Get The Word Out – Marketing Your Book Through Message Boards

Message Boards

Message boards, also referred to as internet forums, are online discussions among users of similar interests. There are thousands of message boards all over the Internet, but each board typically focuses on a similar theme (reading, cooking, sports, etc.).  For this reason, they make for an excellent tool in promoting your self published book to potential buyers.

Forum users “discuss” a subject area by creating topics, which in turn are responded to by other members of the forum. Message boards also are useful for advertising, in that they typically show the number of registered users. When self publishing and marketing your self published book, the greater the forum’s exposure to the public, the greater your chance is of getting the word out. To make the most out of message boards, Wwaow recommends posting an introduction topic. Being new to the forum, it would be appropriate to make yourself known, and posting an introduction also would provide an opportunity to explain your goals, your book, what it’s about, etc. Prior to doing so, however, Coers recommends reviewing the message board’s rules and regulations, as some sites strictly prohibit self promotion.

“Be sensitive to each individual board’s rules on self promotion,” said Coers. “Some boards are dedicated to short stories or other forms of literature, so it probably wouldn’t be a problem to mention your book. But if the board isn’t accepting of self-promotion, why waste your time anyways?”

Whatever message boards you sign up on, make sure to include a signature line to your account. A signature line (commonly known as a sig file) is a message that is automatically included at the bottom of every post you make on a message board. Utilize your signature line to expose your book’s title, and especially a link to where the public can read and purchase it.

After reviewing the board’s rules, creating your account, and writing your signature line, get the ball rolling by introducing yourself in your first post. It might not be a bad idea to include an excerpt from your self published book and ask for people’s opinions on it (it’s just human nature to want to be asked for our opinion). And don’t forget to include a link to your book’s Wwaow site!

“In any case, it’s always best to engage with people on the message boards on a one-on-one basis,” Coers said. “Developing relationships is what it’s all about.”

You can learn more about self publishing books at www.wwaow.com.