5 Ideas for Book Promotion Beyond Digital Ads
Here are five ideas for promoting your new book! Some of these work great for reaching local audiences. These are intentionally beyond the traditional digital ads to consider (Amazon, Goodreads, Meta, etc.). But back to these…if you have tried any of these, I would love to hear your experiences in the comments.
1). Reach Out to Local Mom Exercise Groups and Other Businesses for Storytime
FIT4MOM franchises are all over the country. There are other similar brands/companies as well. In this exercise model, Moms workout with their kiddos (kiddos stay in strollers) at local parks. These kiddos are on the younger side (newborn - about 4), so keep that in mind. In general, think creatively about your local market. Many businesses (beyond bookstores) in your area may want to sell your book or do a reading/signing. Make a list of toy shops, kids clothing stores, new mother/parent groups, and other stores or organizations that align with your book's theme (local zoo or science museums, for example). Send a personalized email to the point of contact to start a discussion, or call to find out how best to initiate a conversation.
2). Place Flyers on Community Bulletin Boards
Starbucks, Panera, and other local restaurants and cafes have boards by the bathrooms or out by the cream and sugar. Some libraries have these bulletin boards as well. If the company or organization won't let you promote your book for financial gain, make the flyer about being available for readings or promote any upcoming public readings or author signings instead of promoting just the book. Having a flyer about your book will come in handy. Ensure the flyer highlights details like your book title, author/illustrator name, ISBN, purchase information, impactful review quotes, and a QR code for more info. If you are highlighting an event, make that info prominent. Track the QR code scans to measure the effectiveness of this local marketing approach.
3). Engage with BookTok Influencers on TikTok
Look at how large and engaged their followers are (you will want both a large follower group and see that people view and like content frequently). Do they read and/or review books similar to yours? Politely message them and ask if they would consider reading your book. If they do, you can easily repurpose this content on your channels. An example is Megan from @thereadingrainbow reading Piper's Pet Pursuit on TikTok. It has had 61K views! Engage with the comments and share the video for additional views.
4). Leverage Mom Influencers on Instagram
You can message them directly or use a platform such as Collabstr. These paid opportunities may be a great option to test a new tactic. An Instagram reel starts at about $100+, depending on the influencer's follower base. One tip is ensuring the influencer's style and content align with your author brand and book. Do this person and their followers align with your target market? Would you like to have them be the face of your author/publisher/book brand? Ensure the influencer tags you and engage in the comments as they come in.
5). Connect with Schools Pre-Launch through Art Projects
Before your book launches, foster connections with schools by organizing art projects or activities related to your book's themes. Consider making it a competition to amplify engagement. Build rapport with key staff members, and when your book is released, revisit the school for readings and sharing rewards. I write about the art project I organized here. Kids drew pictures related to the themes from my books. This early awareness helps build early awareness of you and your book and often leads to families purchasing copies.
