100 Tasks to Grow an Audience for Your Book

Try to add as many of these as possible to your Book Marketing Action Plan. Keep in mind that marketing nonfiction is a marathon. You don’t have to accomplish every task immediately. But you do need to carve out time and resources to make book marketing a priority if you want to sell more books.

Be clear about your target (niche) audience and spend time, online or in person, where they are.
Participate in online groups (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.).
Start your own group on Facebook or LinkedIn.
Add an email sign up box to your website.
Add an email sign up box to your Facebook page. Tools like Constant Contact make this easy.
Frequently share a link to your email sign up form via all of your social media channels.
Develop a campaign to constantly grow your email list, such as hosting free webinars or teleseminars and requiring registration to participate.
Leverage your email list by being strategic with your content. Share helpful information and resources. Always remember to serve your audience.
Host your own podcast. You can distribute via Liberated Syndication.
Be a guest on other people’s podcasts. Find shows on iTunes.
Pitch yourself as a guest on internet radio shows like those on Blog Talk Radio.
Be a guest on teleseminars and webinars hosted by your peers.
Give away an information product, such as a free report, worksheets, checklists or a whitepaper. (Don’t forget to require registration to capture email addresses.)
Include mentions throughout your book asking readers to review it on Amazon, Goodreads, etc.
Include a bonus offer in your book that brings readers to your website, such as a downloadable list of resources.
Sell downloadable information products that meet the needs of your target audience.
Leverage direct mail campaigns—postcards are an affordable and effective option.
Ask readers to tell a friend about your book.
Partner with peers who reach your audience.
Create a YouTube channel and share videos frequently.
Start using Periscope and Facebook Live.
Update your blog at least two to three times per week. Statistically, the more you update your blog, the more traffic your site will receive.
Always include an image with each blog post and tag it with relevant key words for that page.
Write compelling blog post titles that make people want to read more.
Ask blog readers a question and invite them to leave a comment.
Share blog post links across all of your social media networks.
Engage with blog comments—respond to each.
Once a blog post is over 30 days old, publish it on LinkedIn Pulse.
Conduct give-aways and contests on your blog.
Hire contractors to help you manage your website, conduct research, do graphic design projects and more via Upwork.
Invite guest contributors to your blog and then ask them to promote the link to their own audience.
Post compelling comments on peer and major news blogs.
Pitch yourself as a speaker at relevant events where your audience spends time.
Always provide a memorable handout to audiences where you speak that includes tips or information they will want to keep, plus your bio and contact information.
Leverage connections from your past schools and employers to seek out speaking and other promotional opportunities.
Generate book reviews on an ongoing basis by contacting Amazon reviewers and offering a review copy.
Leverage review services such as NetGalley and Goodreads. Also download our report on 50 ways to generate book reviews.
Send review copies of your book to bloggers in your industry.
Pursue traditional publicity with print, radio and television.
Ensure you have a consistent bio and website URL across your social media platforms.
Have custom social media headers designed at Fiverr.
Participate on Twitter and tweet at least three times per day. Monitor Twitter activity with Tweetdeck.
Pre-schedule your tweets and social media posts with a tool such as Hootsuite.
Schedule retweets of your past blog archives on Twitter. WordPress users can use the Revive Old Post
Host a Twitter chat.
Post engaging content to Facebook several times each week.
Invest in Facebook advertising to boost posts and reach more of your audience. (It works!)
Make sure your LinkedIn profile has a compelling title and plenty of keyword-rich content.
Import your contacts to LinkedIn so that you can connect with your network.
Get in the habit of adding new contacts in LinkedIn when you return from events or connect with new people.
Ask readers and clients to write recommendations for you on LinkedIn.
If you’re targeting a younger audience or have a visual component to what you do, start utilizing Instagram.
Pin images from your blog to Pinterest.
Create keyword-rich boards on Pinterest.
Optimize your website with relevant keyword phrases to increase traffic.
Make sure your website is mobile-friendly (the size should automatically adjust when viewing on a phone or tablet). If it isn’t, it’s time for a re-design. Google is penalizing sites that aren’t compliant.
Conduct surveys to learn from your audience and find ways to meet their needs and challenges.
Teach courses and workshops for your audience. Check out Teachable or Kajabi to host your online courses.
Participate in book awards programs to gain recognition: Nonfiction Book Awards, Ben Franklin Awards.
Host a booth at an industry event or trade show where your target audience will be.
Give away copies of your book to media pros, influential industry people, bloggers and anyone willing to review or promote.
Create branded photo memes or infographics that will get shared via social media.
Always offer to take a photo with readers and encourage them to share on social media.
Post photos of you with your readers on social media and tag them when possible.
Host a promotion challenging readers to share a photo with your book—offer a reward for best entries.
Hire an experienced virtual assistant to help with promotion. Sources: Authors Assistants, International Virtual Assistants Association.
Launch and promote services related to your book, such as coaching or consulting. You can register as an expert consultant with Clarity.
If you create slide decks, share them on Slideshare.
Review and refresh your website periodically to make sure it accurately reflects where you are in your career.
Sign up for media updates from HARO.
Join Proftnet for media leads. (Note that Authority members of the Nonfiction Authors Association receive a generous discount for Profnet).
Send press releases via PRNewswire and/or PRWeb.
Whenever you receive media coverage, post a link and/or image to the media page on your website.
Start a local group via Meetup. This is a great way to get known in your community.
Join trade associations where your audience spends time.
Write for industry publications (trade association newsletters, magazines). The Nonfiction Authors Association is accepting new contributors.
Write guest posts for influential blogs that reach your target readers.
Conduct a virtual book tour.
Host a fundraiser for your favorite nonprofit.
Give away the first two chapters of your book to new mailing list subscribers.
Invest in Google ads.
Register to answer questions on Quora.
Host a free ebook giveaway to revive an older title that is no longer selling well. Offer it as a PDF for people who register on your website.
Create landing pages for giveaways, webinars and more with Leadpages.
Give copies of your book as give-aways or door prizes at events.
Ask friends and family to help promote. Make it easy by providing copy they can use for email and social media.
Leverage your Amazon Author Central account by updating the content on your book’s page and adding editorial reviews.
When making an appearance of any kind, dress professionally, remove your ego and leave people with a good impression.
Invest in promotional “swag” like bookmarks, coffee mugs, or unique items that relate to your book.
Make sure you have a great book sales page on your own website. It should include the jacket copy, reviews, a cover image and a link to purchase online.
Get big-name authors from your industry to endorse your next book (you’d be surprised by how easy this can be).
Hire a professional publicist.
Create buzz-worthy companion products such as apps, games, workbooks or card decks.
Contact reporters directly and pitch story ideas that you can contribute to.
Purchase a media list from Gebbie Press.
Pitch yourself to give a TEDx talk (most TEDx chapters release a periodic call for speakers).
Create alerts at Talkwalker so you can monitor when someone mentions your name, your book or your website link online—and then you can go thank them!
Join author groups where you can learn, connect and grow (like the Nonfiction Authors Association!).
Commit to doing a minimum of three things each day to promote your books and author career.
Analyze your marketing campaigns and do more of what works!