Being a writer, I always thought that writing alone is everything. All you have to do is to write a good meaningful story and the entire world will crave for it. But this all happens in an ideal world, a world where everyone is an avid reader (read buyer). Believe it or not, your friends and relatives always tell you that they are eagerly waiting for your book to release and few of them will actually buy your book but this is not what you pictured. Before getting published, you knew that you have 800+ friends on Facebook and at least 250 of them will surely buy it. But did they? I have learnt one thing after writing (read selling) my first book, writing a book is 1% task and the rest is pure business. So, here I am going to tell you few pointers which every writer should do in the first two months of his book release. These ways are just my learning and I hope it will help those who are still not hundred percent happy, even after seeing their name on Amazon or in the local book stores.

Use bloggers:

You must have heard it like a thousand of times, but do believe me when you read the following sentence, ‘Bloggers are the angels sent from heavens. Period.’ Try to find some top bloggers online, and send them first three chapters of your book and request them to give you a proper book review. Some of them charge for this service and some of them are here just to read books. So find as many bloggers as you can and send as many copies as possible for them to read. If they host Giveaway contests then more the better. People who follow honest blogs loves to read what their favorite blogger is writing about and if that lucky person is you – BOOM! You will have an access to all the followers of his blogs.

Use Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Pinterest:

Yes that’s the harsh truth, Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Pinterest are not only to upload pictures, one can use them to actually promote his work. Create a page for your page, ask your friends to like it and if you don’t have any problem then do use Facebook adverts. They really boost up the market for you.

Same goes for other social media platforms. If you are not going to speak about your book then who will? Upload as many quotes, reviews as possible on each and every platform. Ask your close dear friends to send you a selfie with the book – You can actually upload it on your social media pages with a nice caption – Thank you readers!

With my book, I did one thing which you all can do. When you have the cover image ready, ask your close friends to make it as their Facebook profile picture. People on social media platforms are not crazy for words but they want to see what you are uploading! So why not upload your work? It is as simple as that.

Try Making a Short Video:

If you are into all this film making thing or you personally know someone who can shoot a short video for it then please, please go for it. I am not here suggesting to go and use some music and write some quotes on surreal wallpapers and use Windows Movie Maker to edit. There are people who charges in three four digits just to shoot a video trailer for you. You can save your money by shooting it with your mobile phone. Go out with your friends and you can shoot few things which I did and it personally helped me like, just a normal minute video in which you are reading the synopsis of the book, a video in which you are reading one entire chapter of the book and in the end thanking your audience for listening to it (with a link where they can purchase your book).

Once you have made it, again upload it on all the social media forums you are aware of. Send the links with every mail you send. Just speak about your book.

Go to your local bookstores:

Remember the small place back in the alley where you bought all your books when you were out of cash? It’s time to go back to that shop. Talk to the person in charge and convince him to sell your book from his store. Give him a heavy discount and commission, this first book is not about making money but to sell yourself. You want the world to know you. So go to him and keep few AUTOGRAPHED copies of your book and ask him to give it to his regulars. Give him your number in case any reader wants to speak to you or he wants you to provide him with more copies. Don’t shy, just go and talk with him now!!!

Giveaways:

Remember the bloggers you talked about regarding the book review? Mail/call them again and ask if they can conduct Giveaways for your book. In my experience, I have found Goodreads Giveaway very helpful. Just by conducting a giveaway you are opening the gates for thousands of the readers to bid for your book. Even you know that there are only few of them are going to win but look at the brighter side, how many of them are going to Enter in the contest? How many of them will have a little idea about your book? Try it one time, you won’t regret it.

There are many ways to sell your book, the list will go on and on. But you won’t be needing any of these if you have written a good story and you have found a good publisher. An article about, Which Publisher is Good for Your Book is on its way. Good luck and while you are wondering at my blog, go and at least check out my book Derivation of Life in case you like it. I told you, always speak about your book.