- Edited
Hey guys!
I decided to post this discussion because of how many shameful promotion threads I see on a daily basis. The goal is to give you the tools to promote your novel while following the rules, in the hope of preventing future shameful promotion threads (let's be honest that won't happen but at least we can reduce the casualties, meaning bans).
I do not pretend to know everything, since I am still a newbie myself. Well, I kinda like to think I'm an advanced newbie. Therefore, if you guys would like to share more ways, techniques, and other whatnot to promote books, you are welcomed to do so.
So, here are the various ways I found:
1) REVIEW SWAP:
A review swap is, as it's untitled, swapping reviews between two or more authors. It's a give and receives basis, an exchange. There is a pinned thread DEDICATED to that purpose. Usually, it's right on top of the latest feed so you CANNOT miss it. Unless you're downright blind.
SO DON'T OPEN A GOD D-WORD THREAD TO ASK FOR REVIEW SWAPS.
2) (SHAMELESS) PROMOTION THREAD:
It's the ONLY thread you're allowed to SHAMELESSLY promote stories on. It's usually the second thread on the latest feed. You CANNOT miss it.
Note the difference between SHAMELESS and SHAMEFUL. There is a pinned thread covering it in detail, written by Sara Wilcox, untitled "ALL NEWBIES READ THE FORUM RULES."
3) SUGGESTIONS THREADS:
Those threads are usually posted by readers looking for books to... well, read. You can SUGGEST your own work IF it follows what the reader's looking for.
Example: He/she looks for a female lead fantasy novel, but your work has a male lead.
Question for the champion: What do you do?
Possible answers:
A) To hell with the rules. To hell with the reader. To hell with Female lead! (You post your story's link)
Z) You restrain your savage impulse and act like a civilized human being. (You walk away)
C) You are a model citizen! An example to follow for the generations to come. (You actually suggest another's work.)
The correct answers are... drum drum drum Z and C!
DON'T POST YOUR GOD D-WORD LINK IF YOU'RE NOT ASKED TO DO SO!
Well... I have to admit that I used to do that too. AND got some readers out of it. But that's no excuse guys.
4) How should I write my promotion?
Keep in mind that a sentence like "here's my link: https:Idon'tknowhowtowriteapromotion.com" is not appealing to people. They are more likely to look at your promotion if it is well structured. If you don't want to write a detailed promotion, it's fine and understandable. In that case, you can simply stick to the one I'll give you:
- Title: Blablabla
- Genre: Transmigration/Fantasy
- Synopsis: Blablablabla, please read me I'm interesting.
- Link: webnovel.com/book/blablabla
Pretty simple right? But here's the secret weapon. Leave your COVER image. It's true that the option doesn't show when you post something, which sucks in my opinion. Let's hope Webnovel adds that feature later.
HOWEVER, legends tell of a way to bypass the Bad Programming Evil Lord. Those forgotten magic runes should do the trick, but shush, don't tell Webnovel.
But to use those magic runes you must first upload your image somewhere you could extract a link from (discord, imgur, Pinterest, etc.)
example:
! [Blablabla Cover] (webnovel/book/Blablabla.com)
5) Upload on different platforms:
There are multiple online novel platforms out there. Webnovel is one of the biggest but not the only one. So what you should do is stack up 7-10 or so chaps, upload all of them on Webnovel AND only upload 4 or 5 of those on other platforms. You can then write on your Author's note that more chapters are available on Webnovel. By doing so you will be leaving bait for fishes to bite on. Once it's hooked you just have to pull and VOILÀ! One more collection for you!
By using that technique I actually managed to almost double my collection count in just one day. HOWEVER, you should be confident enough in your book to do so. Readers outside Webnovel are ruthless. They will tear down your work if you are not prepared enough. You have been warned.
6) Profile pictures:
This is downright stupid and might not work. Just use your book cover as your profile picture on social media (WN forum included). The idea behind it is to influence people's subconscious. It's like freaking brainwashing. They won't necessarily notice anything at first, but with time (and hope), there might come a time when they'll just naturally wonder why there is an image of a monkey eating a banana as your profile picture.
7) The Power of Friendship:
People tend to disregard this, but it is a legit method and a good one at that. Just tell your friends to read your book!
Now, this is pretty self-explanatory, and I'm not about to write you a guide on how to tell your friends you're a writer.
If you are ashamed of what you do as a hobby or living, keep in mind that writing is NOT a shameful activity.
We, writers, have the duty to bring readers into a journey. A journey through worlds filled with magic, dragons, gold, and legends. A journey in which the reader could experience love, war, and schemes. A journey where, through our characters' eyes, they will laugh, cry, smile, worry, despair, hope, and much more.
And, at the end of that journey, we, writers, bring them back on Earth with such unforgettable memories that it will leave them wondering when the next adventure begins.
That is our purpose, and I find no shame in that.
Well... whether or not the reader follows you to the end of that journey and doesn't jump out of the emergency exit of the bus-book shouting "F-word this S-word I'm out" while holding a middle finger in the driver's direction (you) is yours to deal with.
Anyway! Be proud of it. It is hard and can be lonely, but also rewarding.
8) Have someone else promote your work:
You can ask other writer friends to promote your work using their own. Of course, you can do the same for them. It can be hurtful to your pride, but well worth the effort. So tie down that pride of yours and leave it in the drawer.
Anyway, that's it for now! Although I'm sure there are plenty more ways to advertise your work out there, I'm not some all-knowing guru! However, together we are stronger. So do share your methods and let's come up with more ways to promote our works while ABIDING by the forum's RULES.
I'll read you later guys.
