So, you’ve just finished writing and editing your novel and you’re ready to share it with the world? Congrats! Now you’re probably wondering, when do I start telling people about it? The answer is generally sooner than you might think. Let’s break it down to give you an idea of how the publishing process works—and how you can best position your book for success.
Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing
Start marketing your book early to build anticipation and grow your audience before launch. The sooner you begin, the better your chances for success. Delaying until after the release can make it harder to gain traction.
If you are self-publishing, you have a bit more control of when your book will be available. However, while your timeline between finished draft and publication might be shorter, you still want to make sure you give yourself ample time to market your book before it goes on sale. Since you’re self-publishing, you’ll be doing a lot of the promotion yourself so you want to make sure you devote enough time to it. Generating excitement for your book ahead of its publication will ensure you have a successful launch day—and successful sales numbers.
👉 The Best Time to Start to Market My Book for Maximum Impact
One Year Before Publication
Start planning your marketing strategy about a year before your book launches, whether you’re self-publishing or working with a traditional publisher. This time allows you to figure out key marketing tools like book trailers, budget for advertising, and identify relevant events (e.g., holiday shopping if your book launches in the fall). If you’re working with a major publisher, their marketing team will handle most of it, but it’s still valuable to consider how you can contribute.
Your marketing-my-book to-do list:
- Make sure you have an author website and social media profiles. If you don’t have them yet, set them up now and start posting on them regularly so you have an established audience by the time your book publishes.
- Announce the book title and a brief description to your audience on social media, your website, and/or your email newsletter. Be sure to include the expected publication date!
- Decide how much money you’re willing to spend on marketing and advertising your book and start saving for this. Consider the costs of hiring a professional marketer, running digital ads, creating a book trailer, or creating promo items to hand out at events.
- Create your marketing strategy. Who is your target audience? How will you reach them? What major holidays, seasons, or events can you capitalize on to make the most sales?
Marketing Your Book Six Months Before Publication
By now, your author website should be live and your social media accounts active with regular posts and growing engagement. With marketing funds set aside, you’re ready to make a bigger splash. If you already have a finished book cover — whether through a major publisher or self-publishing — it’s time for a cover reveal across your channels. Just be sure your book is available for pre-order first! If you plan to create teaser or book trailers, now’s the moment to reach out to a production studio or start DIY filming.
Your marketing to-do list:
- If you’re self-publishing, make sure your book is available for pre-order at major online book retailers and any brick-and-mortar book stores you’re working with. (Traditional publishers will handle this for you.)
- Reveal your book cover via your website and social media accounts and encourage people to pre-order your book.
- Reach out to production studios to create your book trailer, or begin making your own trailer.
Three Months Before Publication
With just three months left, it’s go-time! Lock in your book trailer now — production takes time, and you’ll want it ready before launch. Request early reviews: snag ARCs from your publisher or pitch bloggers directly if you’re indie. A Goodreads giveaway can build buzz fast. If you’ve got a budget, fire up a pre-order ad campaign; if not, gear up for a launch blitz. Every move now fuels your book’s big debut!
Your marketing to-do list:
- Reach out to production studios to create your book trailer if you haven’t already.
- If you requested a teaser trailer and a full trailer back at the 6-month mark, you should have a finished teaser trailer by now. Share it to build anticipation before the next trailer! (Note: If you only had one trailer made, hold onto it for now.)
- Send out free, early copies of your book to book reviewers, book bloggers, local newspapers, and regional publications for review.
- Run a Goodreads giveaway of at least 5 books.
- If budget allows, start running pre-order advertising via Google Ads or social media platforms.
One Month Before Publication
You’re getting closer to publication! By now your audience on social media should be well aware that you have a book about to launch. You can help build the excitement by celebrating the countdown to launch, reminding them when your book is 30 days away, 2 weeks away, 1 week away, 3 days away, 2 days away, 1 day away, and finally celebrating launch day. Now is also a great time to connect with local booksellers to see if they’d let you host a book launch party in their store. If you requested a book trailer early enough, you should have a finished book trailer ready to share. (We detail some of the best strategies for sharing your book trailer in this blog post.) If budget allows, continue (or start) pre-order advertising, including ads to promote your book trailer—the flashiest ad you have.
Your marketing to-do list:
- Begin counting down to publication day on your social media accounts, encouraging your followers to pre-order the book.
- Connect with local booksellers to inquire about book launch events.
- Share your book trailer on your website and social media accounts, again encouraging pre-orders.
- Start advertising your book trailer.
- Continue (or start) pre-order advertising for your book.
At Publication
Your book’s live — now it’s war. Throw a launch party, flood your socials, and blast your book trailer like it’s ammo. Run giveaways. Get readers posting selfies with your book using a hashtag you own. Hit up Bookstagrammers, bloggers, influencers — anyone who can shout your name louder. Don’t wait for momentum. Make it happen. Be everywhere. Stay sharp.
Your marketing to-do list:
- Host your book launch party (if you scheduled one) and make sure you’ve invited everyone you know!
- Begin “on sale” advertising to promote your book and your book trailer to drive book sales.
- Announce the publication of your book on social media.
- Offer giveaways of your book to your social media followers.
- Reach out to “bookstagrammers” or other social media influencers to see if they’d be interested in featuring your book.
After Publication
The party doesn’t stop there! For the next 6 months to a year after your book is published, you’ll want to keep promoting it. Share occasional posts on social media, offer a giveaway around the next major holiday (Valentine’s Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, etc.), share your book trailer, run ads around big shopping moments (back-to-school, holiday shopping, Amazon Prime Day, etc.). You’ll also want to look into book festivals near you that you might be able to attend, or book events you can host on your own at local book stores or schools. You can also see what book awards your novel might be eligible for and begin pitching your book to those contests. The important thing is to continue building upon all the work you’ve done so you will continue to see book sales well into the future.
Your marketing to-do list:
- Continue posting on your social media accounts and website, whether it’s behind-the-scenes, life-of-an-author posts, or posts about your book.
- Keep sharing your book trailer and promote it with advertising when you can.
- Use major holidays and shopping seasons as an excuse to promote and advertise your book either as a gift or as the perfect thing to read for that time of year.
- Research book festivals near you and see if you can attend as an author or exhibitor.
- Host book events like book signings at local book stores, or give talks at local schools if your book is for children.
- Submit your novel for relevant book awards and competitions.
Do you have experience marketing your book that you’d like to share? Drop your best marketing tips in the comments!
If you enjoyed this post, check out How to Use Book Trailers To Market Your Book
Megan Barlog loves great stories, be they books, movies, TV shows, or anything in between! She has studied both creative writing and screenwriting, and worked for both a library and a major NYC publisher. When she’s not writing a novel or screenplay, she’s probably out for a run or binge-watching something on Netflix.
Need a book trailer? Film 14 offers book trailers for authors and services such as audiobook recording, book cover design, and more! Check us out here, or shoot us an email! Want to make your own book trailer? Check out our free guide!
