Let us guess.
You wrote the book. You edited it. You published it.
And now… nothing.
No sales. No visibility. Maybe a few clicks from friends and family, that’s it.
Authors get stuck exactly at this phase. Not because your book is bad. But because nobody told you what comes after publishing.
The truth is Publishing your book is step one. Selling it is a completely different game.
If you’re still in the writing stage and haven’t published your book yet. Start with our guide on How to Write a Book first, then come back here when you’re ready to sell it.
But if your book is already live, and you’re wondering “now what?” this guide is for you.
Book marketing isn’t just ads. It’s not just posting on Instagram. And it’s definitely not “hoping Amazon figures it out.”
Book marketing = visibility + positioning + conversion.
Think of it like this:
Your book = the product
The platform (Amazon, your website) = the shelf
The reader = the buyer
Marketing is everything that gets your book in front of the right reader, makes them interested, and then convinces them to buy it.
Most authors confuse promotion with marketing.
Promotion = “Hey, my book is out!”
Marketing = “This is exactly why this book is for you.”
If you’re feeling stuck already, that’s normal. Nobody teaches this part properly to authors.
Marketing does not fix a weak product.
At Digital Scribblers, we have seen authors spend hundreds of dollars on advertising and marketing without any direction. Authors do not get anything in return, not because their budget is small, but because their book itself is sometimes not ready to be marketed.
Before you spend a single dollar or hour on marketing your book, run through these five checkpoints for your book:
Does your book cover look like it belongs on a shelf next to a traditionally published book? If not, you need to work on it. Your book cover must be genre-appropriate and professionally designed.
A weak cover silently kills conversions.
A book cover can cost anywhere between $100 to $3,000+, depending on the genre, theme, and layout. You can read our detailed blog on book cover design costs to learn more.
A blurb is a short description of your book, typically found on the back cover, and usually 150–200 words long.
Think of it as your book’s first impression. A great blurb hooks the reader instantly, matches the tone of your book, and leaves them wanting more.
A strong blurb should:
Is your book priced competitively for your genre and format? Pricing does more than cover costs; it signals value. If similar books in your category are priced at $2.99–$6.99 and your book is priced at $9.99, with no reviews, you’re creating friction for buyers.
Check what the top books in your category are priced at and position your book within that range, especially if you’re a new author.
For eBooks, most authors follow a few proven price points:
As a new author, aim for the lower end of your genre’s price range, but not so low that it undermines your book’s value.
Social proof isn’t optional; it’s essential. If your book has zero reviews, even an interested reader will hesitate to purchase it.
No reviews = no trust.
Before you start marketing, aim to collect some early reviews by:
No reviews means no trust. A small but genuine collection of reviews is the green light a stranger needs to buy your book confidently.
Platforms like Amazon and Apple Books offer a “Look Inside” feature that lets readers see inside your book before they decide to buy it.
The question is simple: Does your first page hook them? Does your opening chapter build trust?
If the start of your book is slow, confusing, or poorly formatted, you lose readers who were already interested enough to click.
Your book’s sample read is your real test. If someone opens your book, they should feel pulled in, not stuck reading pages of setup or backstory.
If you’ve checked the five boxes above, or at least know what needs fixing, then we can talk marketing.
Let’s start with the one every author asks about first: Ads.
Paid advertising can work incredibly well for books, but it’s where most authors burn money with nothing to show for it. The reason isn’t usually the platform. It’s either that the ad is sending people to a non-converting book page, or they’re targeting the wrong audience entirely.
Each social platform has a different reader behavior, and understanding that matters.
Facebook and Instagram are the most reliable social platforms for direct-response book ads, especially for fiction and self-help genres. Readers on these two platforms are used to clicking through to product pages.
Lookalike audiences based on similar authors or books can be incredibly effective here.
TikTok works differently. It’s built on organic momentum, but paid ads are growing on the platform. If your book fits a trend or a strong visual hook, TikTok can be explosive. The challenge is that TikTok skews younger and very genre-specific (romance, fantasy, and YA tend to dominate).
Reddit is underused and underrated. Targeted ads in reading communities or genre subreddits (r/Fantasy, r/suggestmeabook, r/Kindle) can reach highly engaged readers actively looking for their next book.
If your book is on Amazon (and it should be), Amazon ads are not optional.
Amazon ads place your book in front of people who are already on the platform, looking for books. That’s buyer intent, which is much warmer than someone scrolling Instagram who may not be in a book-buying mood at all.
The two most effective Amazon ad types are;
Target competitor authors, target your own categories, and target keyword searches related to your book’s themes. Start small ($5–10/day), monitor what converts, kill what doesn’t, scale what does.
Note: There is a learning curve. Amazon ads reward patience and data. Give campaigns at least 30 days before drawing conclusions.
If you only build one thing from this entire guide, build an email list.
Not followers. Not likes. Not subscribers on a platform you don’t own. An email list of people who permitted you to show up directly in their inbox.
Here’s the truth most social media gurus won’t tell you: an email list of 500 engaged readers will outsell a social following of 5,000 passive scrollers every single time.
You own the list. You’re not at the mercy of an algorithm. You can reach those readers whenever you want.
How to build it:
Instead of trying to figure everything out from scratch, follow a proven approach. The guide from Reedsy: How to Build an Author Email List breaks down exactly how to build, grow, and use your email list as an author.
Focus on getting this right. A strong email list becomes one of your most reliable sales channels over time.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a long-term strategy that brings readers to your book without ongoing ad spend. When done right, it becomes one of the most reliable traffic sources.
SEO works by creating content that ranks on Google so that people can find you organically. For authors, the most practical way to do this is through blogging.
You’ve already written a book, so writing more may not sound appealing. The difference here is purpose. Blog content is shorter, focused, and designed to attract the right readers.
Start by understanding what your audience is searching for. A book about grief connects with searches like “how to cope with loss” or “grief journaling exercises.” A historical thriller connects with searches like “best historical fiction thrillers” or “books set in WWII France.”
Create blog posts around topics related to your genre. Answer the questions clearly, and include your book naturally within the content. Over time, the posts begin bringing in readers who are already interested in your subject.
Communities play a direct role in book sales. Many authors ignore them and miss out on readers who are already active and engaged.
Goodreads is one of the most concentrated platforms for serious readers. Create and claim your author profile, stay active, share updates, and engage in discussions within your genre. The goal is not to promote aggressively, but to participate as a reader who also writes books.
Book clubs are another strong channel. Both online groups and local clubs regularly choose books to read and discuss. A single book club can bring 15 to 30 sales, along with word-of-mouth recommendations. Reach out, introduce your book, and offer to join a discussion or Q&A session. Many groups appreciate direct interaction with authors.
Substack is a growing platform where writers and authors build their own audience through newsletters. It allows you to stay in touch with readers, share ideas, and promote your work in a space where people expect to hear from writers. Substack works well for nonfiction authors.
In-person events still matter. Being physically present creates a level of connection that online marketing cannot fully replace.
Book fairs, library events, bookstore signings, and community festivals give you a chance to meet readers face-to-face. When someone hears you talk about your book and gets it signed, the connection becomes personal. That reader is far more likely to remember you, recommend your book, and support your work.
Start local. Your city’s literary community is more active than you realize. Look for:
Bring your best self, your best story about the book, and a good pen.
There comes a point in every author’s journey where doing it all alone stops making sense. You have put in the effort, tried the strategies, and still feel like you have hit a wall. That is exactly where a professional book marketing agency steps in.
An experienced book marketing company brings more than just tactics. They bring data, industry relationships, tested systems, and the kind of insight that only comes from running dozens of campaigns across different genres and audiences.
Working with an book publishing agency makes sense when:
At Digital Scribblers, we have worked with enough authors to know what moves the needle and what does not, and we are transparent about both. Our Book Marketing Services are built around real campaigns with real outcomes, not generic packages.
One campaign we are particularly proud of is the David L. Ramey Memoir Marketing Campaign. It is a detailed, honest look at how we approached a memoir launch, what strategies we tested, what worked, and the results we delivered by the end.
You’re not going to figure out book marketing in a week. That expectation alone leads to frustration.
You will need to test different marketing channels. Some will not work. That does not mean you failed. It means you learned what does not work for your book.
Most authors quit too soon. They try something for a short time, see limited results, and assume it is not working. In reality, marketing builds slowly. Small wins add up. A few readers today can turn into many more over time through recommendations and word of mouth.
Book marketing is tough. It can be boring, frustrating, and even a little painful to see “0 sales” on a Tuesday morning. But every great author you admire once sat exactly where you are.
Success in the book industry isn’t about luck; it’s about persistence and professional execution.
Take it step by step.
You don’t need everything to work. You need something to start working and then build from there.
Book marketing is the full system of making your book visible, desirable, and easy to buy for the right readers.
There’s no single best strategy. It depends on your genre, your audience, your budget, and how you’re wired.
If your foundation is strong and you lack time or direction, then yes. If your book isn’t ready yet, no marketing will fix that.
Yes. Each format is treated as a separate product and requires its own ISBN.
Then don’t start by trying to build one for the sake of the book. That takes years, and you need readers now. Instead, focus on channels where someone else already has the audience.
Track the right metrics for each channel. For ads: cost per click, click-through rate, and conversion to purchase. For email: open rate and click rate for SEO: organic traffic and keyword rankings. For Goodreads: reviews, ratings, and list adds.
Turn your manuscript into a professionally published book with Digital Scribblers. Contact us today and take the first step toward becoming a published author!
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