Free Book Promotion Resources for Authors

An ongoing series on do-it-yourself marketing and free book promotion for self-published authors. Writing the book is only half the job; this page collects practical, low-cost ways to help readers find it.

Start with the basics

  • A professional cover and description. Most readers decide in seconds. Invest in a cover that fits your genre, and write a description that hooks readers in the first line.
  • An author website and mailing list. Social platforms change their rules; an email list of readers who asked to hear from you is yours to keep.
  • Goodreads. Claim your author profile, take part in genre groups and encourage honest reviews. Read our guide: Promoting Your Book on Goodreads: 3 Steps Every Author Should Take.
  • Book bloggers and reviewers. Look for reviewers who cover your genre, read their submission guidelines and pitch politely and personally. Never pay for positive reviews.
  • Libraries. Many public libraries buy books by local authors and run author events. Ask your local branch how they select titles.
  • Social media, used well. Pick one or two platforms where your readers actually spend time, share more than you sell, and use genre and reading hashtags so new readers can find you.
  • Co-promotion. Team up with authors in your genre for joint newsletters, bundles and events. Readers of one thriller writer are likely to enjoy another.

Write for a niche

Specialist audiences are some of the most loyal. Crime writers have their conventions, romance readers their communities, and readers of gambling fiction and poker books their own lists and forums. If your book is set in a casino or around a card table, our Casino Novels section shows the books those readers already love, and our guide to writing a believable casino scene will help you get the details right.

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