Free Options for Authors to Market Their Books

Like everyone else these days, authors must do more marketing with less money. This calls for ever more creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. In fact, it helps if you kick the box around a bit. Here are a few additional options for free author marketing that just might help you sell a few more books.

Link swapping is most often used by online marketers to drive their search enging rank up but it can also work with authors. When I list my available books in the margin on my website I stiill have room for more. Why not make use of that space by placing links to my friends' books as well? It doesn't cost me a thing and helps them out too. If you feel the need to monetize, just get an affiliate account. You'll still be helping other writers and making a few pennies off their sales.

If you're a writer but you aren't blogging then you'd better get to it! Blogging is great way to keep your website fresh and your readers engaged. Even if you aren't published yet, blogging is a great way to share pieces of your writing, build a rapport with new readers and keep people posted on where you are in the publishing journey. A blog is also a great way for prospective agents and publishers to see who you are and how you engage readers. They aren't just looking for talented writers anymore. They're also looking for writers who can pull their own weight in the public relations arena.

We all know the value of video in selling books. Book trailers have been around for a while and are here to stay. The problem with book trailers is the cost involved in making them. Many authors are taking their work to YouTube without spending a dime. During a time when the national economy smply is not allowing for the big budget book tours of yesteryear and more and more authors are running with epublishers, virtual readings on YouTube are poised to become a great free marketing tool. They cost nothing to produce and allow your readers insight into how you meant the words to be read.

These video readings can be posted on your website, YouTube and other video outlets, linked on your blog and inserted into your e-newsletter.

Social communities like Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace and Facebook should be in every author's marketing toolbox. These are the basics every writer should have whether they are published or not. In fact, the best time to establish yourself in these networks is before you seek representation and publication.

Get outside the box and explore every option that will help you connect with more readers. After all, reaching out to readers is what being a writer is all about and more of that means sales. What are you waiting for?