Self-Help authors: How many times have you read about authoring a different type of format (like low content) and followed it down a rabbit hole? Let alone considering all those different ways to promote various books…
Writing self-help workbooks, planners, books and creating online courses is great — but getting people to know about them can be daunting. When contemplating book marketing, you hear about Facebook advertising, Instagram reels and Group curation methods. I followed many a fast-talking marketer down a new rabbit hole. But there is a much simpler method which I employ.
To prevent overwhelm in book launching, I choose TWO main social media outlets, plus talking to my local crew. After writing my self-help book, I take QUOTES or ideas from the book and turn them into fun content. I also offer a free Downloadable with the book. I organise my book launch promotions with a management tool such as Asana. I also make a one-sheet – also called an Advance Information sheet.
What is fun, creative content?
It’s content that takes barely any effort to produce. It’s in your zone of genius. And it capitalises on the research or work you’ve done.
Fun content can include blog posts, social media posts, informative videos, or podcasts that share interesting or entertaining information related to your book’s topic. The key is to create content that is relevant to your book’s topic, while also sharing insights and information that your readers will find valuable. They want to connect with you as a person first.
Benefits of sharing book snippets
This type of image or text content can help build your author brand and engage your audience, without requiring a large investment of time or money. By taking 1-3 hours each week to create fun and engaging content, you can expand your reach and build a loyal following of readers interested in your work.
Not only that, writing self-help and personal development (which is the wider area) allows you to teach others a few simple insights from the book/s. Try to find the area that offers a unique voice, one that says something a little different.
Neil Patel says that it’s not as complex as you think to grow your audience online. (Perfect grammar is not one of his strong points, he he).
One creative way to engage with your audience is by sharing quotes related to your book’s topic. These can be inspirational or thought-provoking and can help your readers to connect with your message on a deeper level. You can create these quotes using tools like Canva, or use quotes from your book and share them on your social media channels.
Another fun way to engage with your audience is by creating memes related to your book’s topic. Memes are a great way to inject humour into your messaging and can help your readers to relate to your message in a more lighthearted way. You can create your own memes using tools like Meme Generator or Imgflip, or simply find memes that you think will resonate with your audience and share them on your social media channels.
Finding little-known facts to share
Posting interesting facts related to your book’s topic is another way to engage with your audience and build your personal development brand. These can be research findings, amazing stats, or trivia related to your topic. These can help to establish your credibility and expertise in your field. You can find interesting facts by doing research online, for instance at Google Scholar, or by reading books and articles related to your topic. Try Psychology Today.
In addition to creating fun and engaging content, you can also offer free resources to your audience as a way to provide value and build trust. These resources can take many forms, such as worksheets, guides, or even mini-courses. By providing value and engaging with your audience in a fun and creative way, you can create a community of readers who are interested in your work and eager to learn more.
Learn more about this type of marketing
If you’re interested in learning more about how to create engaging content as an author, then look at our Book Launch Support. This reasonably priced package (in AUD) will teach you everything you need to know to build your new author brand and engage with your audience in a simple and fun way. Advising and share-screen training can be included to help newbies with social media marketing.
Even if we use the latest AI tools to speed up the creative process, we must rely on our own starting ideas and research. Joining concepts together is what our brain is good at!
In a coming course (Book Funnel Flow), we will cover these types of social media content: Authoritative (Informative), Controversy, or Trending.
What if you don’t want to go that deep? Well, Self-Help Book Marketing can be as simple as what my tips image illustrates – sharing a few rules from the book in a visually pleasing form.
Are you Writing Self-Help Now?
Further, if you write self-help, please note Jennifer is a Self-Help Book Editor. Besides writing her own books, My Personal Brand and Creative Ways with Money, Jen has edited these books:
- Edifying Success (not yet published) – developmental and line editing
- Navigating Change: My Story — line editing
- Soul Therapy – Rethinking Wellbeing — line editing
- Ignite your Power — comprehensive editing
- The Yay Mindset! — line editing
Some other interesting books:
- The Decision Expedition — line editing — consumer behaviour for business owners
- A Farmhouse and a Famous Kangaroo — a combo of local history and interior design – line editing/layout
