One of the most common questions authors ask is: “How can I promote my book without spending money?”

There’s a lot you can do that’s free and effective; I’m listing 10 ideas below. Before acting on them, though, ask yourself these questions:

• Is my book as good as it can be? Does it look and read like anything I’d find in a bookstore or library?
• Is my book’s cover appealing and appropriate for the genre?
• Is my book professionally edited?
• Do I know who will love my book? And do I know as much as possible about those people so I know where I’ll find them both online and offline?

All of this is important because readers are interested in good books. Not so-so books. Not books you rushed through to meet an arbitrary deadline.

And, you need to be marketing to people who read the kinds of books you write. Otherwise, you’re wasting your time.