Oh. It couldn’t have been that bad, could it? Better luck next time, I hope.

@zee No, no. 😄I took it down.

Yes, thanks for sharing, @daeus-lamb. Every little bit helps. What’s the name of your novel? Is it still available?

@zee I feel similar. I’m not published, but marketing feels so nebulous and impossible- shouting into the void. Exactly.

@daeus-lamb Thanks for the resources!

@zee A novel I self-published several years ago was kinda like that. 😄I’ll just name drop my favorite resources on marketing and self-publishing.

. Absolutely anything by David Gaughran.

. Kindleprenuer.com

. It’s been a long time, but I remember Tim Grahl’s book’s standing out.

. The Novel Marketing Podcast!!!

And this is something going on…[Read more]

Yay, so glad to hear that! Sounds like a plan. 🙂

Thank you all so much. This has really helped me clarify what I want to do.

You should never pay for traditional publishing. If you pay, 99% chance it’s a scam.

I like Lizzy’s thoughts. Honestly, I would try not to feel much pressure to make any immediate decisions on what you want your account to be. Instead, I’d just get an account, follow people you care about or find interesting, experiment with different kinds of posts, and see what sticks and what feels the most like “the real you” so to speak and…[Read more]

That is really helpful. Thank you for taking the time to lay that out. I think probably I won’t start Bookstagram yet, just so that I won’t feel forced into it.

Actually, @hobbitchild, it is ok to provide a free book in exchange for a review. This is such standard practice that Amazon allows it. However, the reviewer should indicate that he received a free copy for review purposes as opposed to buying one.

If you’re looking for potential reviewers, try BookSirens or IndieReviews. But as you may already…[Read more]

Instagram does have its merits for a marketing tool, and it can be fun to be a part of the bookstagram community. But feeling pressured into getting it is…not so fun. Please don’t feel like you absolutely have to get on or do a bookstagram, and even if you do decide to get on, it’s your account. You don’t /have/ to post every day if you don’t…[Read more]

@zee I will try that website. I read somewhere that posting in forums and on blogs related to your book was a good way to promote, but I’m trying to spread it out so I don’t end up spamming someone who doesn’t want my book by repeatedly sending them emails, which is what I thought spamming was.

Yes, I found out that Amazon doesn’t like free bo…[Read more]

@hobbitchild, the link below is a list of websites that promote books (either free or reduced price) for free. Since they are free services, there’s no guarantee that your book will be chosen for promotion, but it can’t hurt to throw it out there. https://freebookpromotions.com/free-promotion-sites/

What @taylorclogston says about asking for…[Read more]

@hobbitchild I want to warn you that what you’re describing sounds like one of the most classic definitions of spam—you’re promoting your work in communities where you aren’t already ingrained. That goes double for commenting on blog posts asking people to download. In fact, most spam filters exist specifically to remove that kind of c…[Read more]