Shannon Mori

You have published your book, but now how do you get your book out into the world? I never realized how much my past career in marketing would help my current career as a writer and author. When asked, most independent authors answer that the part of the self-publishing process they find the most challenging is not writing, not editing, not publishing - but MARKETING!  
 
Tom Fishburne is absolutely correct when he said, "The best marketing doesn't feel like marketing." Here I will share with you my best 7 tips to market your book in the most organic way possible - by being you and sharing what you love - your book: 

1. Create your own website. The first thing I did while my first book was being published was to create my own website. There are so many webpage builders out there to use and many come with a fee so keep that in mind when deciding on what site to use. I love creating websites and have found success using Pubsite Pro, which is specifically made for authors. It is so easy to build your author website with this platform. It also has an amazing feature so you can sell your books right there on your website. I have also used GoDaddy for website building and for purchasing domains. Please check out my website, www.shannonmori.com to see Pubsite Pro in action. They graciously featured my website as one of their Author Spotlights. 

2. Build your social media presence. You will want to create an author page on as many social media platforms as you feel comfortable with. I personally use Facebook and Instagram. Once your book is published, you may also create author pages on Amazon and Goodreads. Building a strong online presence is crucial to your brand strategy for your children’s book. 

3. Build an email list. This is one that I find tricky. Few people want to subscribe to another email list, but it is important to share information with your readers and future readers. One helpful way to build an email list is to offer a giveaway to gain subscribers. The marketing platform I use for my email and subscriber lists is Mailchimp. 

4. Host book reading and author visits. The best way to get your book out there in the real world is to focus on reaching out to schools, libraries, and bookstores. Contact local schools to arrange for author visits. Many schools may have an author visit included in their budget, but when you are starting out, you do not have to charge for these visits. In fact, I do not charge a fee at all if a teacher or school reaches out to me directly for a book reading. My passion is to encourage and inspire young readers and that is truly why I do what I do. I am also listed on the fantastic website, BookanAuthor.com. However, those bookings do require a fee. Contacting your local libraries and bookstores to host story times or author signings is important to promote your book and connect with parents and children. When I am reaching out to a school, I love sharing this statistic from a report by the National Literacy Trust - “Students who participate in author visits are twice as likely to read above their age level.” These visits are not only fun and engaging, but they really help to increase an interest in reading and writing. Your book sales from these visits are the icing on the cake. 

5. Ask for book reviews. Book reviews may help someone looking for a certain type of book or message in a children’s book to find what they are looking for. They are a powerful marketing tool because book reviews create greater visibility. Reaching out to book reviewers, bloggers, and influencers to request reviews will also help with exposure. Reviews and recommendations are strong tools in building trust and credibility with potential readers. There are many platforms to help you get reviews as well. I personally have used Goodnightreads and Pubby. 

6. Connect with other authors. Collaborating with other authors can help you reach new audiences and build your network. Joining children’s book groups on social media will help you find authors to connect with. Some ways to collaborate are to guest post on other author’s blogs, create a joint book launch event, planning fundraisers or giveaways, or sharing each other's books and writing reviews. I am so thankful for the connections I have made during my author journey. 

7. Create a blog or guest write on other platforms. Writing guest posts and blogs on a business or writing website will help boost your credibility. It helps to get your name out there and make yourself known to new readers and a new audience. It may also give you another searchable link when your name is searched, giving increased visibility. Make sure you do not mention your books or the fact that you are a children’s book author in your article though. Save that for the byline or author bio only. Other blogs and websites are not interested in your books, but they do care about their readers and their interests. 

These are my best tips that have worked for me, and I hope it will help you in your own author journey. Marketing may seem daunting. If you are an introvert, it may seem uncomfortable to keep putting yourself out there, but I assure you it will get easier. If you are not tech savvy, you can learn as you go. You were brave enough to self-publish your own book. Do not doubt for a minute that you cannot also use those skills to successfully market your book. You got this! 

Shannon Mori is an internationally sold children's book author. Her passions include animals, writing and supporting fellow indie writers. Her blog, That's A'Mori, shares experiences in being an author, mom, wife and whatever other hat she is wearing that day. Her incredibly supportive husband and her two bright children, who love reading as much as she does, are her inspiration. After living all over the U.S. with a love for new adventures and travel, Shannon and her family, which include their beloved pets, now reside near the lake in the beautiful Ozark mountains of Missouri.