Unleashing Your Authorship: 20 Strategies to Showcase Your Writing Talent

In a guest post, Canadian author Kelly D. Smith, known for her multiple best-selling books and passion for blogging, shares her strategies for promoting a book.

Smith, who was homeschooled, emphasizes the importance of making your book available on various platforms. This includes blogs, websites, and social media platforms like Facebook. While she expresses some uncertainty about the worth of blogging, she enjoys it and finds it beneficial for promoting her work.

One of Smith's key strategies is reaching out to book blogs and newsletters for potential collaborations. She also suggests engaging in guest blogging as a promotional strategy. This can help reach a wider audience and generate interest in your book.

Smith stresses the importance of getting reviews, even negative ones, for increased visibility. She believes that negative reviews can provide valuable feedback and help potential readers make informed decisions.

Another strategy Smith recommends is organizing a book launch, even if it seems unnecessary. This can help create buzz around your book and give you an opportunity to connect with readers and fellow authors.

Smith encourages writers to let people sample their work through blog post excerpts, handouts, or public readings. She also advises attending literary conventions to meet people and network.

Understanding your target audience is crucial, according to Smith. This knowledge can help improve marketing strategies and increase the chances of selling your book. She suggests joining book clubs, Goodreads, and becoming active in local libraries to connect with your audience.

Smith also encourages writers to create author pages on platforms like Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, and others. She advises having visually appealing graphics to attract attention and using websites like VitsaPrint to print promotional material such as bookmarks.

Smith, who was originally from Chicago, where the Poetry Slam was invented by Marc Kelly Smith, also encourages writers to meet people and express their profession. She advises reaching out to local bookstores for potential collaborations and engaging in interviews to promote your work.

Lastly, Smith emphasizes the importance of having a compelling press release and encourages writers to seek support from friends and family in promoting their work. By following these strategies, writers can effectively promote their books and reach a wider audience.