Seven Things about Book Promotion I Wish I’d Known (and Acted on) Sooner!
As a 12 x 12 member for many years, I’ve relied on the group’s resources as I wrote, revised, and re-revised manuscripts. In 2021, I was thrilled to have my picture book A BOOK FOR BEAR accepted for publication! I started thinking about book promotion. As a debut author with a full-time job, I worked on finding time. As an introvert, I worked on developing my confidence. I thought I was starting early, but should have started even earlier! Here are things I’ve learned about book promotion.
1. You are the best promoter of your book!
You know what inspired you to write, the passion that motivated you through many rewrites and revisions. The themes of A BOOK FOR BEAR reflect my passions — love of reading and how reading fosters friendships.
You also know the details of your path to publication and the contributions of others — critique group friends, publishing professionals, and others who offered suggestions and encouragement. Promoting your book offers a chance to acknowledge and thank these people!
2. Take the initiative to contact teachers, librarians, booksellers, and other book lovers.
As a book lover, I frequent bookstores and libraries, and I love the people I meet. Promoting a book allows you to forge more connections with book-loving teachers, librarians, booksellers, parents, and kids — what better company can there be than book people! I’m very appreciative of the book people who have offered advice. A bookseller at a local bookstore invited me to accompany her to school visits presented by an experienced author. A librarian featured A BOOK FOR BEAR at one of her story times and invited me to participate and answer questions. A bookseller recommended me to a librarian friend who was sponsoring an Author Day story time and book signing. Networking has been valuable in promoting my book.
3. Develop promotional materials early. As you work on a manuscript, be optimistic and start a list of promotional ideas.
If you don’t have a website, create one. If you have a website, revise and update it. Develop slides, sell sheets, presentations, and props.
Think of themes and phrases that capture the essence of your book, and use these phrases on your website, bookmarks, sell sheets, and author visit announcements. Remember to include a QR code with a link to your website on your business cards and bookmarks.
Develop activity sheets for use by teachers and parents. I created activity sheets for a range of ages, and they’re downloadable from my website.
Think about ways to engage your audience at author visits. Ask audience members to volunteer to assist in dramatizing your book. Think about possible props and about dressing up. An author friend sent me a surprise gift — a felted Book Bear and Book Ellen that now accompany me on all author visits. My daughter made me a Book Ellen “look-alike” outfit, and my husband capped it off with the finishing touch — a blue wig!
Just as critique group comments assisted in revising manuscripts, sharing drafts of promotional materials with critique and book promotion groups assists in revising these materials. Revision is the secret sauce for all types of writing.
4. Grow your social media presence and don’t forget the power of word of mouth.
Post about books—and about all the other things you love—family and friends, pets and hobbies. As my book title indicates, I love books and bears. I also love birds, bees, butterflies and many other animals and activities that don’t start with B. Your posts help to humanize you to old and new friends. In your social media posts, you’re promoting your passions as well as your books and other authors’ books.
Tell everyone about your book—not just family and friends, but also coworkers, neighbors, and people you meet casually. Following the advice of another author, I keep bookmarks in my handbag (or pocket) to give to people I meet at parties, doctor’s offices, libraries, out walking their dogs, doing home repairs.
5. Forge connections with other authors.
As a member of 12 x 12, you’re already connecting with lots of other authors and illustrators.
Join a book promotion group. I found my book promotion group through 12 x 12. These groups provide opportunities to share ideas and to review and support each other’s books. Book promotion groups create social media accounts and help spread the word about all member books. Another author gave me advice about how to improve my Instagram presence, and now it’s my favorite social media.
Team with other authors to do bookstore and library visits and to attend book festivals.
6. Create lists and use them to plan and record your book promotion activities.
Lists motivate you to follow through on contacts with people and provide a record of contacts and responses. Lists are also a great way to share information with other authors and to organize group events.
I created and am still expanding lists of promotional ideas; bookstores, libraries, and schools to contact; book awards to apply for; writing events; and special days and months related to books. Posts related to National Poetry Month, Picture Book Month, Author Day, Poem in Your Pocket Day, and others can celebrate your books and other authors’ books.
7. Thank the people who’ve assisted you! Celebrate every achievement! Have fun meeting other book lovers!
I’m deeply appreciative of the kindness and contributions of many people, including 12 x 12, Storystorm, and SCBWI friends, on my path to publication and on my book promotion efforts.
When a work colleague sends you a photo of a child reading your book, when a friend you haven’t seen for years shows up unexpectedly at a book signing, when an online friend posts a glowing review of your book, thank them and celebrate!
The most satisfying part of promoting A BOOK FOR BEAR is the friends I’ve made.
ELLEN RAMSEY’s love of reading and writing led her to careers as a teacher, technical writer and editor, and author of stories for children. A BOOK FOR BEAR received a Moonbeam Gold Medal for the Best First Picture Book and has been nominated for a Keystone State Literacy Association “Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award.” One of her poems, published in Highlights High Five, won an SCBWI Magazine Merit Award for Poetry. She and her husband live in a bear-friendly house in Pennsylvania that is filled with thousands of books, many teddy bears, and lots of laughter.
You can follow her on Instagram @ellenlramseybooks, on Facebook @ellen.l.ramsey.5, and on X/Twitter @ellenlramsey1.
Ellen is offering one lucky winner a signed copy of A BOOK FOR BEAR or a picture book critique. Share your comments below for a chance to win. Which tips inspired you? What are other book promotion ideas?
12 x 12 may earn a commission from books purchased through the links in the post. Proceeds go to fund 12 x 12 diversity programming and scholarships.
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174 Responses
Thank you for sharing! I appreciate your tips and the way you make book promotion sound fun. I think a lot of people dread promoting their books, so it’s nice to read an upbeat article with concrete ideas for it.
Thanks, Jennifer. So glad you enjoyed the article. Book promotion is an exciting and challenging opportunity. Just like being a 12×12 member, it’s a way to meet lots of interesting people who are also book lovers.
Such a good idea to think of promotional ideas early! It feels hard to do that when you don’t know if this particular project will ever be published
Thanks, Jennifer. Glad you liked the ideas. Glad I started early with a few of the general ideas like building up social media presence, attending writing conferences, and meeting librarians, teachers, and publishing professionals as well as other authors and illustrators. Good luck with your writing!
This was all very helpful information. Thanks for sharing it. I also reserved your book A Book For Bear from my local library!
Thanks, Jodelle, I’m delighted that you found the information helpful. Thanks for reserving the book at your library–hope you enjoy it.
Hi, Ellen! I believe we met in an SCWBI virtual event and I think you are the person who got me interested in 12×12. Thank you for sharing your promotion efforts, and the idea of starting early.
Thanks, Sherry. Good to hear from you. Hope we meet again at another writing event.
Thanks for sharing all of your great tips, Ellen. You have some great ideas that I haven’t seen before!
Hi Susan, Thanks for letting me know you found some new ideas in the post. Hope you’ll enjoy the book.
Thanks, Ellen, for sharing all your wonderful book promotion ideas! Loved all seven of your suggestions!
Thanks, Alice. Glad you liked all seven!
Wonderful advice, Ellen. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Heather. I loved participating in the SCBWI EPA Debut Author Panel with you.
Love the lookalike outfit! Thanks for sharing your ideas. 🙂
Thanks, Robin. So glad you like the lookalike outfit–I’ve had fun wearing it!
Hi Robin,
Thanks! Glad you like the lookalike outfit. I love wearing it!
Thanks for the advice. Networking is always a good idea. Best of luck with your book. I love bears.
Thanks, Chelle. As you can tell, I love bears too and we have a houseful of well-loved teddy bears.
Thanks, Chelle. As you can tell, I love bears and bear books. We have a house full of well-loved teddy bears.
Thank you so much for this wonderful list. I think it is one of the best short and concise lists of promotional ideas I’ve ever come across. I’ve already shared it with friends.
Thanks, Sharon. So glad to hear you liked the suggestions and have shared with others.
Great ideas, Ellen! I hope I will get to use them some day. And I love how you dressed up as your character. Such fun!
Thanks, Rose. Great to hear from you. You and KSLA have also helped me with book promotion ideas!
Ellen, I found your post so helpful. I am pre-published and really had little knowledge as to what is expected as far as PB promotion goes. Now I have a foundation of tips and ideas to expand upon thanks to you. Congratulations on your debut picture book.
Hi Susan,
Thanks. Glad you found the tips helpful. I had a lot to learn about book promotion. Happy Writing!
I dread the idea of being a salesman of my own
book–it feels pushy. So I really like your idea of carrying around bookmarks with your book information on them! I could do that–you’re giving someone something and there’s no pressure. Thank you!
Hi Linda, Glad you liked the bookmark idea. I’ve had to learn how to promote the book in ways I’m comfortable doing. I love having bookmarks with basic info about the book–cover, selected interior illustrations (once you have them), and a QR code linking to your website, which includes links about many ways to purchase the book. A small local library has put A BOOK FOR BEAR bookmarks at their checkout desk so that helps to spread the word about the book.
Wow. What a lot of notes I took from this featured author post! I always worry that I’m being pushy or overstepping when I talk about my books. Now I have a list of seven things to think about instead of my fears. I love the photo of you in blue hair. I bet the kids love that.
Hi Bibi, Glad you found the promotion tips helpful. It’s taken me a while to find ways that I’m comfortable with in promoting my book. I love dressing up so it’s fun to look like Book Ellen.
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing and giving so many tips! I’m curious if you explored creating an author email list?
Hi Alli, Yes, I explored different types of lists and have created several lists–bookstores, libraries, schools, and book fairs/festivals. I’ve used the bookstore list most to offer to do Story Times/Book Signings, often with other picture book authors. I also have an email list based on people who contacted me through my website, and I’ve added appropriate emails to the other lists I’ve been maintaining.
Such practical suggestions for book promotions. Very doable. I would love for someone to send me a copy of my book in the hands of a child once I get one published.
Thanks, Lori. Glad you found the suggestions “doable.” You’re right–seeing photos of children reading A Book for Bear was an exciting part of book promotion. Several of my friends and work colleagues were kind enough to email me or post online photos of their kids or grandkids reading the book. One friend sent me a photo of her reading A Book for Bear in a class she was taking on writing picture books, so that was fun to see and much appreciated!
Thank you for sharing these tips and ideas. I took notes.
Thanks, Stacy. Hope your notes will be helpful in your future book promotions!
Thank you for so many good tips about promoting our books and for the advice of starting early. Congratulations on publishing A BOOK FOR BEAR and for all the promotion you’ve done. You set a great example for those of us who are introverts.
Thanks, Teddie. Glad that the post was helpful. Book promotion is definitely a “challenging opportunity,” especially for us introverts.
Thanks for sharing your tips, Ellen. I especially love the idea of asking audience members to assist in dramatizing your book during book readings. Fun!
Thanks, Amy. I’ve also asked audience members to repeat the “refrain” that occurs several times in the story, i.e., when a teacher, librarian, and bookseller are startled to see a bear–“A bear! A bear! A bear in our school! [library . . . bookstore].” Another activity that I’ve used with older kids is to have them volunteer to represent the people involved in the process of bookmaking and reaching readers–author, illustrator, editor, printer, bookstore clerk, and of course–reader. I have six colored bags with numbers on one side and names of people on the other side. Each bag contains something that represents what each person does. The last bag contains a copy of A Book for Bear.
Fantastic! I like the idea of exploring all the people who touch a book before it get to the reader’s hands.
Wow, there’s so much great advice here, thank you! This comes at a perfect time for me as my debut, Kenzie’s Little Tree, launches in a matter of days! I love the idea of having bookmarks in my purse to hand out to people if the occasion arises. Thank you!
Hi Alison, Glad you found the tips helpful. I have Kenzie’s Little Tree on hold at my local library so I’ll be reading it and reviewing it soon. Look forward to it, especially because my family is dealing with a chronic disease, Parkinsons.
Thanks, Amy. I’ve also asked audience members to repeat the “refrain” that occurs several times in the story, i.e., when a teacher, librarian, and bookseller are startled to see a bear–“A bear! A bear! A bear in our school! [library . . . bookstore].” Another activity that I’ve used with older kids is to have them volunteer to represent the people involved in the process of bookmaking and reaching readers–author, illustrator, editor, printer, bookstore clerk, and of course–reader. I have six colored bags with numbers on one side and names of people on the other side. Each bag contains something that represents what each person does. The last bag contains a copy of A Book for Bear.
Terrific advice, thanks so much! I enjoyed hearing your story. Congrats.
Thanks, Karin. Glad you enjoyed the post. Wishing you Happy Writing & Book Promoting!
What a helpful post, Ellen. Thank you for putting so much thought into this! As a shy, introvert the idea of “promoting” is so daunting I mostly haven’t even let myself think about it simply for fear that it will freeze up the flow of new ideas. Public speaking, eeek! Promotional materials, akk! But, this break down the various aspects in a bitesize format that I can return to a step at a time. I appreciate your openness with how much of a team effort it is too! Tip #7 is one that I know would go a long way. And #6 is probably the most “natural” fit to my personality, as I do love a list.
Your photos and tips make me excited to read A Book for Bear!
Thanks, Angela. Glad you found the post helpful. The team effort approach helps a lot. Hope you enjoy A Book for Bear–let me know what you think!
Great post! With my debut picture book coming out this fall (A CHRISTMAS WISH FOR LITTLE DALA HORSE: A ST. LUCIA CELEBRATION), I read every word. Some of those ideas are already in a marketing plan draft, but I’m going to make sure I take note of all of her great ideas. So thoughtfully written! Thank you, Ellen!
Thanks, Sonja. Glad you found the suggestions helpful. I look forward to reading A CHRISTMAS WISH FOR LITTLE DALA HORSE: A ST. LUCIA CELEBRATION.
Thanks so much for these! I especially like the Point #7 – being grateful.:)
Thanks, Jen. Wishing you Happy Writing & Book Promoting!
Great ideas! Thanks so much for sharing.
Thanks, Kirsten. Glad you found the ideas interesting. Wishing you Happy Writing and Book Promoting!
Hi Ellen – thanks for all these great promotion ideas! Your book is adorable and I look forward to reading!
Thanks, Melissa. Glad you like the ideas, and I hope you enjoy reading A BOOK FOR BEAR! I particularly like your PLANTING FRIENDSHIP.
Thank you for sharing these tips. I look forward to putting them to good use in the future.
Hi Maria, Glad to found the tips helpful. Wishing you Happy Writing and Book Promoting!
These are all great ideas for book promotion! Thanks for reminding me of many of them, especially the one about making lists of promotional things to do. I also would add contacting book bloggers to review your book. I was hesitant in doing this, but found that the bloggers were all very supportive and most of them agreed to book a date for my debut picture book WHO’S WALKING DAWG?.
Thanks, Glad you liked the ideas and thanks for the suggestion about contacting bloggers. I’m looking forward to reading WHO’S WALKING DAWG?
Thanks for the book promotion tips, Ellen! And YAY for A Book for Bear! 🙂
Thanks, Sheri. Good to hear from you–hope you’re doing well and enjoying writing–and book promotion!
Thank you for reminding us that being an author is so much more than just writing down words. Your tips encourage me to go beyond what I have already done in these areas. Being more of an introvert, I have always wondered what to include on a webpage. This area has been a challenge for me and your suggestions have offered many new ideas.
Thanks, Diane. Glad the suggestions were helpful. I’m still learning about websites and need to update my website. One of the editors I met at a conference (she’s an editor who also writes children’s books) said, “Book promotion is a marathon, not a sprint.” Thus, there is always more to learn and more to do!
Thank you, Ellen. There is so much helpful information in your blog.
Hi Belinda, Glad to know you found the information useful!
Thank you for these great tips, Ellen! I like that these are concrete ideas we can add to our writer’s toolbox. So helpful. Congratulations on A BOOK FOR BEAR!
Hi Judy, Thanks! Congratulations on your forthcoming book, ONE GRAIN OF SAND!
Thanks for this Ellen. I’m encouraged when I hear how other book lover introverts manage book promotion!
Thanks, Brenda. Glad you found the post encouraging. Wishing you Happy Reading, Writing, and Book Promoting!
I am printing this out!! For, you know, the eventual day when I WILL need it because I WILL get published! 😉
Thanks very much!
Hi Dana, Thanks for your comments. Glad to know tips are helpful. Wishing you good luck on your book journey! I’m a banner child for the power of perseverance and writing about what you love.
Hello Ellen,
I’m an unpublished author looking for as much information and direction as I can find. Thank you for providing so much information. It will be very useful.
Thank you,
Kristi
Hi Kristi, Thanks. Glad the tips are helpful. Now is the time to think about book promotion and to get started. Happy Writing and Book Promoting!
Thank you for some excellent ideas, Ellen!
Thank you for some excellent ideas, Ellen! Some I do, but you’ve given me some new inspiration.
Thanks, Marcia. Glad the tips are helpful. We all need inspiration and encouragement!
Dear Ellen,
Describing yourself as an introvert, it is so hard to see through your post. You seem to have a powerful and strong connection to other people: family, authors, individuals in the book industry, readers. I am very impressed of how you constantly find a way to interact and always be thankful and appreciative of everybody in your private and professional life.
Love your website. So direct, uncomplicated and informative.
Your family involvement in your clothes and blue wig so loving and understanding of who you really are.
Which advice I consider the best for me? All of them. I wish I knew you personally but for now I will just have to follow you on your website.
I just finished reading your book. Amazing to find out that the girl’s name is yours. Love the Bear’s perseverance about finding a book of his own with the color of ripe red raspberries. The page that I really liked was “Scary books. Exciting books. Funny books. Bear and Ellen loved them all.” Perfect ending: “would you read my book to me?” “Bear loved books.”
Congratulations to you and to Mc Kenzie Haley.
Thanks, Eva, for your thoughtful comments! I’m delighted that you enjoyed the post, my website, and A Book for Bear. I’m an introvert that loves being around people, but am still not comfortable “being the center of attention” in reading the book and giving speeches. My husband, who comes to some book events with me and takes photos, says I’m getting better and more comfortable with the process. So that’s encouraging. I especially appreciate your sharing your thoughts about the book and your favorite page. Interestingly, this page gets a great response from kids–they love the way that Bear gradually gets closer to Ellen who is reading the book–it’s the funny book that gets him to the bottom of the tree and next to Ellen. If you have a chance, I’d very much appreciate your reviewing the book. Thanks again for your comments. Happy Reading and Writing and Book Promoting!
Thank you so much, Ellen, for all this advice to help me prepare for when the time comes to promote my debut PB. I will definitely keep your article on file. And congratulations on “A Book for Bear”! I can’t wait to read it with my grandsons. I know we will all enjoy it.
Thanks, Jeannette. Glad you like the book promotion suggestions. Hope you and your grandsons enjoy A Book for Bear. Let me know what you think when you have a chance to read the book.
So many great suggestions and ideas. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and congrats on your book. It looks, and sounds, fantastic. Love the cover!
Thanks, Marty. Glad you like the cover and the book description–I think MacKenzie Haley did a brilliant job emphasizing the humor of the story. Hope you have a chance to read A Book for Bear. If you do, please let me know what you think.
Thank you, Ellen, for this fantastic list of promotional Do’s! Number 3 is the motivational push I needed to read again – “Build that website!” These words rumble in my head constantly. Congrats on “A Book for Bear” and related writing successes! Love how your family created an outfit for you to get into character – that is awesome!
Thanks, Krissy. Glad you enjoyed the post. I love wearing my Book Ellen outfit. Hope you have fun building a website. I have to keep reminding myself to update my website. Hope you enjoy reading A Book for Bear–when you have a chance to read it, let me know what you think.
Thank you, Ellen, for being a wonderful and inspiring encourager of tooting your own “book”. You are a wealth of information and a cheer leader for all writers to put themselves out there and display their work. ” As a debut author with a full-time job” you truly win the award for stepping up and out.
Thanks, Marjie! Glad you enjoyed the post and the promotional tips. Wishing you Happy Writing!
Congratulations, Ellen! Thank you for the promotional tips. You are an inspiration. I’ve given a copy of A BOOK FOR BEAR to some giggly boys. They love the Bear. Wishing you all the best as you move forward with your joy of writing.
Thanks, Charlotte. Appreciate hearing from you. Grateful to know you found the post inspirational and Bear & I are delighted that two giggly boys love Bear and his book!
Ellen, thanks so much for this info-packed post! I confess to finding the book promotion process scary, but seeing it as a cascade of connections and possibilities – costumes, launch groups, shadowing, etc. – makes it seem fun!
Thanks, Stephanie. As you can tell from the post, I’ve worked hard to find ways to connect with other authors, kids, and their parents and to have fun doing it. Bear & I hope you’ll enjoy his book!
This is such a comprehensive list of different social areas we can cover when it comes to promoting ourselves, thank you for the thoroughness Ellen!
Thanks, Meryl. Glad you found the lists helpful. I’ve learned so much from other authors and from going to other authors’ events.
Congratulations Ellen. Thank you for these tips. I am hoping one day to need them!! In the meantime I will be thinking of ways to connect and make it fun while I am writing my manuscripts.
Thanks, Nancy. Hope you will find the tips helpful in the future! I love belonging to critique groups and sharing ideas and manuscripts and book promotion tips with each other. Wishing you happy reading and writing and connecting!
Thank you Ellen for writing A Book for Bear. I read it several weeks ago but I read it again so I could enjoy your story and the illustrations once again. Your book is charming and Bear’s desire to pick out a book for himself taps into what many children desire. You gave us a friendly and book-loving gift.
Thanks, Lynn. Bear & I are delighted that you enjoyed re-reading A Book for Bear. A “friendly and book-loving gift”–what a wonderful description of Bear’s book!
Thanks for the great advice Ellen and congratulations on your book. #6 spoke to me because I am a major writer of lists!
Congratulations on the book and thanks for the wonderful advice Ellen! #6 really spoke to me because I am a major writer of lists!
Thanks, Martha! I love hearing from a fellow list maker. Wishing you happy reading, writing, connecting, and list making!
Ellen’s book is inspirational and cozy. Like hugging a Teddy Bear.
Her insights and promotional ideas are useful and apricated.
Thank you for the inspirational advice! I especially love the suggestions about dressing up and getting props to showcase my books, as well as always carrying bookmarks to share. I hope to do these things once I reach that stage.
Thanks, Stephanie. Dressing up is a fun part of the promotional process. Wishing you Happy Writing and Happy Book Promoting!
Thank you for the tips =)
What great advice Ellen! I love making book friends everywhere I go. I also love the idea of sharing promotional materials with your critique group for feedback! I look forward to reading your book.
Thanks for letting me know you found the advice helpful. Bear & I hope you enjoy his book–A Book for Bear. Let me know what you think.
Love your Ellen outfit, Ellen. Thank you for sharing all these tips.
Thanks, Angela. Look forward to our book promoting together events!
This book looks like it needs to be next on my “picture books to buy” list. Thanks for your insight from your personal publication journey! I look forward to using it in the future (and starting now).
Thanks, Samantha. Hope you enjoy A Book for Bear. If you message me or contact me through my website, I’d be happy to send you a bookplate signed by illustrator MacKenzie Haley and me. Wishing you Happy Reading, Writing, and Book Promoting!
I am intimidated by book promotion and your reminders help me to see that learning to promote is one of the skills I will need to sharpen along with developing my writing. I like how your book and your recommendations show how reading can help build community.
Ellen, I really appreciate you sharing your experiences and knowledge. Thank you. I printed this out for future reference.
Wow-so many great and practical ideas, many new ways to get the word out there. Thanks for your insights!
Your Book Ellen outfit is awesome! What a sweet set of gifts
Thank you Ellen for the wonderful tidbits of info and for reminding me to keep lists of it all. I forget to easily.
Thank you for the great ideas. You lit a fire under fingers. I have put getting my activities and outreach ready on my things to do list.
As someone who does not look forward to book promotion of any kind, this post is a comfort. Some great tips and advice for us. Thank you!
Helen, this is by far the most useful information I’ve seen about marketing your PB – especially your first PB when you have no idea what to do (BTW – that was me until I read your article.) Thank you for sharing all your insights and ideas. I’m definitely going to borrow from you play list.
Congrats on your “A Book for Bear” being out in the world, Ellen! Good luck–it looks like a lovely book!
This is such a helpful post!!! Love! Saving the suggestions.
So many wonderful tips and suggestions! Thank you for sharing, Ellen! 🙂
I just realized I addressed you as “Ellen” instead of Helen…so sorry! I don’t know how I mixed those up haha. On another note, I just read A BOOK FOR BEAR and loved it! Thanks again for the wonderful post!
I’m a big believer in thanking people who helped you along the way, too! Thanks, Ellen! Congrats!!
Thank you so much these thoughts. I, too, am in introvert, and fear the idea of having to promote and market my book.
Dear, dear Ellen,
Thank you so much for this uplifting post. I am very far from even submitting a manuscript and pushed behind all thoughts about communication strategy.
Thanks so much for reminding me of the importance of your support crowd. I used to teach and tell stories so children and teachers and librarians are the circle of inspiration and support I have available around me.
I live in Tanzania where libraries outside schools are rare and the bookshops in my town sell mainly school textbooks. I heavily rely on internet and programs like 12×12 to hone my craft.
Thanks so much for encouraging me to look into communication and build that storytelling site I wanted to do since ages.
I am bookmarking your post to be reminded all these tip/top advices.
Thanks again.
Tiana
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! I very much agree with Kimberly L. (and others) above. I don’t look forward to “self promoting.” All the best!
Great post! I’m printing it and saving it for the future!
Congratulations on your book!
Great tips that I hope to use someday! Congratulations, Ellen. I love the blue hair and my daughter does, too. 🙂
Thank you for the tips! I’m not not a natural promoter, and will need all the advice I can get.
Good work. I realized that building a mailing list was important. Ill be sure to use some of your ideas too.
Well said.
Thank you!
I love all of your marketing advice, especially love the blue wig! Congratulations on the book!
Congratulations on your delightful book! Your enthusiasm for book promotion shines through in a way that inspires other authors to think broadly about opportunities. I am completely caught up in your ideas and have printed them out to keep me focused on promotion over time. I especially like the idea of capitalizing on “posts related to National Poetry Month, Picture Book Month, Author Day, Poem in Your Pocket Day.” I wasn’t even aware of most of these special days! I appreciate the depth of your sharing here!
Ellen, these are great tips. I am going to tuck them away in my “I hope someday” file!
These are great tips. I never thought of think of how I could promote my book as I was writing it, yet that makes so much sense.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing all the marketing advice – it was very helpful and gave me new ideas I wouldn’t have thought about! Hope to use these tips someday!
Thanks for the great advice. Promotion is not my favorite thing but is so necessary. Your ideas are really helpful.
Thank you so much for sharing. I am dreading having to go back on social media, but as you said, it will have to be done. I really love the idea of a look-alike outfit and activities during the promotional tour. I love your blue wig!
Thank you for sharing these great tips! It’s sometimes hard to think about the entire other life of promotion if you get published. It’s a lot!
Thank you for sharing these tips! I especially like the idea of always having bookmarks at the ready. I look forward to reading A Book for Bear.
What a wonderful post! Thank you for your enthusiasm, your postive attitude, and a boatload of actionable advice. I feel like I can actually do some of these things – it’s as easy as updating my business cards and keeping some in my purse. I need to add a QR code for my website! Wait – I need to update my website! It never occurred to me to note down promotional ideas while working on a manuscript. I love this, because that’s when ideas are springing up like daffodils. And phrases that capture the essence of the book – I love that too. I come up with a theme-phrase for each story, and have it at the top of my drafts, so I’ve already started. Reading, friendship, and a superhero BEAR:) I’m eager to read A Book for Bear.
Gosh, Ellen it sounds do-able put like this. Thanks for all the tips. I love that your book reflects so much of yourself.
Thanks for the great tips!
So much good stuff in here! Thanks so much for taking the time to share them with us!
Thank you for sharing the very helpful information and good advice.
Here here! Excellent advice! On that note, be sure to like and follow me, everyone! (I kid, I kid)
Thank you, Ellen, for a great post! I enjoyed all of your tips. I am pre-published, but have been trying to gain confidence when it comes to connecting with my local children’s librarian. Your post gave me a boost to keep going!
Congratulations on the adorable book, and what a fun post! Thanks so much for writing!
Thank you for all the helpful information and especially the tips on promoting one’s books. Congratulations!
Thanks for your post, Ellen! I’m filing these tips away for my next book. Book promotion and marketing can be so overwhelming! “A Book for Bear” sounds wonderful. I’m looking forward to reading it to my daughter!
Great tips! Thanks, Ellen!
Thanks for sharing your marketing and promotional tips. It’s always helpful to see what other authors do to promote their books.
Thanks for all your suggestions. I have a lot of work to do!
Will be rereading this.
Dear Ellen,
Thanks for these suggestions in an area which is my main dread. Having an example of what to do is such a help!
Great ideas! I loved your post- it was so good I had to print it out to keep track and remember all the good ideas.
Great ideas! I loved your post- it was so good I had to print it out to keep track and remember all the good ideas
Thank you so much for sharing your advice! I’m so far away from the possibility of a published book… but I loved the advice to “be optimistic” and start thinking about it. We wouldn’t be here in the 12X12 community if we didn’t want to publish a book, right? I also really appreciate knowing that you can power through being an introvert. As a fellow introvert (and social media avoider), the idea of promoting myself is terrifying. But the idea of chit chatting with bookstore owners and librarians is exciting! So, maybe I just need to change my perspective.
Great post!
Very inspiring, Ellen. Congrats on your book! Looking forward to reading it soon.
Hi, Ellen, I like the advice of sharing your promo ideas with your critique group. I had never thought of that and will tuck that idea away. I am also a lover of books, butterflies, bees, and bats! Bears, too! The B’s have it! Now I need to get B-zee (busy) and do more writing. Thanks for the tips.
Thankyou Ellen for sharing all this. Your energy and enthusiasm are infectious. I’m looking forward to reading A Book for Bear.
Thank you, Ellen, for sharing your insights on marketing your own work. And, congratulations on the awards and recognition. This showcases how hard work, persistence, and engagement accomplishes goals. Thanks again and congrats!
Thank you for your suggestions on promotion. I am planning my very first book launch for the end of this month, and it is equal parts thrilling and terrifying!!
Thank you for this excellent list of tips, Ellen. I’ve taken thorough notes and I’m tucking it away for someday, hopefully!
Thanks for all these suggestions! Community and connections are so important in this industry.
As an introvert, I appreciate this approachable list of marketing actions. I will also take to heart that you wish you had started earlier. I’ll get going on the things that I can do now. Summer will be a great time to get some of this done!
I love all of your suggestions, Ellen, but I think #3 was my favorite. I’m always thinking of ideas so creating a list specifically for promotional ideas will be so fun to fill out as I go! (Which also means I really liked suggestion #6 as well.)
Thank you for these helpful and timely ideas!
Congratulations on your book and thanks for sharing your experience and for the advice.
Thanks for sharing your ideas and especially for the tip about getting started early!
Congratulations on your book. I reserved a copy from my library.
Thank you for your promotional tips. ( I hope to be using them sometime soon.)
Ellen, I LOVE YOUR LOOK-ALIKE OUTFIT!!!! (Yes, I’m screaming with excitement.) What a fun idea!
Thanks for reminding me to ACT and APPRECIATE.
Hope to see you in a bookstore one day!
Thank you, Ellen. I am still in the agent shopping stage, but your blog has given me an important glimpse into the world of book promotion. I was not aware of all the possibilities. If I have ever have a debut book, I want to dress up and make activity sheets…just two of the great ideas I gleaned from your advice.
Congratulations, Ellen! Thank you for these amazing tips! You’ve motivated me to get going … !