How to Promote Your Book Online for Free – 10 Top Tips
- Alex at www.bookeditingservices.co.uk
- Apr 4
- 7 min read
Updated: 22 hours ago
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There are many effective ways to promote your self-published book online for free. This guide is designed for authors starting from scratch – without a large audience, email list or current influencer connections.
The key is to identify where your readers are and focus your efforts there.
To help maximise your book’s visibility and build a sustainable audience, here are 10 effective strategies covering free promotion sites, Amazon tools and long-term marketing techniques, all discussed in detail below.
Promote Your Book Online with Free Promotion Sites
Use Amazon KDP Select Promotions
Start a Website and Blog
Build an Email List (Your Most Valuable Asset)
Use Social Media Strategically
Connect with Influencers
Give Advance Copies (ARCs – Advance Reader Copy)
Speak at Events or Start a YouTube Channel
Write Articles (Op-Eds)
Create a Simple Promotion Plan
1. Promote Your Book Online with Free Promotion Sites
Start by submitting your book to free (and optional low-cost) promotion platforms to increase visibility:
(If it’s not immediately clear where to submit, check the bottom of the website for links such as “For Authors” or “Book Promotion”.)
Free platforms include:
Goodreads – create an author profile, link your blog, engage with readers, and list all formats of your book. There is also a dedicated section for self-published authors
Bookangel – UK-focused, ideal for free or discounted Kindle books
Book Bongo – offers free social media promotion campaigns
The StoryGraph – a fast-growing reader platform where users track, review and discover books
Free Book Promotions – lists top free book promotion sites and accepts submissions
Indies Today – accepts free and discounted books (typically priced at $1 or less)
Author’s Den – create a free author profile, list your books and connect with readers
BookSprout – distribute advance copies and gather early reviews
New Free Kindle Books – submit your book during KDP free promotion days for added exposure
Free (competitive but high reach):
BookBub – one of the largest book promotion platforms, with millions of readers (highly competitive but very effective)
Ereader News Today – a large daily newsletter featuring free and discounted ebooks
Optional paid boosts (low-cost but effective):
Freebooksy / Bargain Booksy – large email-based promotion services for free and discounted ebooks with strong genre targeting
Book Doggy – promotes free and discounted ebooks via newsletter features and permanent website listings
The Lineup – specialises in horror, crime and suspense, with high-traffic editorial features and email promotions
Discount Book Man – promotes discounted books with optional paid front-page features for increased visibility
Snicks List – low-cost platform focused on free Kindle books, with simple and quick submission options
Book Goodies / Book Goodies Kids – established promotion sites with free and paid options, including a dedicated section for children’s books
Book Basset – promotes free ebooks via newsletters and blog features
LitRing – offers newsletter features and group promotions with strong reader engagement
Genre Pulse – promotes discounted and free books across multiple genres
See also Just Kindle Books – a directory of book promotion sites, making it easy to find and submit to multiple platforms in one place.
Submitting your book to several promotion sites at once – particularly during a KDP free promotion – can significantly increase visibility and downloads.
Make the most of free listings on a regular basis, and use paid promotions selectively to support your launch.
Since most platforms feature free or discounted books, aligning your submissions with your KDP promo days will help maximise results.
2. Use Amazon KDP Select Promotions
Enrol your ebook in KDP Select to access free promotional tools.
You can:
Run a free promotion for up to 5 days every 90 days
Schedule promotions via the Marketing tab in KDP
Build early momentum (critical for Amazon visibility)
Also:
Create and optimise your Amazon Author Page
Link your website and list all your books
Improve discoverability on Amazon and Google
Tools such as Publisher Rocket by Kindlepreneur can help you research keywords and categories to improve your book’s visibility on Amazon.
3. Start a Website and Blog
Create a simple website using platforms like Weebly, Wix or WordPress.
Use it to:
Host your blog and updates
Capture email sign-ups
Link all your platforms and books
Content strategy:
Publish monthly blog posts
Repurpose content across social media
Include links to your book and profiles in every post
To see examples of other author (and unpublished author) websites and what to include on yours, go to Bryn Donovan’s website to find out more.
As well as promoting your book, ensuring your book is professionally formatted also plays a key role in visibility and reader experience. Find out more about my ebook formatting service ►
4. Build an Email List (Your Most Valuable Asset)
Capture email subscribers via your website and grow this list continuously.
Why it matters:
Email reach is far higher than social media (approx. 23–30% open rates (% who open the message) – cited industry average range)
You own your audience (unlike social platforms)
Tips:
Offer incentives (free chapter, bonus content)
Email 1–2 times per month with valuable content
Encourage subscribers to share your book
If you’re still preparing your manuscript, my Author Self-Edit Checklist can help you understand the different stages of editing and ensure your book is ready before you begin promoting it.
5. Use Social Media Strategically
Social media helps visibility – but works best alongside email marketing.
Key tactics:
Use niche hashtags (e.g. #contemporaryromance instead of #fiction)
Check out these hashtags for #authors so you can apply the most appropriate to your posts
Focus on engagement, not constant selling
Ask followers to share, not just buy
Please note: Social platforms change, so always direct followers to your email list.
6. Connect with Influencers
Build relationships over time by:
Following and engaging with their content
Sharing their work
Offering interviews or collaborations
A single influencer mention can generate significant sales and long-term exposure.
7. Give Advance Copies (ARCs - Advance Reader Copy)
An ARC is a free version of your book distributed before – or shortly after – publication to generate early reviews, feedback and word-of-mouth promotion.
Provide copies to:
Email subscribers
Social media followers
Friends and early supporters
Book reviewers and bloggers
Ask recipients to:
Leave reviews
Share your book
Help spread the word
The goal is to build early momentum and social proof, boosting your book’s visibility and credibility at launch.
Before distributing advance copies, it’s important to ensure your manuscript is fully proofread so early readers receive a polished, professional version. Find out more about my book proofreading service.
Please note: Amazon, for example, does not permit fake or incentivised reviews, including those from family or friends, or directing reviewers on what to write. Reviews that appear inauthentic, including AI-generated content, may be detected and could result in account warnings or suspension.
8. Speak at Events or Start a YouTube Channel
Promote Your Book at Events
Find opportunities through:
Literary festivals and book fairs (check local listings and national events calendars)
Writing organisations and author groups
Libraries, bookshops and community centres
Industry sites like Eventbrite or Meetup
Facebook and LinkedIn groups for writers in your genre
Apply 4–6 months in advance, as most events book speakers early. Provide a one-page author bio and headshot, and bring promotional materials on the day.
Promote Your Book on YouTube
It doesn’t cost anything to set up a YouTube account, and if you already have a Gmail address, you can create one instantly. Check out this article showing How to Set up a YouTube Channel via Biteable.
You can create content such as:
Talks about your book or writing process
Readings of selected chapters
Q&As with your audience
Recommendations of books or authors you enjoy
Updates on your current or upcoming projects
Best practices:
Add links to your book, website and social media in every description
Aim for videos around 7–15 minutes in length
Upload consistently to build momentum
Optimise titles and descriptions with keywords
Encourage viewers to subscribe and share
Monetise your channel once you reach 1,000+ subscribers
If you prefer not to appear on camera:
Narrate over slideshows (using PowerPoint or Canva)
Use AI video tools like Pictory or Lumen5
Show images of your book, text excerpts or your website
Create simple visual videos with stock footage or graphics
If you’re comfortable on camera:
Record talking-head videos using tools like Loom or OBS
Keep your set-up simple (good lighting and clear audio matter more than equipment)
Speak naturally and focus on providing value to viewers
9. Write Articles (Op-Eds)
Op-eds (opinion articles) are a great way to share your insights, build authority and reach new readers beyond your existing audience.
Publish content on platforms such as:
This helps to:
Build your authority as an author
Drive traffic back to your website and book pages
Reach new audiences who may not discover you otherwise
Focus on writing articles related to your book's themes, your expertise or topics your target readers care about, rather than purely promotional content.
10. Create a Simple Promotion Plan
Bring everything together with a clear action plan:
Choose a book hashtag and use it/them everywhere
Capture emails with a strong incentive
Stay consistent with newsletters
Optimise all profiles with links and branding
Network with influencers and communities
Submit to free book sites
Share advance copies and run giveaways
Join Facebook groups and LinkedIn communities
Seek reviews continuously
Use podcasts, webinars and interviews
Run KDP promotions strategically
Discount older books to build readership
Consider translations and partnerships
Add your website and social media links inside your book
Final Takeaway
Successful book promotion starts months before launch and requires consistent effort.
If your book is already published, you still have plenty of free ways to increase visibility and sales – but the key is persistence and smart use of multiple channels.
Writing the book is only half the journey. Promotion is where long-term success is built…
To give your book the best possible chance of success, it’s essential to ensure every stage of the process is handled professionally:
✔️ Expert proofreading corrects spelling, grammar and punctuation, ensuring your manuscript is polished and error-free before publication.
✏️ Professional editing refines your writing, enhances clarity and flow, and improves consistency – ensuring a high-quality finish that appeals to readers and strengthens credibility.
📖 Ebook formatting creates a clean, publisher-standard layout, ready to self-publish on Amazon KDP or submit to a publisher or agent.
