Help a new author :)

[u/netanel1213]

Hi everyone,

I’m a new author and I’m trying to figure out the best way to actually get my books in front of readers.

I studied theater for 4 years, and after that I started focusing more seriously on writing. I’ve now written and published 3 books on Amazon Kindle.

The writing and publishing part was challenging, but honestly, marketing feels even more confusing.

I’ve tried a few things already, but I still feel like I’m guessing most of the time.

For those of you who have experience promoting books, what has actually worked for you?

Amazon Ads?
BookBub?
Reddit?
TikTok/Instagram?
Newsletter promotions?
ARC readers?
Something else?

I’d really appreciate advice from people who have actually been through this.

I’m not looking for a magic trick I just want to understand where a new author should focus their time and money first.

Thanks in advance.

[u/yxsleigh]

I actually run a book community called Midnight Book Nook and getting indie books in front of real readers is a huge part of what we do! 🌙📚
We have really affordable options starting from £5, plus things like book spotlights, community reads, beta reading, reader feedback/discussion, website features and author Q&As.
Since you’re still figuring out what’s worth spending money on, I’d definitely start small rather than sinking loads into ads. Happy to send you our options if you want to have a look — no pressure at all! 💕

[u/nycwriter99]

Refer to www.bookpromotion.com for an exhaustive list of resources. Your first priority should be building up your email list.

[u/netanel1213 → u/nycwriter99]

Thanks, I’ll go through BookPromotion.com.

My main goal right now is actually to find ARC readers who will genuinely read the book and, if they want to, leave an honest review on Amazon.

Do you have any specific ARC services, reviewer directories, Facebook groups, Reddit communities, or outreach methods you’d recommend for a new indie author?

I’m especially looking for readers in psychological thriller, survival thriller, and dark fantasy.

[u/scottkgoodwrites → u/netanel1213]

TBH, Book Sirens and all those other places felt like a scam to me.

I used a Google Form (fields: name, email, social media, Goodreads or similar link, how many books have they read in my genre in the last 12 months, do they want marketing emails, and will they protect my copyrighted work) and posted an Instagram ad because it was a lot more bang for my buck. I was able to approve each reader based on their social media and book review links. The managed services didn’t seem worth the price to me, especially if I was manually reviewing and approving (or not approving…) everyone anyway.

Bookfunnel was great for distributing the ebooks, so that had a cost.

But again: I got 300 ARC readers easily between friends and family and a 20 dollar Insta ad.

I also sent paperbacks to select Bookstagrammers, most of whom I reached out to directly.

It was a little more work to do it myself, but I had over 100 ratings on Goodreads on pub day for my debut indie novel… so it was worth the effort for me.

[u/Opening_Lecture_4642 → u/scottkgoodwrites]

I would love to chat with you about the book form I just published my first book last week and would like to find some readers

[u/scottkgoodwrites]

The best things I’ve seen or done:

-Having a LOT of ARC readers so there’s plenty of buzz when it releases. I sent my epub to almost 300 people and had 100 ratings on pub day.
-Instagram ads, including the occasional signed copy giveaway. For $20 in ads, I gain ~100 followers and make some sales that make it worth it. I run $8/day otherwise and always outsell that amount.
-Book Fairs. I make so much more money per book when I sell them directly, so I sign up for bookish markets and peddle my title there. And the posts you do around the event generate online sales as well.

And I only have one published so far, but friends who have more than one book (especially if they’re a series or interconnected), then they make the first book super cheap and advertise it the most. Which then leads folks to want to read more from that author. (Always a good idea to have “other titles by this author” in the front of back of your book somewhere.)

[u/elowensterling]

Hello! I haven’t published yet but already started to promote on Substack and TikTok and it’s going well so far! 1.5 months in and 130 subs on Substack (which is equivalent to an email list) and nearing 600 on TikTok. It does take effort to make quality posts but it’s free and if you post consistent things very relevant to your book and its themes you will attract the right kind of followers slowly, instead of just trying to gain like crazy using viral trends. It’s not for everyone but it’s been working for me and a lot of other authors that I am mutuals with.
I chose these platforms because my target readers are women from 25-40 and I knew they would be on these sites! My book is not even a traditional “booktok” book but it’s still gaining interest because I’m marketing it as something “different”. Think about where your readers are, maybe they are on Instagram or Facebook more often? Go to those platforms if so!

[u/GlennThomas_]

With three books out, I'd put effort into the thing that compounds: a newsletter sign-up in the back matter of every book. Ads and BookBub rent attention, but a list lets you launch book four to people who've already read one. Before spending on ads, check that your cover, blurb and first reviews convert, because ads just amplify a weak listing. Pick one paid channel and one free one, run them for 6-8 weeks, and track cost per sale or per subscriber so you're not guessing.

[u/MagicianSevere8025]

I highly recommend WHOP.com very large global platform. great expposure, also get connected with other r/wherewritersgather

[u/Immediate-Ladder-561]

Find some free book promotions. I'm launching my new website and would love to offer you some free promo. I know the feeling of the promoting and marketing and it can be soooo overwhelming. Have you looked into reviewers as well as podcasts?

[u/LivvySkelton-Price]

I found local markets to be the most beneficial.

[u/First-Tune-5420]

I am in the same position and I can agree with you. Writing is just one part of the process. I feel like I have embarked on a full apprenticeship learning about the whole publishing process. There is writing a book and then there is actually producing a book...and Marketing.

[u/Immediate-Ladder-561]

Have you talked to book bloggers yet?