?

I’ve thrown out a lot of terms here but it’s not rocket science: a vibrant social media platform takes work yet clearly pays off.

3) Branding: No matter if you’re indie or traditional, you need to embrace branding and understand how that applies to you and your book. Crazy stuff like SEO, metadata, Google ranking – all depend on it. Even if you don’t understand what that means or how all that fits together, you will. You have to know who you are so your readers will know how to discover you (see how this all works?).

Choose your keywords; focus your message around them. This is still you being your authentic self, just more focused.

As an example, I write nonfiction essays about men, women, love, relationships, sex, and loss. I’m a humorist. I’m a social media consultant. I also love coffee, Nutella and vodka martinis. This is what you will see in my blogs, Facebook messages, tweets, Pinterest, Instagram and on and on.

As I’m transitioning into more serious subjects for my third book, Broken Pieces (due late summer), I’ve started sharing more personal stories of love and loss, as well as hosting guests who do the same.

4) Promote others: The days of pure self-promotion are gone (were they ever truly here?). People are tired of being spammed on Twitter and Facebook, not to mention email, with links to cheap or free books. This does not make you unique. It just makes you annoying.

Simply spamming your book links over and over is not only against Twitter’s TOS (terms of service) regarding spamming (tweets should be primarily personal updates), but can create backlash and blocking.

This goes back to knowing your demographic: where are your readers? If you mostly follow and are followed by other authors – and are constantly linking to your book in your tweets and messages — aren’t you kinda wasting your
(and our) time?

Which isn’t to say the author/writing community isn’t amazing and supportive of each other. We are. Promoting other authors, small businesses, info or resources … whatever – this helps you create a viable feed. Otherwise,
just automate your self-promo links and be done with it.

5) Amazon: I’m a fan. As a reader, they’ve got it down. As an author, they have built the better mousetrap.

I’m a fan of KDP Select. I’m an advocate of Amazon, digital, eBooks, Kindle – it’s been great for my career. To date, I’ve sold over 14,000 books with over 85K free downloads to date. According to Kindle Nation Daily, anywhere from 3-5K books go free everyday.

Everyday.

How do we differentiate ourselves?

I was fortunate enough to hear Lori Culwell speak about book marketing. Follow her. She’s a genius. (Side note: Awwww, thanks Rachel!) I’ve downloaded her book How to Market A Book and it’s an excellent guide for anyone, newbie or not.

Doesn’t matter if you’re for or against Amazon’s model – they are amazon.

6) Indie vs. Traditional: I listened to a panel of young publishing interns who referred to Indie (or self) as ‘the slush pile.’ They see big futures for themselves in traditional publishing and that’s great.

I’m not so sure.

Not because they’re not well-educated, young and bright. Not at all. It’s that publishing is changing radically, and to dismiss quality writing as slush is almost embarrassing. I actually cringed a bit as I heard them spout decades-
old values.

What’s missing? I, like many of my fellow indie authors, are making decent bank. We’ve worked hard to put out quality product, using professionals: editors, proofreaders, formatters, graphic artists. Agents shop Twitter for us.

When I read recently (on a literary blog) that indies are simply publishing their shopping lists and calling it a book, I wasn’t surprised.

Disappointed, but not surprised.

Whatever your stance, know this: self-publishing is here to stay. There’s a right way and a wrong way, but it’s still a way. Do your best! There’s no way to have a bestseller if your product is sub-par.

That covers the main messages I gleaned from my experience. I wish I could’ve been in two places at once: BlogWorld was happening at the same time. Maybe next year…

Did you attend? What are your takeaways? What have I missed? I look forward to your comments below!

RachelintheOC

Rachel Thompson aka RachelintheOC is a published author and social media consultant. Her two books, A Walk In The Snark and The Mancode: Exposed are both #1 Kindle bestsellers! When not writing, she helps authors and other professionals with branding and social media for her company, BadRedhead Media. She hates walks in the rain, running out of coffee, and coconut. Buy Now : A Walk in the Snark * Mancode: Exposed

Review: Turning Pro (Steven Pressfield)

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A few weeks ago I read Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield, who also happens to be my new BFF who I had the pleasure of having breakfast with last week (more on that later, believe me). One of the things I like most about this book is that Pressfield doesn’t soft-pedal his advice at all: basically, he’s the honeybadger of writing coaches: Ohh, are you whining about how you have writer’s block and how ‘the muse’ hasn’t visited you lately? Much like the honeybadger, Steven Pressfield doesn’t give a f%^k. He wants you to get off that couch and get your writing done. He wants you to take yourself seriously as a writer/ artist, and I agree. In fact, I will take it one step further and say that I think you should take yourself seriously as a writer, write a book (or five), then get serious about yourself as a business-person and start getting yourself out there in a big way. To me, “Turning Pro” is a swift kick in the ass for people who are making excuses and waiting for someone (like an agent or a publisher) to give them permission to keep writing.

This really resonates with me because, come hell or high water, I write and I get my stuff out there. I work hard, I am generous with advice, and I will always help someone in need (case in point, almost every day I get requests from writers/ creative types to tell them what to do to fix their websites, or to sell more books, or to get more people to their websites (this is always contextual, but I try to always answer the questions to the best of my ability).

Pressfield has a great passage in this book about WWI soldiers shooting themselves in the foot when it came time to go to battle, because the pain of shooting yourself is (mentally, at least) less painful than having to go and fight whatever might be over that next hill. Here’s an excerpt:

“The habits and addictions of the amateur are conscious or unconscious self-inflicted wounds. Their payoff is incapacity. When we take our M1903 Springfield and blow a hole in our foot, we no longer have to face the real fight of our lives, which is to become who we are and to realize our destiny and calling.”

I totally agree, and I will say as a witness, this kind of shooting yourself in the foot doesn’t end even when you have finally turned pro, become a writer, and finished your book. It is AMAZING to me, and I mean AMAZING at how little of my advice people actually follow (and I am including advice that they seek me out and pay for), and how little authors/ creative types are willing to actively engage in their own success, whether this means putting themselves on a regular writing schedule, or fixing broken links on their website, or even taking a single first step toward putting their digital profile in order (or, as I would call it “Turning Pro 2.0,” in which I tell you: You’ve written a book (or five)? Good for you. Now you need to pull your website together, get on social media, and let people know about your work.) That is how book marketing works in the brave new world of the internet: no one will know about you unless you tell them, but if you spend too much time telling them, then you are not doing the work.

So, in short, I totally think you should read this book, and then get back to work on your book, then read my book, set up a website and start marketing that book. Pull it together! No one’s going to take you seriously until you do that yourself.

Seriously. Pull it together. Read it, live it, and then read my book, out there and turn pro with your marketing, because (as my BFF Steven Pressfield and I can both attest), that writing career isn’t going to make itself.

Oh, and while you’re at it, I totally think you should watch this hilarious interview that Steve did with Chris Brogan.

Interviews

Interview with Jerry G. Davis, author/ photographer

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Q: Nice job on your website! Were you always this organized, or has it evolved over the years?

A: I would have to say it evolved in the truest sense of the word. I kept trying things to see what worked, what didn’t, and ended up where I’m at now … and then come to find out I’m now doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing. But it was all trial and error for me.

Q: Who made your website? How many iterations is this for you?

A: I make all my own websites — that’s become my day job — and I would have to say this is probably iteration 15, if not 20. I’ve lost count. To give you a timeline, my first website was on Geocities, so that was back in the mid 90’s. For several years the biggest draw to my website was a live webcam aimed at me while I wrote, the infamous “WriterCam” … that was me. After that became passe, I moved on to blogging (I was on Blogger before Google bought it) and from there transitioned to self-hosted WordPress websites. I hope this isn’t scaring anyone away — WordPress is easy. It lets you focus on content, so you don’t have to speak HTML or JAVA or anything like that. It’s more like writing. Type type, click, boom, updated.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your success/ track record as an author? Have you found that having this awesome website/ social media presence has helped your sales?

A: My sales are on a nice steady climb since I figured out the winning combination. Not a steep climb, mind you, but a steady one. And my ebooks seem to be doing far better than my one traditionally published novel.

Q: Can you give some examples of how you balance your time, meaning how much time per day do you spend actually writing vs. website/ marketing activities?

A: In an ideal world, I would spend 50% of my time creating, the other 50% marketing. And marketing includes just talking to people and having fun. Really, the creative aspect of the marketing is starting to blend in more and more with the creative aspect of writing. In reality I spend 30% of my time writing, 30% marketing, and 40% being distracted by shiny objects.

Q: Any other pieces of insight you can share with authors who are just setting up their networks/ getting their stuff out there? Any “lessons learned” moments, or sneaky tips you can share?

A: The best lesson I’ve learned so far is how to not feel awkward about marketing myself. People confuse marketing with selling, or being a salesman, and in that I mean being a stereotypical salesman. You know, the kind who try to sell you a junky used car or a timeshare you’ll never use. That’s not marketing — forget that image, divorce yourself from it. That’s not how you market or sell your books, and if it were, YES, it would be very awkward. Instead, just find people who you like, reach out to them, interact with them, make friends, and mention your book(s) when appropriate. Put the fact that you write books in the background, visible but not in their face — easy to find if someone is interested. And when you start making all these friends, who will turn out to be pretty much like-minded, they will naturally be interested in your books. That’s all marketing is, making sure people can find your books, and then putting yourself in situations where people will be interested in looking for them. When they find them, make sure they’re easy to buy, and make sure they’re easy for readers to show their friends. There’s nothing awkward about that at all. You’re not pushing, you making things easy.

Social

Facebook Increases Friend Limit– This Does Not Give You an Invitation to Market There

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I recently noticed and maybe you have as well (or maybe not, if you don’t pay attention to stuff like this), Facebook seems to be lifting their limitation on the number of “friends” one person can have on a profile.

In case you’re still confused about “Facebook Profile” vs. “Facebook Fan Page,” here is a handy guide from Facebook themselves.
Here’s how to tell the difference: you’ll know you have a Facebook Profile (meant for personal use) if: someone has to friend request you (and you have to approve it) for you to be connected.
A Facebook Profile (and in fact, MY Facebook profile) looks like this:

This is where I go to interact with my friends and post pictures of weird food, and that picture at the top is of Stephan vogueing in a forest. In fact, I do not want you to friend request me unless I know you in person (no offense!). I am actively trying to pare down my Facebook friends list to return it to consisting of “people I actually know,” so I have been unfriending people like crazy this year, at the rate of one or two per day. Mostly this consists of “people I only know inadvertently through other people” or “people who friended me for marketing purposes or to ask me about writing,” and again, I am sorry– I am trying to set a good example for those authors I lecture in my book on this subject, and have non-friend types just go over and follow my Facebook Fan Page. Facebook gets a little too confusing for me when I read through my news feed, because my brain tries to actually contextualize each person and what they are saying as soon as I see their name, and I think this is draining my brain’s battery life. In an effort to streamline, I am cutting down the list, and I would encourage you to do the same!

While we are on the subject of Facebook Fan Pages, I will tell you that a Facebook Fan Page looks like this:

This is where you should go to see me talking about internet and book stuff. https://facebook.com/LoriCulwellAuthor

On a Facebook Fan Page, there is no limit (and never has been) to the number of fans you can have. Some people (like Lady Gaga) have millions. In a Facebook Fan Page, all a fan has to do is “Like” the page.

Frankly, I’m not sure why Facebook has chosen to lift the “5,000 friend” limit, and if I were a person with more than 5,000 friends, this would make me nervous. Lifting the limit only encourages people who are blatantly disregarding Facebook’s Terms of Service, which state (I’m not a lawyer, so don’t quote me) that you can’t “friend” people you don’t know in order to sell them things, and why else would you friend people you didn’t know, especially in numbers that large?

I’m half-suspecting that this is a trap set by Facebook to catch blatant marketers, to see who will notice the limit lift and use it as an excuse to friend thousands of people, which Facebook can then use as grounds to ban them. This would not surprise me, and in fact, I have gone back and forth on numerous occasions with Facebook on behalf of people who were, for instance, using a Facebook profile as a business, only to find one day that Facebook had taken away not only their profile, but all of their friends with it. Don’t let this happen to you!

At any rate, just because you CAN have more Facebook friends doesn’t mean you should. This might be a glitch, it might be a trap, or it might be a reminder that you need to either turn your overstuffed Facebook profile into a Fan Page, or that you have something you want to sell, so you should get around to starting up a Fan Page and ask your friends to “Like” it.

Whatever the reason, please do not take this as an excuse to friend a thousand people for marketing purposes, or to continue using a personal profile as a business. Facebook doesn’t want to turn into MySpace, and eventually they are going to crack down on people who are doing this. Remember, Facebook is a business, they want to make money, and part of their business model is to make it so that you have to pay for Facebook Ads to build up the audience to your Facebook Fan Page. They’re not going to just suddenly let you have 10,000 friends with no consequences. I think this is a trap Facebook is setting for “over-marketers,” meaning people with low/ no budget to run ads who traditionally would go into the system, friend thousands of people, and then spam them with links/ things they are trying to promote or sell. I predict that we will start to see people who do that get their accounts taken away. Just my opinion.

Watch your step!

Questions

I am a writer, not an advertising exec, so why should I care about how to promote my book?

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Yes, after you have finished the daunting task of completing your book – or perhaps while you are still in the midst of the daunting task of completing your book – it seems crazy to think about the prospect of taking on yet another daunting task. But whether you are self-publishing or have landed your book with a big publisher, you have a lot to gain by jumping into the promotion process with gusto. It is after all YOUR book and you want to do everything possible to get it out there to the people, right? Even if you have hired someone or some company to help, it’s still a good idea to be involved in the process. You don’t have to work on Madison Avenue or be a cast member of Mad Men to understand how marketing works. If you need a place to start, our do-it-yourself guide to book marketing, “How to Market a Book!” can help. Check it out and you will find very quickly that marketing does not have to be a scary part of the publishing process, and (believe it or not) it can actually be enjoyable.

Book Marketing

Advertising Your Book on Amazon KDP– a Step by Step Guide

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If you’re looking to boost the visibility of your book and win new readers, Amazon’s advertising platform is a powerful place to do it. Yes to paid advertising all day long! Sponsored Product Ads, in particular, can help you stand out in a crowded market and reach potential buyers who are actively browsing or searching for books. Below is a straightforward, step-by-step guide to get you started.

However (and this is a big however!), I bet you’re not ready to run ads, and I would love to save you some money by making sure you (and your book) are totally ready before you spend one penny on ads.

Step 1: Prepare Your Author Platform

Before you invest in ads, make sure there’s a way for new readers to stay connected with you—beyond just a single purchase. That’s where your author platform comes into play.

Create or Update Your Website
Even a simple site that showcases your books, your bio, and an email signup form helps establish credibility. Include links to your social media pages, plus an easy way for readers to contact you.
Offer a Reader Magnet
Provide a free short story, a bonus chapter, or any other special content in exchange for readers’ email addresses. This way, when ads drive traffic to your Amazon book page, you can also direct people to your site to join your email list.
Stay Active on Key Social Channels
It’s better to focus on one or two platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram) rather than trying to be everywhere. Regular updates and interactions show potential readers you’re an engaged, authentic author and will give them a chance to follow and engage with you that you don’t have to keep paying for (and also, hopefully, get them to sign up for your email list).

An established platform doesn’t just build trust with potential readers—it also means you won’t be depending on ads alone to maintain contact with your audience. Once someone discovers you through an ad, you have a place to invite them where they can become long-term fans.

I’m so serious right now– do NOT PROCEED TO THE NEXT STEP UNTIL THIS IS DONE. Do not spend one penny on advertising, marketing, or book promotion of any kind until you have these things set up. If you do, you are basically pumping money through your book, not building your career and your business as an actual author.If you don’t have a link inside your book to a reader magnet where people can sign up for your email list, you are not ready to run paid ads. Stop right here and set all of that up!!

Step 2: Prepare Your Book Listing

A good ad can only do so much if your product page isn’t ready to convert visitors into buyers. Treat your listing like a mini sales page.

Book Cover
Make sure it looks professional and matches the style typical of your genre. Think of your cover as a billboard that has just a few seconds to capture attention.
Competitive Analysis
Look at other top-selling books in your genre. Pay special attention to their cover design, book descriptions, pricing, and keywords. Ask yourself what makes your book different or more appealing. Incorporate these insights into your own listing strategy.
Description
Write a concise, compelling blurb that hooks readers right away. If it’s too long or unorganized, visitors may lose interest. Use Amazon-allowed HTML (bold, italics, bullet points) to make it more scannable.
Keywords & Categories
Fill in relevant, accurate keywords so Amazon knows when and where to display your book. Double-check you’re in the best categories to reach your ideal readers.
Reviews
While not strictly required to start advertising, having some positive reviews can dramatically increase your conversion rate once people click on your ad.

Step 3: Access Amazon Advertising

Log in to KDP: Go to your KDP Bookshelf at kdp.amazon.com and sign in.
Select a Book: Find the title you want to promote and click “Promote and Advertise.”
Open Amazon Advertising: You’ll land in the Amazon Advertising dashboard, where you can create and manage campaigns. If it’s your first time, Amazon may provide a quick tutorial.

Step 4: Choose Your Campaign Type

Sponsored Products are the most common and beginner-friendly option for authors:

Reach Readers in Search: Your ad can appear in search results for relevant keywords.
Feature Your Book Cover: Readers see your cover, title, and a short text snippet, which is very direct and clickable.

Click “Create campaign” and select “Sponsored Products.”

Step 5: Decide on Targeting

Amazon offers two main targeting methods for Sponsored Products:

Automatic Targeting
Amazon uses your book’s metadata—title, subtitle, categories, and keywords—to decide who sees your ad. This option is quick to set up and great for gathering data on which search terms convert.
Manual Targeting
You choose specific keywords or ASINs (competing or complementary books). This approach provides more control but requires keyword research.

Many authors begin with an auto campaign to discover which keywords work best, then launch a manual campaign focusing on the strongest keywords or ASINs.

Step 6: Set Your Budget and Bids

Daily Budget
Decide how much you’re willing to spend each day (e.g., $5 to $10 is typical for beginners). You can increase this later if you see good traction.
Default Bid
This is the amount you’re willing to pay per click. Start modestly—maybe $0.30–$0.50—then adjust if you’re not getting enough impressions or if your costs are too high.
Bid Optimization
For beginners, “Dynamic bids—down only” lets Amazon lower your bid in real-time if it thinks a click is less likely to convert. This helps keep you from overpaying.

Step 7: Create Your Ad Copy (Optional)

Sponsored Products ads typically display your book cover and metadata by default. However, you may have the option to add a short custom text blurb. Keep it brief, focusing on a key benefit or hook for your target readers. Avoid promotional language like “On sale now” or “#1 best seller,” as Amazon’s policies may disallow certain claims.

Step 8: Review and Launch

Double-check everything:

Campaign name (helps you stay organized if you run multiple campaigns)
Start/end dates (you can leave it open-ended and pause manually)
Budget and bids (are they realistic for your goals?)
Targeting type (auto or manual)
Ad creative (cover, short text)

When satisfied, click “Launch campaign.” It can take a few hours—sometimes up to 24—for Amazon to approve and start displaying your ads.

Step 9: Monitor and Optimize

Advertising on Amazon isn’t a “set it and forget it” process. Keep an eye on:

Impressions: If these are too low, consider raising your bid or increasing the daily budget.
Clicks/CTR: A low click-through rate might mean your cover or ad text isn’t resonating with your audience.
Sales/ACOS: Look at your Advertising Cost of Sales. Aim to keep it below your profit margin.
Search Term Report: Especially useful for auto campaigns. Identify which terms or ASINs lead to profitable sales, and which just eat up your budget.

Step 10: Expand with Manual Campaigns

After you’ve gleaned insights from your auto campaign, create Manual Sponsored Products campaigns:

Keywords: Add the high-performing terms from your auto campaign.
Negative Keywords: Exclude words that consistently lead to clicks but no sales.
ASIN Targeting: If a particular competing or complementary book converts well, target that ASIN specifically.

Adjust bids as needed. Raise bids on profitable keywords, lower or pause those that are underperforming.

Step 11: Rinse and Repeat

Amazon advertising is an iterative process:

Test New Keywords: Trends change, new reader preferences emerge, so keep refining your approach.
Experiment with Additional Campaign Types: Sponsored Brand ads (if you have multiple books) or Lockscreen ads (on Kindle devices) can also be worth exploring.
Stay Vigilant: Even small tweaks—like altering your bid by a few cents—can have a meaningful impact on your results.

Final Thoughts

Advertising on Amazon can be a fantastic way to reach new readers, but it works best when you’ve prepared a rock-solid foundation. By building a vibrant author platform, refining your book listing (with a solid cover, compelling description, and smart keyword choices), and understanding how to target your ads, you’ll give yourself the strongest chance for success. Then, once your campaigns are live, stay curious and keep optimizing—because the best results come from thoughtful experimentation and consistent follow-through.

Book Marketing

All About BookFunnel: What is It? Why Do Authors Need It? Is it Worth it?

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Because I am (apparently) never done bombarding you with new things you need and have to pay for, let’s talk about something I use that I think you should use if you have the budget: BookFunnel.

What is BookFunnel?

Long story short, BookFunnel is a website that helps authors deliver their books to readers seamlessly. It offers a range of tools for distributing eBooks, managing giveaways, conducting pre-orders, and building an engaged reader base. By providing a one-stop shop for all of this stuff, BookFunnel simplifies the (often overly complicated) processes of book distribution and reader engagement.

Why Would You Need It?

One of the primary reasons authors use BookFunnel is its ability to facilitate seamless book distribution. That means you can deliver their books directly to readers in multiple formats, including ePub, PDF, and MOBI, ensuring compatibility across various devices and eReaders. This flexibility enhances the reader’s experience by reducing technical barriers to accessing your work. It makes your life easier because you don’t have to manage multiple emails of people having technical problems trying to open your pdf on whatever e-reader they are using at the moment (which you know all too well if you’ve ever tried to manage a free giveaway like bonus material or ARC distribution in eBook form). What you don’t want is to be trying to trouble-shoot every single person’s tech problems while you’re in the middle of your launch, and BookFunnel solves that problem for you. To me, that alone makes it worth the money.

Building and managing email lists is another advantage BookFunnel offers. As I’ve said approximately one million times, an engaged email list is one of the most valuable assets for an author, and BookFunnel integrates seamlessly with popular email marketing services like Mailerlite and Email Octopus. These integration enable authors to grow their subscriber base by offering free books or exclusive content as incentives for sign-ups, fostering a direct line of communication with their readers.

ARC distributions and bonus materials are the reason I personally use them. I used to distribute all of that kind of stuff via PDF, but then I heard a crazy nightmare story about a fellow author sending out ARCs via PDF (using one of the services, not their own list, just to be clear), and later having one of the ARC readers upload that PDF into Amazon and publish it as their own work. Because the PDF didn’t have any kind of tracking or watermarking, the author could not prove ownership to Amazon and ended up having to get a lawyer involved to get their work back.

After that I stopped distributing any of my work via PDF. Now I only use ePubs distributed through BookFunnel, with watermarking and tracking turned on. BookFunnel employs secure delivery methods to prevent unauthorized sharing and piracy. Features like DRM-free downloads and personalized download links ensure that authors’ work is protected while still being easily accessible to legitimate readers.

And look, I get that if you’re a first-time author, alot of that probably seemed like gibberish to you and something that you don’t even want to think about yet, and I get that. The problem is, that kind of thing is something that can happen to you at any time in your career (and in fact, the scary example above was for that author’s debut novel), so it actually benefits you to put some advanced security measures in place, even if it costs extra. I do feel like the money you will spend on BookFunnel is money that you would probably have spent on an ARC service if you didn’t know what you were doing, if that’s any reassurance. This is another example of “build it the first time properly and you won’t have to spend money to revise it,” I suppose.

BookFunnel Pricing

BookFunnel offers several pricing tiers to cater to authors at different stages of their careers and with varying needs. The Basic Plan starts around $15 per month and includes a limited number of downloads, basic email integrations, and standard support. This plan is ideal for authors who are just starting out and have modest distribution needs, and you can pay for a year in advance to get a discount.

The Pro Plan is approximately $29 per month and offers increased download limits, advanced email integrations, priority support, and additional customization options for delivery pages. This plan suits growing authors who need more robust features to manage their expanding reader base and promotional activities.

For established authors with larger audiences, the Premium Plan costs roughly $99 per month. It includes unlimited downloads, full access to all integrations and customization options, dedicated support, and enhanced analytics and reporting. This comprehensive plan is perfect for authors who require extensive distribution capabilities and detailed insights into their promotional efforts.

It’s important to note that pricing may vary, and BookFunnel occasionally offers discounts or custom plans for high-volume authors and publishers, making it adaptable to different budgetary requirements.

Setting Up BookFunnel

Getting started with BookFunnel is a straightforward process that begins with choosing a pricing plan on their website. Many authors start with a free trial to explore the features before committing to a paid plan. Once you’ve selected a plan, the next step is to integrate BookFunnel with your preferred email marketing service. This integration streamlines list-building by automatically adding new subscribers to your email list when they download your book through BookFunnel.

After setting up the integration, upload your properly formatted eBook files (ePub, PDF, or MOBI) to your BookFunnel account. Ensuring your book is free of errors will provide readers with the best possible experience. With your files in place, create a download page and personalize it with your branding elements—like your author photo, book cover, and a compelling call-to-action. BookFunnel’s templates make this easy, even if you have limited design skills.

Once your download page is ready, it’s time to set up your first campaign. Whether you’re planning a giveaway, a pre-order, or a promotional offer, be sure to define clear parameters for participation—such as asking readers to join your email list or share your campaign on social media. After you’ve finalized these details, distribute the download link through your website, social media channels, email newsletters, and other marketing platforms. BookFunnel’s real-time tracking tools help you monitor performance and make adjustments on the fly.

Finally, once your campaign concludes, review the analytics to see what worked and what could be improved. Use these insights to refine your future campaigns, optimizing your strategies for better results and stronger reader engagement.

Conclusion

In the competitive world of publishing, standing out requires more than just writing a great book—it involves effectively promoting and distributing it. BookFunnel offers authors a powerful set of tools to streamline these processes, from managing giveaways and pre-orders to building a loyal email list and engaging with readers. Its user-friendly interface, comprehensive features, and robust integrations make it an indispensable asset for authors aiming to maximize their reach and impact.

By investing in BookFunnel, authors can save time, protect their work, and create meaningful connections with their audience, ultimately driving greater success in their writing careers. Whether you’re launching your first novel or looking to enhance your existing promotional strategies, BookFunnel provides the support and functionality needed to thrive in today’s digital landscape.

For more information, visit BookFunnel’s website to explore how it can help you reach more readers and streamline your book promotion efforts.

Email Marketing

10 Steps to Building Your Author Email List from Scratch

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Are you starting from zero with your email list? Don’t worry – you’re in the right place! Building an author email list might sound intimidating, but it’s one of the best ways to connect with readers, promote your books, and grow a loyal community.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to build your author email list step by step – from your first subscriber to a ravenous group of superfans that can’t wait for your next release. This is an even more broken down version of this post, where I basically talk about how you must have a link to your reader magnet/ email signup inside your book before you can do anything else, period, end of story.

1. Decide on an Email Marketing/ Autoresponder Service

Good news – plenty of fantastic email tools make it easy to grow and manage your list. These services help you create beautiful emails, forms, pop-ups, and automations to attract and retain subscribers. This list (and even more providers) can be found on this page as well.

In case you’re about to say “I have no idea what an autoresponder service is,” that’s fine. Now is your time to learn.

An email autoresponder service is a tool that automatically sends pre-scheduled emails to subscribers after they join your mailing list. These services are part of email marketing platforms that help you manage your email list, create campaigns, and build relationships with readers by automating communication.

For example, when someone signs up for your mailing list, an autoresponder can instantly send a welcome email. From there, you can schedule a series of emails, such as updates about your books, exclusive content, or promotions.

Got it? Got it! Here are the ones I use:

Mailerlite – Known for its user-friendly interface, Mailerlite offers powerful tools like landing pages, pop-ups, and automation workflows.
EmailOctopus – A cost-effective option, EmailOctopus integrates seamlessly with Amazon SES and helps you send beautiful, customized campaigns on a budget.
Aweber – Aweber provides drag-and-drop email design, list management, and automation features. It’s ideal for beginners who need reliable tools and robust customer support.
Kit – Kit combines email marketing and ecommerce tools, making it easy to promote books, share freebies, and analyze subscriber behavior.
GetResponse – A versatile platform offering advanced automation, landing pages, and even webinars to engage your audience and expand your reach.

Each of these tools offers free trials or affordable starter plans, so pick one that best suits your goals and budget.

Oh, and if you’re wondering why I didn’t mention MailChimp, please see my rant about them over here. I’m SO DONE WITH THEM, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to get one of old email lists back from them before they start charging me a zillion dollars.

2. Create an Irresistible Reader Magnet

The fastest way to attract subscribers is by offering a compelling freebie in exchange for their email. Your freebie should be valuable, relevant to your audience, and hard to resist.

Here are some ideas for author freebies:

Exclusive short stories or deleted scenes.
First chapter preview of your book.
Printable resources: character worksheets, writing prompts, or book trivia challenges.
Sneak peeks of upcoming releases.
If you write non-fiction, consider a companion workbook or step-by-step guide.

If this is something you want to know alot more about, can I recommend Tammi Labreque’s excellent books? Tammi is the absolute best.

3. Build a Dedicated Landing Page for Your Freebie

A landing page is a single, focused page where visitors can learn about your freebie and sign up for it. Its job is simple: convince readers to share their email address.

Here’s what your landing page needs:

A bold headline: Highlight the freebie (e.g., “Get Your Free Short Story – Step into [Book Title]!”).
A subheadline: Add intrigue (e.g., “Exclusive content you won’t find anywhere else!”).
Visuals: Show your freebie with an eye-catching graphic.
Bullet points: Briefly list the benefits of signing up.
A clear call-to-action (CTA): Use inviting text like “Download Now!”.
Simple form: Only ask for the name and email.

Remove distractions like navigation menus or extra links to keep the focus on signing up. I use BookFunnel for these types of pages. Here’s one of mine (in case you’re curious):

4. Set Up an Automated Welcome Email

When a reader subscribes, greet them with a warm welcome email. Email automation tools like Mailerlite, Aweber, or GetResponse make this easy to set up. MailChimp doesn’t allow free account holders to use this feature anymore, which is why I quit them.

A single welcome email works, but a welcome sequence builds a stronger connection:

Email 1: Thank readers for subscribing and deliver the freebie (attach it or share a download link).
Email 2: Introduce yourself and your writing journey. Share what readers can expect from your emails.
Email 3: Offer something extra – a discount, sneak peek, or exclusive content to make subscribers feel special.

This sequence helps new readers feel welcome, builds trust, and sets the stage for future updates.

5. Get the Word Out About Your Freebie

Once your freebie is ready, it’s time to spread the word and attract subscribers.

Social Media: Create graphics showcasing your freebie with tools like Canva. Write engaging captions like, “Want to know what happens before [Character’s Name]’s adventure? Get my free prequel story!” Pin your posts to the top of your profile.
Your Website/Blog: Use pop-ups, banners, or dedicated blog posts to promote your freebie. Highlight its value and include a clear CTA.
Substack: If you don’t have a website, Substack combines blogging and newsletters into one platform, helping authors attract readers with ease.

6. Network with Fellow Writers

Collaborating with other authors is a fantastic way to grow your audience. Networking allows you to share your work while reaching new readers.

Join Writing Communities: Engage in groups on Facebook, Reddit, or Discord. Share advice, collaborate on promotions, and support other writers.
Write Guest Posts: Contribute articles to author blogs or newsletters. Include a link to your freebie in exchange for your insights.
Host Joint Events: Collaborate on webinars, workshops, or virtual discussions to expand your reach and promote your email list.

7. Swap Newsletters with Other Authors

Newsletter swaps are a win-win strategy for indie authors. Promote another author’s freebie or book in your newsletter, and they’ll share yours with their audience.

Platforms like StoryOrigin and BookFunnel simplify the process by connecting authors with similar audiences:

StoryOrigin: Browse a database of authors, track results, and swap freebies effortlessly.
BookFunnel: Use group promos to reach thousands of readers through collaborative book promotions.

For the best results, partner with authors in your genre who have a similar audience size and readership.

8. Grow Your List with Giveaways

Giveaways are a proven way to get readers excited and subscribed. Offer prizes like signed books, swag, or digital bundles, and make email sign-up a condition for entering.

For example, your form could say: “Sign up for my newsletter to win a signed copy of [Book Title]!” This clear incentive increases participation while growing your email list.

9. Set Up Email Segmentation

Email segmentation lets you personalize your emails for different types of subscribers. It’s a simple way to keep your audience engaged and your messaging relevant.

Here’s how to segment your list:

By source of sign-up: Separate subscribers from giveaways, freebie downloads, or events.
By engagement level: Divide active readers, dormant subscribers, and new sign-ups.
By content preference: Let subscribers choose what they want (e.g., book updates, blog posts, or writing tips). This is also where you would segment off a portion of your list to be your ARC readers.

10. Keep Sign-Ups Easy

Make signing up for your email list as simple as possible. Place your subscription form in visible spots, like the header, sidebar, footer, or as a pop-up.

Use short, inviting text like:

“Get My Free Short Story!”
“Sign Up for Exclusive Updates.”

Only ask for a name and email – too many fields can discourage readers. A clean design with a bold CTA ensures people can subscribe effortlessly.

Summing Up

Building an author email list is one of the most effective tools for connecting with readers, promoting your books, and growing a loyal fanbase. By offering irresistible freebies, using the right tools like Mailerlite, EmailOctopus, or Aweber, and networking with other authors, you’ll create a community that loves your work and eagerly supports your journey.

Are you already growing your email list? Share your strategies and success stories in the comments below!

Email Marketing

Why I Quit MailChimp (for Author Email Marketing) and Why You Should Too

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I was a MailChimp die-hard for a long time (like, at least 15 years), and I’m sad to say I am just about to move my last list and close my last account. I finally hit my breaking point. MailChimp was once the go-to platform for email marketing. It’s user-friendly, has fun branding, and gets recommended everywhere. But over time, I discovered some serious downsides that made me rethink my loyalty to the service.

Here’s why I quit MailChimp, and why you might want to consider alternatives too.

The Allure and Hidden Costs of MailChimp

MailChimp has long been a popular choice for email marketers, especially those starting out. Its free plan, which offers up to 2,000 subscribers and 10,000 emails per month, seemed perfect for budding authors looking to build their mailing list without breaking the bank. However, the reality of scaling up revealed a different story.

1. Escalating Costs After the Free Plan

While MailChimp’s free plan is generous, transitioning to a paid plan quickly becomes expensive. Let’s break down the pricing for a more substantial subscriber base to highlight the disparity:

MailChimp:
- Free Plan: Up to 2,000 subscribers and 10,000 emails/month.
- Essentials Plan: Starts at $13 per month for up to 500 subscribers, escalating to $299 for 50,000 subscribers.
- Standard Plan: Begins at $20 per month for 500 subscribers, reaching $499 for 50,000 subscribers.
- Premium Plan: Starts at $350 per month for 10,000 subscribers, scaling up significantly from there.

In contrast, when you outgrow the free tier, MailChimp’s pricing can quickly become prohibitive, especially for authors who are just starting to monetize their readership.

MailerLite vs. MailChimp: A Cost Comparison

MailerLite offers a more affordable and straightforward pricing structure:

Free Plan: Up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails/month.
Paid Plans:
- Paid Lite: Starts at $10 per month for up to 1,000 subscribers, scaling up to $50 for 5,000 subscribers.
- Premium Plan: Offers advanced features starting at $21 per month for 1,000 subscribers.

When comparing for a subscriber base of 5,000:

MailChimp Essentials: Approximately $48/month.
MailerLite Paid Lite: $10/month.

MailerLite provides comparable, if not better, features at a fraction of MailChimp’s cost.

Email Octopus: Another Affordable Alternative

Email Octopus presents another budget-friendly alternative:

Free Plan: Up to 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails/month.
Paid Plans:
- Paid: Starts at $10 per month for up to 5,000 subscribers.
- Growth Plan: $25 per month for up to 15,000 subscribers.

For 5,000 subscribers:

MailChimp Essentials: Approximately $48/month.
Email Octopus Paid: $10/month.

Email Octopus not only matches MailChimp in terms of subscriber capacity but does so at a significantly lower price point.

2. The Missing Autoresponder Feature

One of the most critical features for authors is the autoresponder—automated email sequences that nurture relationships with readers, welcome new subscribers, and promote new releases. Unfortunately, MailChimp has removed access to its autoresponder feature from the free plan, forcing users to upgrade to paid tiers to retain this essential functionality.

Why Autoresponders Are Vital for Authors

Autoresponders enable authors to:

Welcome New Subscribers: Automatically send a welcome email when someone joins your mailing list.
Nurture Relationships: Engage with readers through regular updates, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive offers without manual intervention.
Promote Releases: Schedule automated campaigns to announce new book launches, pre-orders, and special promotions.

Without access to autoresponders on the free plan, authors are left to manually manage these crucial communications or face the steep costs of upgrading to maintain automation.

3. They Raise Prices Without Adding Value

MailChimp has a habit of raising their prices without offering additional features or improving the user experience. While many services evolve and offer more value with price changes, MailChimp just… charges more.

To make matters worse, canceling your account isn’t as easy as it should be. It feels like they put up unnecessary roadblocks, as if hoping you’ll give up halfway through and stay. No one likes feeling trapped, especially when there are more affordable options out there.

4. You Pay for Unsubscribed Users Unless You Archive Them

This one was the final straw for me. Recently, MailChimp was called out for continuing to charge users for unsubscribed contacts unless they’re manually archived.

Think about that for a second:

Someone unsubscribes from your emails, and you assume they’re off your list.
MailChimp, however, still counts those people toward your subscriber total, which means you’re being charged for people who don’t even want to hear from you.
The only way to stop this? You have to manually archive those contacts – something MailChimp doesn’t openly tell you.

How are you supposed to know this? Unless you dig into the fine print or happen to stumble upon the issue, you’ll keep paying more for nothing. It’s shady and unfair, and it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Why Switching Makes Sense

Given the high costs and the removal of essential features like autoresponders from MailChimp’s free plan, switching to a more affordable and feature-rich provider like MailerLite or Email Octopus makes strategic sense. Here’s why:

Cost-Effectiveness

Significant Savings: Both MailerLite and Email Octopus offer comparable or superior features at a fraction of MailChimp’s cost.
Scalable Pricing: These alternatives provide scalable pricing models that grow with your subscriber base without exorbitant fees.

Comprehensive Features

Autoresponders Included: Unlike MailChimp, MailerLite and Email Octopus include autoresponder functionality in their free or low-cost plans, ensuring you can automate vital communications without additional expenses.
User-Friendly Interfaces: Both platforms are known for their intuitive interfaces, making it easier for authors to create and manage campaigns without a steep learning curve.

Superior Support and Flexibility

Dedicated Support: MailerLite and Email Octopus often provide more personalized customer support, catering specifically to the needs of small businesses and independent authors.
Flexible Integrations: These platforms integrate seamlessly with various author tools and websites, enhancing your overall marketing strategy.

Conclusion: Making the Smart Move for Your Author Brand

As an author, your primary focus should be on writing and engaging with your readers, not wrestling with expensive and limiting email marketing platforms. MailChimp’s escalating costs and the removal of key features like autoresponders from their free plan make it a less attractive option, especially when more affordable and equally capable alternatives like MailerLite and Email Octopus are available.

By switching to a platform that offers essential features at a sustainable price, you can invest more in your writing and marketing efforts, ultimately fostering stronger relationships with your readers and driving your author brand forward.

Don’t let high costs and missing features hold back your email marketing potential. Explore MailerLite and Email Octopus today and take control of your author communication strategy without breaking the bank.

The Bottom Line

MailChimp might look great on the surface, but their pricing model, lack of transparency, and frustrating user experience make it hard to justify sticking around. When there are services like MailerLite, EmailOctopus, AWeber, Kit, and GetResponse offering better features for a fraction of the cost, the choice becomes pretty clear. I actually have a breakdown of all the email services I recommend right here.

If you’re looking for:

Affordable pricing as your list grows,
Full access to essential features (like automation),
And a transparent, user-friendly experience…

…then it’s time to consider leaving MailChimp behind.

Switching email platforms might seem daunting, but it’s worth it to save money, regain control of your list, and work with a service that values its users.

Your subscribers deserve the best. You do too.

Have you experienced frustrations with MailChimp? Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear your story!