Let’s be honest – you’ve published your book and suddenly realized you’re missing some crucial marketing pieces. Maybe you’ve been hearing about email lists and reader magnets, and now you’re wondering if you’ve made a huge mistake. Take a deep breath. While having these elements in place before publishing would have been ideal, it’s not too late to turn things around.
Also, this is just a reminder: please don’t get mad at me and send me mean emails because you didn’t know this stuff before or because it seems difficult. I am just the messenger! I am here to help and give you free information! Do with it what you like!
First Things First: The Email List Challenge
You’ve probably heard that “the money is in the list,” and there’s truth to that. An email list gives you direct access to your readers – no algorithms or social media platforms standing in your way. But how do you build one after your book is already out there?
Here’s what you can do right now:
Write something exclusive for your potential subscribers – maybe a short story featuring your characters, a prequel scene, or even some “behind the scenes” content about your writing process. This is your reader magnet, and it’s going to be your secret weapon for building that email list.
Then, go back and update your book. Yes, you can do that! Add a compelling invitation at the front and back of your book that offers this exclusive content in exchange for joining your email list. Tools like MailerLite or BookFunnel make this process pretty painless.
Seriously, stop what you are doing and get your email list and reader magnet in place. You need it to go on to the next step.
Your Author Website
Let’s talk about another totally crucial thing – your author website. Think of it as your piece of real estate in the digital world. You absolutely need one, and no, a Facebook page isn’t a substitute. Your website is the one place you completely control, where Amazon algorithms and social media changes can’t mess with your visibility. It doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive, but it does need to exist and look professional. At minimum, you need an about page (make it personable!), a books page with clear buying links, and a way for readers to join your email list. That’s it! Don’t get paralyzed trying to create the perfect site. WordPress is your friend here – it powers about 40% of the internet for good reason. It’s reliable, professional, and has a huge community of users and developers. The key is making it easy for readers to find your books, learn about you, and join your email list. Think of your website as a friendly bookstore where you’re both the author and the bookseller – make it welcoming and easy to navigate. And here’s a pro tip: get your own domain name. “yourauthorname.com” looks way more professional than “yourauthorname.wordpress.com.”
Social Media: Set it Up, But Don’t Try to Do It All
Here’s something refreshing – you don’t need to be everywhere. Pick one or two platforms where your readers actually hang out. Writing YA? TikTok might be your jam. Romance? Instagram could be your sweet spot. The key is to show up consistently and actually engage with people. Share snippets of your writing life, chat about books you love, join in readerly conversations. Think of it less as marketing and more as making friends who love the same kinds of books you write.
OK, Now We’re Ready to Talk About Paid Advertising
This is where you might need to invest some money to make up for lost time. Think of it as paying your dues a different way. Amazon ads can be particularly effective because you’re reaching people who are already in a book-buying mood. Start small – maybe $5-10 a day – and watch what works. It’s like learning to drive; you don’t start on the highway.
Once you have your email list/ reader magnet / website in place (because remember, this is about building your audience for the long term, not just selling this one book), go ahead and start with an Automated Ad. Here is a full set of Amazon book advertising instructions (and this same checklist). Once you’ve got all that in place and have run an automated ad for a week (hopefully with some success), scale up to keyword/ category/ product ads. If you run an automated ad with no success, you might need to make some changes to the book itself, like to the cover or description. Again, I’m sorry! Publishing is a journey!
The Long Game
Here’s the most important thing to remember: building a platform is a marathon, not a sprint. Yes, you might have started a few miles behind, but you’re still in the race. Focus on making genuine connections with readers, consistently providing value (whether through your newsletter, social media, or bonus content), and learning from what works and what doesn’t.
Remember, every successful author started with zero readers. The key difference is that some built their platform before publishing, and others (like you) are building it after. Both paths can lead to success – yours might just take a little more strategic planning and patience.
Your Next Steps
- Create that reader magnet today. Don’t overthink it – your readers want to hear from you.
- Set up a simple landing page for email signups. Services like MailerLite make this easy.
- Update your book with links to your signup page.
- Choose one social media platform and start showing up consistently.
- Set aside a small budget for advertising and start experimenting.
The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now. The same goes for building your author platform. So let’s get started!
