5 WAYS TO GET YOUR NONFICTION BOOK NOTICED

 By Jennifer Swanson

Publication day! It’s something that all authors look forward to. It’s the day your amazingly awesome book is out in the world. (Come on, that’s how we all think of our books, right?) But the real question is, how do you find readers and get them to feel the same way? It takes work. 

Here are five ways to get notice for your book (and YOURSELF!)

1. Canva it up!  (Videos/graphics/pictures/and more)  

This is pretty much where everyone starts. You are willing to do anything and everything to get your book noticed. That includes making videos, cool graphics, joining a promo group… but YouTube? Sure. Why not give it a try. Here are a few tips:

• Canva is your friend! It’s one of the best, and more importantly easiest, ways to create great graphics. You can make all sizes of graphics to fit any social media platform—including blogs.
• You can also use Canva to create and edit videos! Is your book about the ocean and you have some cool video from your vacation of the sea? Use it to create a video with information from your book. Put that video on social media or even upload it to your YouTube channel.
• Canva is also a great place to create Pins for Pinterest (see #2 below)
• You can even make a book trailer on Canva if you really want to. There is sooo much you can do with this platform and most of it is FREE!

2. Pinterest – what’s that?

You may have heard of Pinterest, but how many of you are actually on it? Believe it or not, it’s the place to be if you write nonfiction books. Pinterest is all about promoting topics, information, and FUN activities. If this sounds like something your book has, then you should consider getting on Pinterest. Here are a few tips:

• The first step is learning to make a pin. If you don’t know how, there are tons of great videos to help. Just do a google search and find one.
• Create a few boards. That means pick a topic for your board (not your book!) and start adding pins. Be sure to follow others and add their pins to your board.
• It’s all about the tags. Be sure to add tags to your pins so that they will show up in topic searches.
• Not sure how to get your information seen? Click on the analytics tab at the top of your page. This has TONS of great information about what topics are hot now, what topics will be hot in the future, and when you should post your pins.
• Pinterest can require a bit of a learning curve, but if you can figure it out and post regularly, you can get a lot in return. My Pinterest page regularly has over 25k views a month. During Earth Day last year, I hit 75k views. https://www.pinterest.com/jenswan1222/

3. Get on a Podcast!

Most people have done blog tours for their book releases. You answer a few questions about the book, your writing process, and then maybe offer a giveaway. These are still done and are a good way to reach an audience.

But podcasts are a much more exciting way to reach a much larger audience. They can be either video or just audio only, but podcasts are a way to showcase not only your book, but yourself, too. Here are a few tips for an entertaining and engaging podcast interview:

• Listen to a few podcasts by this host before going on the show. That way you’ll know what to expect
• Make sure the area in the video is neat and showcases your book in the background. Then have a copy of your book to hold up during the interview.
• Keep your answers informative but not too long. Don’t be afraid of silence. This allows the host to ask more questions. An engaging exchange is much more fun to listen to, than having one person go on and on.
• Have FUN! Be prepared with a few fun stories to share—about yourself or your book. Maybe even have a few books to recommend that aren’t yours, but would pair nicely with yours.
• Podcasts are growing! Just do a search of your favorite podcast source (iTunes, Spotify, etc.) Then send an email to the podcast pitching yourself. What have you got to lose?

4. Promote Yourself

Instead of promoting one book, promote yourself. Speaking at an event—library, museum, organizations, or even at book festivals or corporate events is a great way to get noticed.

• Check to see if your area does a summer reading program at your library. If they do, apply to be a presenter. (Check by early February, as many book out that far). This is usually a paying gig and it gets you out in the community. Plus, the library will buy your books
• Is there a local organization that is interested in what you do? Pitch yourself as a speaker. Come up with a fun (and pertinent) topic. But don’t focus on your book
• Does your book fit an event at a museum. Like World Ocean Day? Black History month? Space week? See if they need someone to speak there.
• Apply for book festivals— and don’t be afraid to ask them if they offer small stipends for travel.

5.  Hire Your Own Publicist

While this might not be the first choice for everyone, sometimes investing in hiring a publicist for a short time can be quite helpful. Your book gets exposure to places you can’t get into by yourself. You gain contacts from the exposure that you can use for your next book. This exposure can lead to paying gigs. I’ve had all of these happen. You just never know.

• Blue Slip Media https://www.blueslipmedia.com/
• Kidsbuzz https://www.authorbuzz.com/kids/

 So, what do YOU do to promote your book? Tell us below and share with everyone!

 

 

About the Author:

Jennifer Swanson is an award-winning children’s author and podcaster. A self-professed science geek, she has written 50 books for kids, mostly about STEAM. Her books have won a Kirkus Best Books for 2021, a Gold Parent’s Choice Award, multiple NSTA Best STEM awards, and received many other recognitions.

She is the creator of the Solve It for Kids podcast, the STEM Tuesday blog, and STEAMTeam Books. Jennifer routinely teaches at the Highlights Foundation and has presented at the Library of Congress’ National Book Festival and been on NPR’s Science Friday radio show. You can learn more about her here: www.jenniferswansonbooks.com