10 Practical Marketing Tips for Self-Published Authors (From a Full-Time Marketing Specialist)
Let’s face it: writing the book is only half the battle. If you’re a self-published author, you’re also the marketing team — whether you like it or not. The good news? You don’t need a marketing degree to get results. As a full-time marketing specialist by day and an author by night, here are 10 bite-sized, no-fluff tips that actually work — and won’t eat up your writing time.
1. Treat Your Book Like a Product
Don’t just promote “your book.” Promote the benefit it gives readers. Is it an escape, a solution, a thrill? Lead with that. Readers buy outcomes, not just stories.
2. Build Your Email List or Website Early
Email is still king. Start building a list before your book is out. Use a freebie (short story, sample chapter, bonus content) to hook subscribers. An easy way to hack this is to create a visually stunning author website and then use plug-ins to share your posts with subscribers.
3. Own Your Author Brand
Pick a consistent tone, color palette, and bio photo — and stick with them. You are your brand. Consistency builds trust and makes you look more professional instantly.
4. Use Social Media with Purpose
You don’t need to be everywhere. Pick one or two platforms where your readers hang out and show up regularly. Share behind-the-scenes, writing progress, and personal stories. Be human, not a sales robot.
5. Nail Your Book Cover and Blurb
This is marketing 101. If your cover screams “homemade” or your blurb is vague, you’ll lose readers before page one. Invest in a pro cover and workshop your blurb with other authors or readers.
6. Get Reviews the Right Way
Early reviews = credibility. Build a launch team of beta readers or reviewers. Give them an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) and ask (nicely!) for honest Amazon or Goodreads reviews. Just don’t pay for fake ones — readers can sniff that out.
7. Optimize Your Book’s Product Page
Before spending a cent on ads, make sure your Amazon (or other retailer) product page is doing its job. That means:
Your product page is your digital storefront — if it doesn’t convert browsers into buyers, no amount of traffic will help.
8. Collaborate with Other Authors
Cross-promote with authors in your genre. Bundle newsletters, swap mentions, or run group giveaways. Their readers are likely to become your readers too.
9. Repurpose Content Like a Pro
Turn one blog post into an Instagram reel, a newsletter tip, and a Twitter thread. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel — just remix what you’ve got.
10. Keep Showing Up
Marketing is a long game. Most books don’t go viral — they sell steadily over time. Keep learning, keep engaging, and keep writing.
You don’t need to be a marketing expert to succeed — just intentional and consistent. As someone who lives and breathes marketing for a living, trust me: small, smart actions beat big, flashy launches every time.
Now go sell that book — you’ve got this.
