Guest blogging is one of my favorite book promotion tactics for all authors because it’s targeted. The more targeted your efforts, the more likely you are to reach the people who will love your book.

Problem is, many novelists don’t write guest posts. And those who do usually contribute to their friends’ blogs or write for genre blogs.

And that’s all good.

But you know what’s even better?

Adding topic specific blogs to your list of potential sites for fiction guest blogging.

Look for the nonfiction nuggets

Novels are often built with or around a wide range of nonfiction subjects and themes. These are what I call the “nonfiction nuggets” in your book. They’re a tool you can use to expand your reach both with the press and topic bloggers.

You can usually find your book’s nonfiction nuggets in its:

• Professions
• Real-life settings
• Hobbies
• Medical conditions
• Industries
• Themes
• Conflicts

Once you identify your nonfiction elements (see the exercise below), you can match them to blogs on those subjects.

What does this look like in practice?

Here are a couple of real-life examples of how you can apply this approach.

I just finished reading Liz Alterman’s “The Perfect Neighborhood.” It has a key storyline revolving around a kindergartner walking home from school alone. The author could write a parenting blog post about what she uncovered during her research about how parents handle the walking-home-from-school situation.

She could also blog for a parenting site about how her experiences with cliquey school mothers informed her character development (because they probably did).

My friend Mollie Cox Bryan writes cozy mysteries. Her Cumberland Creek series is about a group of scrapbookers; the Cora Crafts books are craft retreat mysteries.

For the Cumberland Creek series, she can guest blog for blogs dedicated to scrapbooking because, of course, scrapbookers who read cozy mysteries are the people who are most likely to love her books. That logic applies to the Cora Crafts books, too.

There are so many possibilities for every book.

Complete this fiction guest blogging exercise

How do you apply this to your fiction? Try this exercise:

• Skim through your novel to find “nonfiction nuggets.”
• List them. I’m sure you can find at least three (and probably many more).
• Search for and list blogs on that topic by Googling the topic and the word “blogs.”
• If you’re not familiar with “pitching” bloggers, follow the instructions for doing so in my free report, “Virtual Book Tour Basics: How to Connect with Your Audience and Sell More Books Without Leaving Home.”

Then the fun begins: writing your guest post.

Download my free Guest Blogging Cheat Sheet now

As a writer, you know that guest blogging involves more than just determining what you’ll blog about and who will be interested in that. You know that you have to deliver a guest post that your host will be proud to publish.

Start by reading the tips in my free “Guest Blogging Cheat Sheet.” It details nine best practices that will keep you from making mistakes that undermine your guest blogging success.

This cheat sheet, which you can download as a PDF file immediately, will help you deliver the guest post your host expects. It’s your shortcut to looking — and acting! — like a guest blogging pro.

The simple and easy process of identifying your book’s nonfiction topics and matching them to topic bloggers could vastly expand your reach to readers interested in something that plays a role in your story…and help you sell more books.

What are the nonfiction nuggets in your novel? Share one here in a comment! 

(Editor’s note: This article was first published in February 2017. It has been updated and expanded.)

13 fiction book marketing tips from an experienced novelist

By Victoria Jayne

Just six weeks after my debut novel was released, my publisher ended our contract.

Why?

I believe it’s because I didn’t have the faintest idea how to market my book. I did nothing the first three weeks. I relied on my publisher to do it all. Major fail on my part.

When I finally got on board, I flailed. Completely out of my depth, it was too little too late. I believe my royalty check for six weeks was something like $80.

I had spent significantly more than that in poorly targeted ads for those three weeks trying to figure out marketing.

I had to learn about book marketing

Since then, I’ve read blogs, listened to podcasts, and watched YouTube videos on marketing. I’ve joined Facebook groups, polled Twitter, and sought help in forums and writers groups. I even commissioned someone from Reedsy to teach me book marketing.

In that time, I released two more books and have spent thousands on marketing as I fumble my way through the business aspect of being an author (I don’t know about you, but 16-year-old me who dreamed of being an author didn’t dream about spreadsheets and cost-benefit analysis).

I’m not a best-seller. I’m not a marketing guru. I’ve learned more about what not to do than specific strategies that work over the past three years. However, I am an author in the trenches.

Here’s what I’ve discovered

One of the best things I’ve learned about the author community is that we are here to help each other. We’re not in competition with one another. My reader can be your reader, too, and vice versa. The best resources authors have in navigating the business are each other.

In that spirit, here are my top fiction book marketing tips for debut authors

1. Create a website

I use Wix. It has a free option, but I recommend upgrading to get rid of the Wix branding. Most of the podcasts I listen to recommended WordPress, but I found it too complicated to use. It should include a mailing list sign up and a contact option.

2. Set up social media accounts specifically for your author persona.

The thing about social media is that it will not grow your audience. Social media is how you engage the readers you already have. However, if you’re looking to find readers, it’s limited in its uses. However, I do firmly believe you need to be there. Readers, when they find you, will look for you there.

I am a big believer in separation between your private and public selves. If you’re using a pen name, set up social media in this name so your readers can find you.

Here’s my take on the social networks:

• Twitter – This is for networking with other authors and, in my opinion, will not be helpful in sales. #WritingCommunity is my favorite.
• Instagram – Book bloggers/bookstagrammers are great to follow and you can build a relationship with them by interacting with them early.
• Facebook – Join writing/author communities to start networking early. Learn from those who are already there. Join reading communities and start networking with readers early. Once readers see you as a person, they are more likely to support you later when you’re an author.
• Goodreads – This is more of a reader-based resource, not a marketing tool. You want to be there, but you most likely won’t get direct sales from it. Readers will find you there, but there’s nothing proactive you can do for them to find you, in my opinion.

3. Create a BookBub partner account for authors.

This will let subscribers to the BookBub daily email newsletter find and follow you. As with other social networks, the more followers you have, the better of a marketing tool it is for you.

When you have a new release, BookBub email blasts your followers about your release. In addition, the BookBub deal newsletter for readers is amazing. It’s extremely competitive and expensive, but I’ve heard it’s worth its weight in gold.

4. Use Booksprout (there is a free account option) to get reviews.

You can quote these reviews in teasers later.

5. Sign up for AllAuthor and BookBrush.

They have this option where you can get mockups of your book covers. So they will put your cover into a template of an e-book, paperback, or hardcover. They will do mockups for audiobooks and series clusters.

They also offer a bunch of creative art you can use for teasers and advertising when you get to that point later. BookBrush offers a free option that allows for a certain number of mockups per month.

6. Create a Canva design account.

There are free and paid versions. I prefer Canva to BookBrush when it comes to creating teasers and other designs meant to engage my audience. I find it easier to work with and it stores the designs I’ve made automatically and in a better fashion.

7. Use BookSweeps.

One of the most essential marketing tools you will ever have is your mailing list. This is the only way you will be able to directly communicate with your audience without the possibility of another platform’s algorithm filtering you out.

BookSweeps offers genre-specific sweepstakes geared toward either building your mailing list or your BookBub following. I do have to admit, you will get an impressive number of sign-ups (more than 800 both times I’ve done it). The list dwindles down due to unsubscribes and lack of engagement quickly, though. That said, I still recommend it as a starting point.

8. Sign up with Bookfunnel and StoryOrigin.

These are excellent tools for networking with other authors. You can join book fairs and participate in newsletter swaps. This means you will be tapping into other author’s audiences – getting your book in front of readers. Invaluable! Both of these options also offer newsletter building options as well.

9. Research book bloggers/booktubers/book podcasters in your genre.

Ask them to review your book. Make sure you comment and follow the comments when the content with your review comes out. Post it on your social media and in your newsletter when it comes out. Also, repost it a few months later.

Never, ever, ever pay for a review.

10. Research book blogs in your genre and pitch guest posts.

Share them with your social networks and in your newsletter. Also, share again a few months later. This should be free. I have never paid to do a guest post.

11. Sign up for a blog tour.

Silver Dagger Book Tours has a pay what you can option. I’ve used them twice and very much loved the results. Make sure you follow along your tour and post comments on each and engage with those who are there.

12. Don’t waste money on advertising, especially as a first-timer.

You’ll notice something lacking in my recommendations: ads. I don’t recommend them for a debut author who has one book to sell. They are a quick and easy way to spend money with little to no return.

They require a very specific set of skills. If you’re not targeting your audience correctly, you won’t sell anything. If you have the wrong graphic you won’t sell anything. If you have the wrong ad copy, you won’t sell anything. They’re hard.

13. Keep writing. Above all else, keep writing.

That means debut novels don’t earn what it cost to produce them. Self-published and traditional authors who make a living publishing do so after they’ve developed a substantial backlist.

So please, keep writing. Being an author is a marathon, not a sprint.

Market your books!

The reality of being an author is this: The majority of authors do not sell more than 100 copies of their debut novel in the first year.

If you want to do more than that, use my fiction book marketing tips and start promoting your novel. Then, please, report back here on your successes!

What’s your best book marketing tip? Please tell us in a comment! 

Let’s be honest: Marketing fiction is harder than marketing nonfiction.

That’s partly because it’s harder to find the readers, but it’s also because fiction relies so much on good word of mouth. Nothing can do more for your novel than friends telling friends how much they loved it.

And this is why fiction marketing mistakes can be a real problem. It’s hard enough as it is — you don’t want to do anything that will make it even harder.

One of those mistakes is reflected in this article title — I had to flag this with the word “fiction” to get your attention. Otherwise, you might have skipped over it, thinking it didn’t apply to you. Let me explain with mistake number one.

Mistake # 1: If the marketing tactic isn’t labeled “fiction,” you discount it.

I’ve lost track of the number of authors who have emailed me to say, “You have so much helpful information on your website but I don’t see much that applies to fiction.”

It’s there — they just don’t see it because it doesn’t shout FICTION!

Actually, most of what works for nonfiction book marketing also applies to fiction. Here are links to a few articles on this site as examples:

• “How to promote your book with tip sheets.” This tactic is effective for both fiction and nonfiction. The first three paragraphs of this article share how the author of a fictional children’s book used this tactic to get national media attention.
• “How to create shareable images with quotes.” While nonfiction authors might share tips or gems of wisdom from their books, novelists can share things said by characters (among other things).
• “How to get media exposure that sells more books.” The first tip — “Go from author to expert” — shouts “Nonfiction tip!” to novelists. But novelists often become experts on the topics and settings they write about, too, and can leverage that knowledge and current headlines to get free media exposure. It takes thought, for sure, but those who make the effort to follow the advice in this article are rewarded.

I see this as such a big problem that I’m going to add a topic category to this blog for “fiction,” then go back to old posts and label them for fiction so they’re better identified that way. I don’t want them to get overlooked simply because they don’t include the word “fiction.”

Mistake #2: Not learning how to market by email.

Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to:

• Build a fan base and stay connected to them
• Generate reviews
• Sell more books

And yet, fiction authors still avoid it. That’s partly because of the technology involved, but it’s also because there aren’t a lot of role models and success stories.

Case in point: I’m going to be recommending a colleague’s new email marketing training program for authors in a few weeks and wanted to provide you with extra content you would find helpful — a collection of sample author newsletters. I’ve searched for them in a number of ways, but I’m struggling to find good newsletters because it’s not a common author marketing tactic, especially with authors of fiction.

That’s a problem.

Mistake # 3: Not meeting with and talking to readers face-to-face.

It’s certainly easier to just stay at your keyboard and write. What’s more, writing is a “come as you are” experience — bad hair days and yoga pants are acceptable. Getting out and meeting people, on the other hand, takes planning, effort, and courage. Lots of courage.

But it’s worth it.

When you talk to readers face-to-face, you learn what they like and don’t like about your books.

You learn what they like about your genre and its most popular authors.

You learn what is happening in their lives — details that you can work into your stories so that they resonate with these readers and more who are just like them.

The more you interact with your readers or those who read your genre, the better able you are to produce books they will love and talk about.

Here are a few ways you can connect with readers in person:

• Invite them to a gathering to provide feedback. Author Chanin Kaye invited people she could trust to be honest to critique her book before final edit. They read the book, then gathered in her home for a group discussion. Kaye’s gathering was book-specific, but you can invite readers to discuss the genre instead of your books. Host it in your home, in a library function room, or at a bookstore.
• Plan a library or bookstore event with other local authors. Include presentations, workshops, and question-and-answer sessions.
• Attend book festivals and events. Go local or consider attending one of the larger national or regional events, including RT Con, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, or the Florida Book Festival.

It’s the start of a new year. Let it be the start of your new approach to selling more of your fiction, too. Our “Book Marketing 101 for Fiction: How to Build Book Buzz Basic E-course” teaches you how to find your audience plus what is and isn’t working for fiction promotion today.

What have you been doing to market your fiction that’s working for you?