Everyone keeps saying you need to market your book. But what does that actually look like step by step, especially if you’re publishing your first book and have never done book marketing before?
In this blog post, we’ve put together 10 publications you can use to start promoting your book, in a clear order you can follow step by step.
Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
But first, a little preparation
Before you start publishing content, take care of a few things first.
Number one: get an eye-catching and marketable book cover. It will become the key visual element in almost all of your promotional materials, so make sure it looks professional, builds trust with readers, clearly reflects your genre, and appeals to your target audience.
Next, prepare a 3D mockup of your book on a transparent background. Ideally, have several mockups showing the different formats of your book, plus one combined version. You’ll be able to reuse them when creating promotional graphics yourself. You can easily make these mockups with tools like DIY Book Covers or order them from your designer together with your cover.
As for the promotional materials themselves, you can absolutely create them in Canva. But you can also save time by ordering ready-made marketing visuals from a professional designer. After all, you’re an indie author. Your to-do list is long and your hours are limited.
And one more thing about posting: you don’t need to publish often—you need to publish consistently. While you’re finding your rhythm and getting comfortable with book marketing, you can spread these 10 posts across five or even ten weeks. You can also prepare everything in advance and schedule the posts ahead of time.
That’s all for the basic preparation stage. Now, let’s get to the posts themselves.
#1. Get to know the author
This is your chance to introduce yourself to potential readers. And we’re not just talking about you as an author, but also as a person. What are your hobbies? What do you love? What do you do when you’re not writing books?
Sometimes, readers want to connect with the person behind the story, too. Maybe you share a favorite drink, love the same TV show, or both enjoy hiking. These small details can build a connection and help readers feel closer to you.
Keep it simple with a short intro post, or create a carousel featuring fun facts about yourself.
#2. Reveal the book cover
If your book is coming out soon, a cover reveal is a must! After all, your cover is the face of your book, one of its most important marketing assets, and something that will stay with your story long after launch day.
You can build anticipation with a slow reveal. Start by sharing a partially hidden cover, then unveil the full design a few days later. Give your readers something to get excited about!
Or go straight for the big reveal and show the entire cover at once. Another fun option is to film a Reel with trending audio and capture your own reaction to seeing the finished design. Your excitement can be just as engaging as the cover itself!
#3. The book is finally here
Your book is officially published, and that’s definitely worth celebrating!
Create a release-day post to announce the big news, share your excitement, and let readers know where they can buy your book.
Make sure to include clear purchase links or direct readers to the link in your bio. After all, you want to make it as easy as possible for interested readers to get their hands on your story.
#4. Discover the book’s tropes
With endless content competing for attention and only so much time to scroll, a book trope graphic can be incredibly helpful. It lets potential readers quickly see whether your story has the elements they’re looking for.
Plus, many readers have favorite tropes and actively search for books featuring them. Whether it’s enemies to lovers, found family, forced proximity, or a morally gray hero, your trope graphic might be exactly what makes someone stop scrolling.
#5. Step into the book’s aesthetic
A book’s aesthetic gives readers a clearer sense of its mood, atmosphere, and overall vibe. That matters because readers aren’t just looking for an interesting plot. They’re also looking for a particular emotional experience.
Post a photo with items, colors, and small details that capture your story’s feeling. A cozy small-town romance, a mysterious gothic mansion, or a magical forest full of secrets? Let readers experience a little piece of your fictional world before they even open the book.
#6. Join the ARC team
When you’re preparing for a new release, reviews don’t just appear out of nowhere. That’s where ARC readers come in. Besides using platforms like BookSirens or Booksprout, create a social media post inviting readers to join your ARC team. Explain what your book is about, who it’s perfect for, and how interested readers can sign up.
Finding ARC readers can be challenging, especially when you’re a new (but not for long!) author. So, use all channels.
By the way, if you want to learn more about how to get more reviews for your book, check out Insights from Dale L. Roberts’ Webinar for more tips and advice!
#7. What would the character google?
Here’s a fun and slightly unusual way to introduce readers to your characters! Let’s face it: our Google search history can reveal more about us than we’d like to admit. And the same could be true for your fictional characters.
Imagine what your protagonist might search for based on their personality, decisions, fears, or the challenges they’re facing. Would they Google “how to hide a body without getting caught,” “signs your best friend is secretly a vampire,” or “how to stop falling in love with your enemy”?
Turn those searches into a funny, mysterious, or intriguing graphic that gives readers a glimpse into your character’s life without spoiling the story.
#8. Explore similar books
When readers fall in love with a book, they often look for similar stories to experience those feelings all over again. Why not help them discover their next favorite read while introducing your own book?
Create a themed book recommendation post featuring your story alongside well-known titles with a similar vibe, themes, character dynamics, or emotional appeal.
Just make sure the comparisons are genuine. The goal is to help readers recognize what they might love about your story, not promise them something your book doesn’t deliver.
#9. A quote from the book
Did you know that research on Gen Z reading habits identifies book quotes and excerpts as types of social media content that can influence book choices? And it’s not just Gen Z! Readers of other generations can also be drawn in by a few memorable lines.
So why not let your writing do a little marketing for you?
Choose a quote that sparks curiosity, creates an emotional connection, makes readers laugh, or leaves them wanting to know what happens next. Pair it with your cover so they instantly know what book the quote is from.
#10. What readers are saying
According to BookNet Canada’s 2025 survey, 18% of Canadian book buyers cited a recommendation or review as their main reason for purchasing a book.
So, don’t keep those lovely reviews to yourself! Let your readers do some of the talking.
Turn your first reviews into engaging social media posts. Choose memorable lines that highlight what readers loved most about your book. You can create individual quote graphics, a carousel featuring several reviews, or even a Reel showing reader reactions.
To wrap up
Book marketing doesn’t have to be complicated! Sometimes, you just need a few simple ideas to get started. Here’s a quick recap of the 10 posts you can create:
- Get to know the author
- Reveal the book cover
- The book is finally here!
- Discover the book’s tropes
- Step into the book’s aesthetic
- Join the ARC team
- What would your character google?
- Explore similar books
- A quote from the book
- What readers are saying
Now, tell us: Which of these posts are you definitely going to try? And if you’d love even more book marketing ideas, let us know in the comments! We’ll be happy to put together another collection of creative post ideas to help you promote your book.
