Instagram is a great platform for indie authors to increase readership and engage with the reading community. Just take a look at the #bookstagram hashtag and you’ll find over 30 million photos posted of books, reading spots, cover reveals, book teaser trailers, and more. With the following Instagram tips for authors, you can boost your presence on Instagram, gain followers who will look forward to your posts, and refine your author brand. Top 7 Instagram Tips for Authors 1. Think of Your Feed as a Whole People are endlessly scrolling through Instagram. If they see a photo of yours under a ..read more

“How I Sell Self-Published Books Using Social Media” was written by author Laura Burton. Laura writes clean romance and poetry for bereaved families. Check out her “Love Me” series here, which is a collection of standalone romance novels packed with twists and surprises to keep you turning the page. Laura’s new sci-fi romance Love Me, Dreamy will be released July 19 and is available for pre-order on Amazon. If you want to sell self-published books using social media, the first question you should ask yourself is: Why Do People Use Social Media? To be entertained To be educated To be heard NO ..read more

“Using Crossovers to Promote Your Self-Published Series” was written by award-winning journalist and USA Today bestselling author Jeffery H. Haskell. He’s a lifelong lover of comic books and science fiction, and he owns his geek status by quoting Aliens and Star Trek at every given opportunity. Jeffery lives the dream of bringing his imagination to the page with his bestselling selling series, The Full Metal Superhero! As a kid, I was raised on a steady diet of comic books, TV shows, and the occasional movie. When I started reading, I learned on Amazing Spider-Man. I remember the first issue ..read more

You might be using Pinterest for recipes or wedding dress ideas, but did you know that it’s just as valuable a platform as Instagram to grow your brand as an author? Pinterest has over 70 million active users. Imagine how many readers you could reach by creating and using an account the same way you use Instagram for books. When used effectively, Pinterest can help improve your brand, boost discoverability, and allow you to interact with the reading community within your genre. This quick guide explores the essentials of Pinterest for authors, so you can get up and running with your own acco ..read more

As a reader, you may have participated in a Goodreads challenge, using it to motivate you to read at least two or three books a week. Or, you might use it every once in while when you’re looking for an inspirational quote to share on Instagram or Twitter. But as a self-published author, you have to think of Goodreads from a different perspective: boosting discoverability and improving your brand. Why is Goodreads Important for Self-Published Authors? When used effectively, Goodreads can be your secret weapon for boosting discoverability. Readers read reviews on Goodreads to find out if a book ..read more

As an author, you might be thinking, “Why should I waste my time on Instagram?” or “I’m on deadline. I don’t have time to tweet.” When used effectively, social media can dramatically boost discoverability and strengthen your author brand. You should make it a priority to schedule your Instagram posts, regularly update your blog, share interesting tips and stories on Twitter, and engage with fans on Facebook. Why is Social Media Important for Author Branding? This might seem like a waste of time or an optional part of being a successful author, but staying consistent in the social media game m ..read more

If you’re a self-published author and you don’t have a mailing list or newsletter set up, this should be your number-one priority. Why is a mailing list so important for authors? It allows you to directly target readers who enjoy your books, update your fans with new releases, and boost your leverage for professional collaborations. Trendy marketing tactics may come and go, but your mailing list will always remain one of your most powerful marketing tools. Mailing lists do require an initial time investment to set up; once you’ve done the hard part, you can sit back and collect those all-im ..read more

Think about every time you open a book: you probably skim through the first few pages until you reach chapter one. But what about the books you love? You likely go back to these pages (called “front matter” and “back matter”) to learn about the author, see if there are any intriguing dedications, and discover whether the author has other books to check out. This is why front/back matter is so important: it funnels readers to your website, prompts them to sign up for your mailing list, and guides them to your backlist. This comprehensive guide will explore topics like: What exactly is front ..read more

For many authors, public speaking is a source of anxiety. But effective communication skills are crucial, whether you’re networking with a small group, meeting readers at a book signing, or speaking onstage to a crowd of hundreds. Through effective public speaking, indie authors can influence others, control their branding, and most importantly – sell more books! In our upcoming FREE webinar, Adam Woods will be joined by two highly sought-after inspirational speakers for a Q&A panel discussion about how to sell more books through public speaking. This webinar is designed for authors of ..read more