If you search the internet, you’ll find literally thousands of articles on launching a book and making it successful.While there are no strategies that will turn you into the next J.K. Rowling (if there were, everyone would be doing it), there are strategies that work to successfully launch a book—whether self-published or traditionally published—and achieve at least a respectable degree of success.
First, recognize that not every book is well-written. I’ve written some that weren’t, and some that were. I’m equally certain you have—just as I’m sure Stephen King has. The simple truth is that not everything we create will be perfect.
Recognize when you’ve produced a dud. Either revise it substantially, start over, or scrap it and move on to another project. That being said, let’s go over the basic steps you should follow to self-publish—or even traditionally publish—your first novel.
1. Hire an Editor
There are multiple types of editors, and if you land a traditional publishing contract, you may get to skip this step.
What editing did I do? I went through several rounds with various well-read individuals. My aunt and sister-in-law both work in the literature field and helped immensely. A friend who is an avid reader, and even the artist, read and helped refine the rough draft.
After that, I revised the manuscript through about three different drafts, cleaning up the language and incorporating their changes—99% of which I agreed with, leaving out only a few.
Then I sent it to a proofreading service to get my grammar and punctuation right. Bear in mind, I’m not an English major—I got a 16 on the English section of my ACT and have a degree in Criminal Justice. English was never my strong suit! I needed the help, as you can probably tell from my blog posts.
2. Set a Launch Date and Build a Campaign
Pick a date a few months out. I set mine four months in advance, and I’m glad I did. I scheduled all versions of the book to launch simultaneously. Traditionally, the hardcover comes out first, but without an existing following, this isn’t necessary.
From there, build a campaign around your launch date.
Use social media to create buzz by starting an author page and posting snippets from the book. Tag your friends. As hard as this might feel, you’ll be surprised at the support you receive. If you’re not willing to shout about your book, no one else will either.
Set aside $500–$1,500 to market the book for launch day. You want as many sales as possible on day one—just know that sales will taper quickly. Schedule promotions with sites like:
BookBub is the most expensive but also the most effective. If you’re on a tight budget, skip BookBub and aim for closer to the $500 range. As of 2025, their launch-day package cost around $800.
A Goodreads Giveaway can get you 100+ downloads of your eBook. These aren’t paid sales, but they boost Amazon’s algorithm and put your book in front of real readers.
3. Build Your Author Platforms
Start with the basics:
- Facebook Author Page
- BookBub Author Profile
- LibraryThing Author Page
- Goodreads Author Page
You can add Twitter/X and Instagram later. Focus on building a presence first. Comment and review other authors and books you’ve read to get noticed. Be honest but kind—if a book wasn’t at least 3 stars in your view, consider not reviewing it at all.
4. Your Marketing Plan Comes Together After Launch
Your marketing plan should cover your first year—or your first 10,000 readers. This is the phase where you explore ads, pitch blog posts, and try to get podcast interviews. But unless you have an “in,” expect to struggle getting on most platforms as a first-time author.
Should you pursue them? Absolutely. Should you devote your entire life to chasing interviews and mentions? No.
Focus instead on getting more books out. Aim to land one decent podcast, blog post, or mailing list feature each month. If one attempt doesn’t land, move on. There are more fish in the sea.
Conclusion
This is a straightforward, no-fluff overview of marketing your first book—based on what I learned through some wasted time and money.
Be stingy with your money, but don’t be afraid to spend a bit to get your book in front of readers. Remember: your goal with a first novel is not to make money—it’s to grow a following and get people reading your work.
Your big target: get your book into the hands of 10,000 readers (not just sales) in the first year. A strong launch day will help with this immensely.
The average self-published author sells about 250 copies of their debut. That should be your goal for day one. Why is that average so low? Two reasons:
- Many debut novels aren’t refined or well-written.
- There’s often no marketing plan.
Mackay Barr 
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