Once you’ve self-published your novel, memoir, self-help, or other genre book, it’s time to get the word out and boost sales. If you want your promotional efforts to be effective, it’s important to target your potential book-buying audience—without being overly “salesy.” At Self-Publishing Relief, our marketing experts know that, in order to sell more books, the first thing writers need to do is find their reader communities.

7 Ways Writers Can Find Their Reader Communities And Boost Book Sales

Research your audience. Every successful author is an avid reader of the genre in which they write. Research your genre to determine who else likes to read the type of book you’ve written and where they like to hang out. Are they mostly in online book review platforms? Do they attend board game conventions? Will they spend their free time hiking? Knowing what your audience likes to do will help you effectively reach more potential book buyers.

Build readership with your other works. Submit your shorter work for publication in literary journals! If your book is part of a series, publicize the connection. Even if your newest book isn’t connected to any earlier book publications, you can still tap the same readers who are fans of your writing. You can include a teaser chapter for your latest book (with a link to purchase) in your previous e-books. Readers who are familiar with your writing are more likely to be interested in buying your books.

Use your social networks. Networking may feel awkward if you’re an introvert, but building a community on social media is a smart way to establish a vibrant reader community. Create author accounts on Facebook, Twitter (now known as X), Instagram, Tumblr, and other social media platforms. Actively engaging on these sites is a good way to connect with people talking about your writing. You’ll learn their interests and what they have to say about your book. These insights will help you discover what circles you’re reaching and how to connect with them.

Get out into the world. Networking and being social shouldn’t stop with online efforts: Venture into the real world! Attend conferences and join book reading clubs. You can even start a book club for your genre (your book might even make it onto the reading list)! And consider scheduling a reading event at your local library or a nearby business where you can cross-promote. If your protagonist enjoys attending wine tastings, perhaps the liquor store in town will host a book reading.

Join book review websites. Set up an author account on StoryGraph or Goodreads and interact with readers. If you’re a polite and interesting author, you can slowly build up a community of like-minded writers and readers through these websites. Bonus: Reading the comments and reviews for your book will help you gauge what is and isn’t working in your writing and show you what readers expect.

Create an author website. An author website will keep all your writing in one place, making it easier for potential fans and readers to learn more about you, your writing, and your books available for purchase. If you have a comment section or contact form, visitors can interact with you in a way that feels more personal and connected. The tech experts at Web Design Relief can help you build an author website that suits your genre, your style, and your budget!

Write for a blog (your own or someone else’s). Whether you have your own blog or guest post somewhere else, blogging is a good opportunity to reach more readers. The topics you write about could help new readers stumble across your writing (and your book). And when you guest post on someone else’s blog, you’ll reach a new audience and boost your reach.

The most important takeaway: If you want to find your reader community, you need to know what your readers are looking for and what they want. Then you’ll know where to meet them: online, in person, and through your writing! And when you do meet your audience, don’t bombard them with sales pitches. When you make a friendly effort to meet and interact with your reader community, they’ll be more likely to be interested in purchasing and reading your book.

If you’re ready to self-publish but are leery of all the technical aspects, the experts at Self-Publishing Relief can help! We’ll guide you through the entire process, from manuscript to a finished book you’ll be proud to put your name on—and to share with your reader community! Learn more about our services, and schedule your free consultation call today!

Question: Where did you find your reader community?