by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
As if writing a book wasn’t hard enough, writers are then faced with the prospect of promoting it. Since any writers are introverts, this is a pretty daunting task. And, like many daunting tasks, it can be something they put off.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to increase awareness of your book without doing the most extroverted of promo activities… festivals, book signings, and conferences.
Here are a few.
4 Ways for Introverts to Find New Readers
Add your website as an email signature. This is an easy, passive way to raise awareness among acquaintances and others that you write books. It can be awkward to bring up writing in conversation…this is a great way to bypass that problem.
Start a reader newsletter. Again, this is a very passive way to promote your books. Readers who want to know when you have a new release will sign up. All you have to do is come up with an engaging newsletter (fairly easy for writers). Reedsy offers a free course for setting up your newsletter, if you need help.
Have a profile on Goodreads. Goodreads can make some writers nervous and I get that. The reader reviews there can be harsh and it’s never been the friendliest of environments for writers. Still…it’s a great way for readers and new readers to find you. If you set your profile up there, link to your blog, add your books and series, etc., then your profile will act as a great discovery mechanism. If you want to take it a step further, you could also run a giveaway. Writer Chrys Fey has written a couple of posts for making the most out of Goodreads, here and here.
Find a social media platform that makes you feel (at least somewhat) at home. There’s no point in stretching yourself too thin. Try to find a single platform that you feel comfortable using. If you don’t feel comfortable on a platform, you’re not going to spend time there. It may make it easier to schedule posts using a free tool like Hootsuite. But the point of social media is engagement, so be sure to reply to any comments you receive.
Are you an introverted writer? What tips do you have for handling promo activities?
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Profile on Amazon and BookBub as well. (I didn’t even think about the latter until a year ago.)
Yes! Those are both very important additions, thank you!
Thanks for the great tips. I agree that it’s important to pick social media sites you feel comfortable using. And the good thing about your tips is that you can do them from the comfort of home.
It’s definitely nice to be able to do some promoting without even leaving the house!
I love the title of this one, Elizabeth! And as a confirmed introvert, I know just what you mean about the challenges of promoting. I agree with your tips, too, especially the one about having a ‘landing space’ – a website, etc.. – for people to visit. I’ve also found that visiting other blogs helps. When you comment on blogs, people read those, and it drives traffic to your ‘home base. Keeping in touch with other bloggers is helpful!
Great tip, Margot! Visiting blogs is a really helpful way of establishing a great online community.
Excellent tips! I only scan reviews anymore. That has saved my writer sanity. And when I do read the reviews, I’ll check out the 3 and 4 star reviews. I’ve found a lot of excellent feedback in those reviews.
I think that’s a smart approach, Elizabeth!
Thanks for these tips, Elizabeth. This is very timely for I’ve decided to spend less time on social media this year. Even though I’m on Facebook and Instagram, I find them a huge distraction which makes me less productive. Finding a platform that I’m comfortable with is key, and for me that’s blogging. I’ve been blogging for some years now, and have always found it a good community.
I find Facebook especially distracting. Blogging is great for establishing an online presence, SEO, and enjoying a writing community!