Hi all,
I have my first novel self published and available on Amazon, the kindle and the nook. I've reached out to a few local book stores, I've posted on Facebook and craigslist.

What do you find works best for you?

Thanks,
Eric K.

Do you have a website? You might try Twitter also. Also book giveaways help generate interest in your book. Try Goodreads and Library Thing they both have giveaways. In exchange for the books the recipient provides a review of the book. These are some of the things I've tried. It's not easy to get the word out, but persistence usually pays off. Good Luck.

Try posting on Smashwords. It's free, and they offer lots of ideas for electronic book promotion.

http://www.smashwords.com/

TheKidd - I have an author's website on Lulu and on Amazon. I always link to the amazon webpage. I haven't pursued a seperate website since these two already exist. I'm not convinced another site would benefit me.

LeBeaux - Thanks for the link! Looks great!. I'll register and post tonight when I get home.

I hadn't thought of Lulu. I'll look into that too. I feel the more avenues I try the better. I use my website to tell readers about myself, my book and to blog. I've only started keeping statistics on the number of visits the last two weeks but I receive between 150-200 visits a week. It doesn't sound like a lot but it's a start and the more people I have visiting the better the chances I'll pick up readers. Keep us posted on your progress and good luck.

Talked to the manager of a small local cafe. He was very receptive of me setting up a table one Sat or Sun to sell/autograph books. Said they had an another author do that one and he sold 10-15 books.

I'm waiting for a schedule to set up my own table...

Pick a few social media sites and do them really well. Post new material often on your website. Make yourself available. Start collecting email addresses and sending out periodic newsletters to that list - always let them know that is your intention. Only 50% of people are online, so make sure you're working just as hard on people who aren't online as you are for those who are. Figure out who needs/wants what you have to offer and offer to speak, read your book or whatever. Just keep pluggin' away at it and be willing to change your plan. ~K

Thank you very much for the response. I thought more than 50% of people are online nowadays. The problem is that they're so spread out online... some on websites like this one, some not on discussion forums...

It was 50% a few months ago - maybe it has changed. But you also have to figure in there, that there are a lot of people who only do email, or only email and Facebook or whatever. It's really all about knowing your audience. For my particular book, my target audience is baby-boomers and up into the WWII generation. But if your audience was younger or your subject more aimed at tech-savvy adults, it would be entirely different. I just think none of us can afford to only do one type of marketing. We still have to "get out there." ~K

I've been in direct marketing for over 18 years. Although it is tempting and easy and inexpensive to focus your marketing efforts strictly online, my own experience, and many studies, show that direct marketing works. While paid advertising is probably beyond your budget, there are inexpensive ways to boost your exposure. The simplest would be to have people sign up to win a free copy of your book or something at your book signing - collect addresses as well as emails. Create a simple database so you can stay in contact with people interested in your work. Check with local libraries, community centers, etc. - perhaps they will let you come in for a book reading. Contact local book clubs to see if they would be interested in having you speak to them about your book. If your book is age appropriate, you could offer to do some reading at local schools. Send a press release to newspaper editors and make yourself available for interviews. Everywhere you go, be sure to collect sign ups and add them to your database, and then followup with an occasional newsletter. Get creative and you'll find lots of inexpensive ways to promote yourself. DON'T BE MODEST! And always, always, always end any promotion with a call to action, such as "Buy Astral at Amazon.com" Notice how that is a stronger statement than "Astral is available on Amazon"? You can make your book sound like the greatest thing since sliced bread, but if you don't ask people to buy it, they won't. You'll be surprised how often people will do something just because you tell them to.