Book Marketing When You're Tired, Unsure, or Just Starting Out
One small, human-first step to help you begin — without pressure, burnout, or fake hype.
If you’ve ever opened a “How to Market Your Book” guide and immediately felt like napping — hey, same.
This post isn’t a giant checklist or a step-by-step plan. It’s the opposite. It’s the first breath before the doing. The reminder that you’re allowed to start small, stay grounded, and build a marketing approach that fits your energy, not someone else’s system.
And yes, this might look like another one of those blog posts. But really, it’s more of a peek behind the curtain—at how I think about marketing, and how I work with writers in my Your Way In plans. That’s why I always talk to you first, before we even start. Because every person is different. What works for one writer might feel totally wrong for another.
Not even identical twins are truly the same. One might love Brussels sprouts, the other might gag at the sight of them. The only things we all have in common? We pee. We eat. We breathe the same air. Our hearts sit in our chests. Our stomachs produce gas that can stink. You get the idea.
So first: I’m not saying those other marketing plans are wrong or useless. They’re not. I’m just saying it’s important to know who you are before diving into a “How to Market Your Book” checklist. If you know what you want, what lights you up, and where you’d like to end up, you can take the parts of those plans that fit—and leave the rest.
Because there’s no magic bullet. Marketing is trial and error. It’s play. It’s messy. Even the best of us fail sometimes.
But there are a few things you can control:
Who you’re marketing to – Who’s your reader?
Where you’re publishing – Wide or KU?
What your genre is – Where do readers of that genre hang out?
These are your basics. These are your first steps.
Build from YOU
Here’s what helps before you even think about promotion:
Know who you are. Seriously. What’s your energy like? Do you love engaging with people, or does that drain you? Do you want slow and cozy, or big and bold?
Know where you want to end up. Example: “I’d love to sell 20 books by the end of the year.” That’s a great goal. Small is powerful. Big goals can come later.
Know your reader. This doesn’t have to be complex. It can be as simple as: “She’s around 40, loves cozy stories, reads at night, works in an office.” Or you can build a full persona that covers where they live, what they do, what kind of social platforms they use. (I’ll drop a link here to help build one.)
Know where you’re publishing. And whether your reader is even there. That 40-year-old reader might not be on Ream, or might prefer buying books over using Kindle Unlimited. (And yes, there are mixed types—like me. I’ll read almost anything that catches my eye, except horror or thrillers. But I don’t use Ream, and I love binge-reading in one go.)
If you’re not sure about your genre, ask fellow authors or trusted reader friends to help you define it. Then go find where your genre lives online. And yes, social media is a giant energy suck—but you can make it easier. Set a timer. Search with intention. Or even better? Ask AI.
Try this prompt:
“Can you find 10 Facebook groups for [your genre] readers?”
Use tools. Don’t let them use you.
If You’ve Got This Far — Holy Meatballs, You’re Halfway There
Now it’s about being seen. Let people know you exist.
Join FB groups that allow promos. Post a teaser. Start a conversation. Be a person, not a poster.
Find bloggers in your genre and ask if they’d like to read your book. (Don’t ask for reviews directly—this can get sticky and break some platform rules. Just offer your book, and if they choose to review, amazing.)
Do newsletter swaps with other authors in your genre. You can find them through BookFunnel, StoryOrigin.
Keep This in Mind
This is a simple version of a marketing plan. But the most important part?
Don’t do it if it feels like too much.
Pick the things that make you smile, not dread.
And no, you don’t have to do it all. Just a newsletter? Totally fine.
Doing nothing? Might not be ideal… but even that might work. Who knows?
Just remember: if you publish something and never tell anyone, it’s like buying a new pair of pants and never wearing them. No one will ever know they exist.
So take what works for you. Try a few things. See what feels good. Adjust as you go. That’s the real plan.
And if this still feels like way too much…
If you’re staring at all these options and thinking, “Nope, I can’t. I don’t want to deep dive into any of this,” then don’t.
Pick one of my Your Way In plans, and I’ll do it for you—based on you, your book, your energy, and your goals. No pressure, no one-size-fits-all. Just something that fits.
Not sure if it’s right for you? No problem. Reach out, and we’ll have a chat. No strings attached—just a human conversation about where you are and what might help.