10 free book promotion ideas

One of the most common questions authors ask is, “How can I promote my book without spending money?“

There’s a lot you can do that’s free and effective; I’m listing 10 ideas below. Before acting on them, though, ask yourself these questions:

• Is my book as good as it can be? Does it look and read like anything I’d find in a bookstore or library?
• Is my book’s cover appealing and appropriate for the genre?
• Is my book professionally edited?
• Do I know who will love my book? And do I know as much as possible about those people so I know where I’ll find them both online and offline?

All of this is important because readers are interested in good books. Not so-so books. Not books you rushed through to meet an arbitrary deadline.

And you need to be marketing to people who read the kinds of books you write. Otherwise, you’re wasting your time.

10 free book promotion tactics

So, presuming you’ve laid the foundation with a solid book, here are 10 free book promotion ideas to try.

Implement one, then track what happens. If you see activity that suggests it worked, do more of it.

1. Create a Pinterest board for your book and its topic. Add two pins a week.

If yours is a lifestyle book, you need to use Pinterest. People search this visual social network for content on decorating, food, travel, fashion, and other lifestyle topics.

About 70% of its users are women, so they’re your target audience, explore the potential here.

Learn more: Watch the video at “Quick tip for selling more books on Pinterest.”

2. Invite one of your book’s key influencers to guest blog for you.

An influencer is someone who is both active online and respected and followed by your target audience.

“Key” refers to the influential people at the very top of your list. They’re the influencers who have the most clout and audience respect.

Learn more: For more information, read “Who are your key influencers?“

3. Create a group about your book’s topic or genre on Facebook.

People enjoy talking in Facebook groups about topics that interest them. Unlike Facebook business pages, groups are designed for engaging and conversing.

Learn more: To learn how to do it, read “How to create a Facebook group.”

4. Do a newsletter swap.

With a newsletter swap, you and another author agree to promote each other’s books in your email newsletters. It’s a great way to get more subscribers while supporting another author.

Learn more: Get how-to info in “How to do an author newsletter swap.”

5. Pitch an adult education center on a workshop based on or related to your book.

Use that experience to refine the workshop before pitching it to conferences or creating an online training program.

It’s a smart way to get more mileage from your book’s content while building your reputation locally.

Learn more: Get a how-to resource at “Boost Your Income: Learn How to Turn Your Existing Content Into Products That Sell.”

6. Offer to use Zoom for an out-of-town book club appearance.

Book clubs allow you to interact with readers in a way that’s meaningful for both you and them. And, thanks to technology, you can discuss your book with readers in any part of the world.

Learn more: Find book clubs with the resources in “The ultimate guide to getting your book picked up by reader book clubs.”

7. Create a tie-in with a nonprofit organization or a charitable event. 

If it’s well-thought-out, the partnership will support the organization while helping to generate book sales.

Make sure there’s a connection between your book and the organization or event, or that it’s a cause you feel strongly about.

Learn more: “Boost your author brand with these 31 expert publicity tips.“

8. Collaborate with local authors to plan a “local author day” at a popular bookstore or library.

There’s power in numbers. When all participants promote the event, you all benefit from a larger turnout than any of you can generate on your own.

Learn more: Read “The art of the hand-sell.“

9. Send a digital copy of your book to five people who read books in your genre and ask them to consider reviewing it.

Authors always need more reviews, and the best way to get them is to give books to the right readers. Sending a PDF file doesn’t cost a thing.

When you send your book, be sure to include the Build Book Buzz Reader Book Review Form. You want to make it as easy as possible for readers to write those reviews.

Learn more: Read “How to use e-mail to transfer a book to your Kindle.”

10. Post your book announcement press release on free press release distribution sites.

The word “distribution” is a bit disingenuous because these services don’t actually distribute your press release to the media. They host it on their site, where it might be discovered by a journalist. 

Still, by including a link back to your website in your press release, you’re helping your site’s search engine optimization — SEO.

Learn more: Discover how to write this essential media relations tool in my e-book, Get Your Book in the News: How to Write a Book Announcement Press Release.

Take action

The tactics that will work best for you will depend on which will reach your ideal readers and what you’re comfortable executing. There’s enough variety here to give you solid options, though.

Learn more about other free ways to promote your book in my two book marketing basics online courses, “Book Marketing 101 for Fiction: How to Build Book Buzz” and “Book Marketing 101 for Nonfiction: How to Build Book Buzz.” Each course gives you the clarity and confidence you need to successfully market your book.

What other free book promotion tactics can you recommend? Please share your ideas in a comment.

(Editor’s note: This article was first published in November 2019. It is now updated and expanded.)