
This week’s Book Marketing Update is short and sweet. Check out what’s new in social media. I also included two posts on book marketing and one on publishing.
What are you doing to market you books? If you use a unique strategy, please share it with me.
Please wear your mask in public and stay safe!
Publishing
Five Self-Publishing Mistakes You Need to Avoid from the BookBaby Blog: This post outlines five common self-publishing mistakes you need to avoid.
Social Media News
Introducing Instagram Reels: #Instagram’s Answer to TikTok? from Later, an Instagram scheduling app: “Introducing Instagram Reels: a new way to record 15-second clips set to music on Instagram. If this concept sounds a little familiar, you’re right. Almost everyone is comparing Instagram Reels to TikTok!”
Third of advertisers may boycott Facebook in hate speech revolt from the Guardian: “Almost a third of advertisers are considering joining a month-long boycott of Facebook as the social network struggles to convince advertisers that it is doing enough to fight hate speech on its platform.”
Book Marketing
Marathons, Sprints, and Pounces: 3-Tiered Approach to Book Launches from Jane Friedman’s blog and by Barbara Linn Probst: “Before I embarked on this process, I saw it as one big amorphous here’s my book, everyone! But it’s not. Promotion happens at different times and on different scales. Or, I should say, authors do things at different times and on different scales, apart from what publishers or publicists do.”
How to Promote My Book Before It’s Published by Penny Sansevieri: In this post, Penny explains all the ways you can work on your brand in advance of publishing your book.
Of Note
Having a hard time writing during the pandemic? You’re not alone. Inspiring Words from Authors to Authors During Difficult Times from BookBub Partners: “… as things slowly start to reopen, we don’t know how long this will last, or how the next couple of years will play out. And that uncertainty can make it hard to write or promote. So we turned to several successful authors to ask them how they’re getting through the COVID crisis, and what tip they’d give to a fellow author right now.”
What I’m reading: I’m currently reading The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. A New York Times bestseller, this novel was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. It is “a powerful and gripping YA novel about one girl’s struggle for justice.”
Quote of the Week


I am an author and social media consultant for writers. My focus is on helping writers like you surmount the barriers that keep them from flourishing online and building their platform. I also provide content writing and email marketing services. Be sure to download my ebook about Twitter marketing. You can get it now for free!