Everyone’s doing the social posts, author pages and “Buy my book” links and then wondering why nothing’s moving. Truth is, attention doesn’t come from doing more of the same. It comes from doing something people don’t expect. So here are some ideas that break the pattern. Some are weird. Some are brilliant. Most are both.
1. Turn Your Book Into a “Missing Person” Poster:Works brilliantly for thrillers. Put up a stylised poster (legally, of course) featuring a QR code that links to your book page.
2. Leave Your Book in Unexpected Places:Cafés. Waiting rooms. Park benches. Add a note inside: “If you found this, it’s yours.” People share this stuff.
3. Create a Fake News Article From Your Story World:Publish it as if it’s real. Works especially well for crime, sci-fi, or dystopian books.
4. Turn One Scene Into a Mini Film (Phone Is Fine):Doesn’t need to be perfect. It needs to feel real.
5. Put QR Codes in the Real World:On bookmarks, posters, and business cards. Make the scan lead somewhere interesting—not just a sales page.
6. Write a Prequel as a Free Giveaway:Short. Sharp. Hooks people in. Then link to the full book.
7. Collaborate with a Local Business:Café, salon, or gallery. Bundle your book with something physical, such as coffee + a chapter or a gift pack + a story. Local sells.
8. Host a “Silent Reading” Event:No talking. People show up, read, leave. Strangely popular.
9. Turn Reviews Into Visual Content:Not screenshots. Styled quotes. Designed graphics. Make them shareable.
10. Create a Playlist for Your Book:Spotify works well. People connect with music faster than text.
11. Build a Character Social Media Account:Post as the character. Not about the book. From inside the story.
12. Send a Physical “Mystery Package”:To influencers, bloggers, or readers. Something they have to open. Something they’ll film.
13. Use Local Media Properly:Not “I wrote a book.” Try: “Local author explores [topic relevant to community]” That’s what gets picked up.
14. Run a Micro Event (Not a Big Launch):10–15 people. Personal. Real. Those convert better than big crowds.
15. Create a One-Page “World Guide”:Map, characters, rules. Make it downloadable.
16. Partner With Writing Groups:Offer a talk, a workshop or a reading. Communities amplify.
17. Use a Strong Hook Line Everywhere: Not: “My book is out now”, but: “She disappeared. Everyone thinks she left. They’re wrong.” That’s what stops scrolls.
18. Print a Short Excerpt as a Zine:Cheap. Physical. Different. Leave them in places your readers already go.
19. Do Something Slightly Uncomfortable:Go live. Pitch in person. Read your work out loud. The stuff you avoid? That’s usually where the results are.
Why These Work
Because they interrupt. Most marketing blends in. These don’t. The Australian Writers’ Centre often highlights that visibility—not just quality—is what drives book discovery. And visibility comes from standing out.
Final Thought
You don’t need to do all 20.
Pick one. Try it properly. See what happens.
Because the goal isn’t to market louder. It’s to market differently.
References and Further Reading
- Australian Writers’ Centre – Author marketing and visibility
- Queensland Writers Centre – Author promotion and audience building
- Nielsen BookScan & publishing industry reports – Book discovery trends