As an author you will need to promote your book. However, authors are not promotional gurus, they are writers. So how do you go about this, or more importantly, what should you not do?

Not identifying the name of the author either on the eBook cover (most independent authors publish via the eBook format) or not identifying the name of the author on their website. Readers like to know who they’re purchasing books from.

Not using an eBook cover image. This is a big no. You must use a cover image for an eBook especially as readers will link the image to the book and a cover makes it more personal as well as appearing more professional.

Not creating an author website. You really must create an author website if you want to promote your book. People like to find out about an author and being able to read about the person who has written the book that they love helps you to sell more books. An author website also helps to promote the author and their work.

Not responding to blog comments or questions on your website. You really need to engage with your readers and answer any questions or comments that are posted. Readers will soon lose interest if there is no interaction and people visiting the site will be less likely to do so if the content is not kept up to date. You cannot afford to be stagnant.

The one thing that you must not so is do nothing; you have to be proactive if you want to sell your book. There is absolutely no point in you writing a brilliant world changing book if no one knows about it. If you are not lucky enough to have one of the big publishing houses behind you and the help of a literary agent, then you need to do all of the hard work yourself in promoting your book and getting it out there.

What you must do is: Create an author website and possibly blog as already discussed to help gain readership and interest in your book. Organise a Q & A session at the local library or bookstore. People in the community like to know about the next ‘big thing’ and will be interested to find out more about the local person who has written the book. Organise a promotional tour to help sell your book and ‘get it out there’. Make bookmarks and flyers which can be placed in local libraries and in bookstores. Chat with other bloggers who are fellow authors and see if you can organise a book blogging tour to gain the interest of potential readers.

The main piece of advice when trying to promote your book is to do all that you can in the time available and with the resources that you have. Under no circumstances should you do absolutely nothing.