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As a debut author, one of the hardest things about marketing your book is drumming up interest pre-release. You don’t have any fans yet, and you can only talk about your theoretical book for so long before people get tired of hearing about something they can’t yet buy.

So how does a new author create a buzz before they have a book that converts fans all on its own?

Two words: free stuff.

People love free stuff.

Now, the whole reason to publish is to make money, yes, so when I say free is key, I’m not talking about your book. Rather, I’m talking about bonuses.

When you’re going indie, you quickly rack up a pretty hefty investment. Presales are a way to leverage that investment, but also to start some word-of-mouth marketing that will allow you to make back that investment more quickly once you pass your release date.

The trick is getting people to actually buy a product that they can’t see. To do this, consumers often need a little push.

We suggest you take a page from crowdfunding and give rewards as exchange for advance support.

We’re lucky to live in a world where book are more than just pages—they’re movies. Clothing lines. Toy collections. Theme parks.

Diagon Alley at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios

Readers are used to being able to own swag from their favorite books, and you’ll seem more legitimate and open yourself up to a more fervent fandom if you create a little swag.

Merchandizing isn’t just about big bucks—it’s a way to tell a reader that they’re special.

It’s easy to break with bank with merchandizing, especially if you’re giving it away during presales, but there are lots of options for swag that are affordable and still exciting to your audience:

• Mugs
• Tote bags
• Posters
• Bookmarks
• Jewelry (see this author for a good example)
• T-shirts
• Pens
• Custom artwork

Offer your first readers special swag with their book, and they’ll line up!

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