How I Got Published: Step Twelve -Marketing

By Penny Nolan.

I should actually title this blog entry, What I Hate Most. But the more I do, the better I get at marketing. There are so many things you can do to market your book. I just picked the ones I was most comfortable doing. I am continually reminding myself, this is for the kids.

Website - I happened to have a website for my artwork, so all I had to do was add myself as an author. So, if you don’t already have one, get one. A website is a great way for people to research you. It can have links where people can order your book, learn about your book, and have information about doing readings or author visits. A website, I think, is one of the best things you can have to promote yourself.

Social Media - Build a following. X, Instagram, and Bluesky seem to be the ones asked for the most in the writing world. Most of my people are on Facebook, though. Facebook is good for connecting with parents, teachers, and librarians. Post about:

• Behind-the-scenes peeks at your process

• Pictures of your book in the wild

• Reviews or kind words from readers

• Interactive content like polls or book-related crafts

• Announce your book launch and author visits.

Community - Start local. Visit your neighborhood bookstores and libraries. Offer to do a storytime or an author talk. These in-person connections are powerful, especially for picture book authors.

Other local ideas:

• Host a book launch party at a bookstore or library

• Contact local newspapers or TV stations

• Team up with schools for virtual or in-person visits

Influencers - Consider doing a podcast, reaching out to bloggers, and sending your book to reviewers. That last one was super important. Librarians order from catalogs with books based on reviews!

Family and Friends - Once your book is out, get everyone you know to write a review on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads.

Marketing may seem overwhelming at first. Choose to do one or two things a month, building up to your release date. It’s worth it!