Seven Tips on Promotion as a Self-Publishing Author

1. A Website or Blog

   Every writer should have a personal website or blog for people to find. It's a chance for them to get a taste of your particular writing style, and the quickest way for them to find what you have available for sale.
   
   Content truly is king. Post excerpts from both finished works and works in progress. Write entries about your progress, your characters or their worlds. Mention the music you're listening to as you write, or other authors/books you enjoy.

2. Writing Sites

   Join sites like Booksie or Writing. The downside? You will be "competing" with thousands of other writers for visitors' attention. The upside? People go to those sites specifically to find new authors to read! So make your blurbs eye-catching to reel them in. Offer excerpts, short stories, or even the first chapter of a work you have for sale.

3. Amazon.com

   No, really! Have you heard of their Digital Text Platform? You sign up, submit your e-books for conversion to Kindle editions, which is their cute little digital reading device. The pros? It's Amazon! They are well-known, well-publicized and have a gigantic customer base. I sell on there; I mean, my Kindle editions sell on there. I've been amazed by the sales, considering I'm pretty much an unknown author.
   
   Selling on Amazon doesn't prevent you from selling your work elsewhere. You just have to keep the price consistent across the board.
   
   Cons? DRM, or Digital Rights Management. People are throwing fits over this topic all over the Net. My opinion? It's my work, I want my rights to it protected. It's not like I'm going to become a millionaire as a self-publishing author, you know. So anyone infringing my copyrights is cutting into my potential profit. "Nuff said?
   
   Also, less profit per sale. Amazon keeps 65% of each sale, which means you receive 35%. Before you say "No way!', think about this: Less profit each sale plus more sales can still equal more money in your pocket thanks to that giant customer base Amazon has, compared to less sales plus more profit each sale in other venues. Also, many of the small, online presses are now submitting their authors' e-books to the DTP program; if they're doing it, you should probably do it too, as a self-publishing author.

4. YouTube.com

   Create a video promoting your book and post that puppy to YouTube. It's becoming a stop for readers looking for something to read when searching. Due to the capability of embedding videos offered, your promotional video could conceivably end up on hundreds of blogs/websites. Viral marketing, anyone?
   
   The catch? Your video needs to be well-done. A little practice, a little looking around on YouTube will help you learn what you need to know about creating a great promo video for your book.

5. Other Blogs/Websites

   On your Net surfing adventures, make sure to sign guestbooks or leave comments. Put your blog or website's URL into the provided box: visitors will see it, and depending on your comments, might just decide to go have a look. It's free and easy.

6. Linking/Cross-Promotion

   One of the easiest ways to promote yourself is to be nice to other writers. Did you find a blog you enjoyed reading? Write a post about it on your own, including a link for readers to go have a look for themselves. Post a link to it on your website. Trade links for your blogroll.

7. Join Some Groups and Message Forums

   Most have a signature area that will automatically be included in all your posts. Put a link to your site or blog, or create a banner/button to promote your site and/or books, and then participate in discussions. It's that easy.

I hope these tips help you in your self-promotional efforts.