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So you just published your first book. Congratulations! Writing a book and having it hit the shelves is no easy feat. You’ve put a lot of time and effort into achieving this milestone. 

But after the celebrations, what else do you need to do? 

It can be tempting to sit back and wait for the royalties to come in, but you’d be missing out on an opportunity. The days and weeks following your book getting published are critical to its long-term success and your career as an author. Here are several things you can do as a newly-published author.

Create Your Own Website

It is now essential for businesses and public figures to have an online presence. The most effective way to have one is by building your own website or blog. 

Your website will serve as your headquarters, a one-stop-shop for interested readers. You can use it to share your thoughts, make announcements, or even sell your books and merchandise.

But most importantly, you have full control over the fans and readers on your website. In the event any of your sales or ads platforms are disrupted, you will still have a way to stay in touch with your readers and sell your books. 

Keep in mind that it’s common for consumers to do a quick Google search before making a purchase. Fifty-three percent of shoppers research before buying to ensure they make the best possible choice. Make sure they can find you and your book when they do.

Leverage Social Media

Social media is another powerful promotional tool that the internet offers today. It’s convenient, easy, and free to use! If you already have an account, you can quickly use it to promote your new book to your circle and beyond.

Books are also a special interest, with many communities dedicated to it. You’re sure to find book lovers across all social media platforms, with groups and pages of their own. You can try promoting your book specifically through these communities.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok are the most popular social media platforms for authors right now. Several bestselling authors have seen their royalties increase tenfold by having their books go viral on Social Media platforms like TikTok. Study the trends in your platform of choice and get your name out there! 

Reach Out to Bloggers and Influencers

Traditional media like newspapers and TV ads are still important. However, many people, especially the younger generations, often turn to the internet for book reviews and recommendations.

Social media influencers are enormous drivers of public opinion, and you can use this to your benefit. There are influencers across different niches, and books fall into one of those niches. 

You can find these influencers across different social media sites like YouTube and TikTok. They even have dedicated names for these communities, like BookTube for YouTube and BookTok for TikTok.

You can reach out to some influencers and settle a deal with them. One way is by sending them a copy of your book and asking for a review. Exposure to their large following can drive quite a bit of positive attention your way. And sales from social media recommendations tend to be very sticky so you can continue reaping long term boosts to your sales. 

Track Your Finances

It’s easy to lose yourself in marketing and promotional events for your new book. But, it is vitally important to pay attention to your finances — your earnings and expenses.

Writing is an art, but only by treating your art like a business can you consistently make money from it. One of the most important things you need in that regard is to be mindful of your finances. This is especially important for self-published authors.

Marketing and selling your book will involve spending quite a bit of cash. Website maintenance, advertisements, and promotional events all cost money. You also want to track how much you’re selling and earning from your book so you can focus on what works.

To help in this task, you can use a book sales and expense report dashboard for authors and publishers. This kind of software helps you monitor and visualize your cash flow. Using one can help you make smarter financial decisions as an author or publisher.

Write the Next Book

After your first book, audiences will ask about the next one. There’s no hurry, of course, but you might want to start thinking about it sooner rather than later.

If writing books is a passion you can’t live without, and you want to pursue it as a career, never stop developing your ideas. Keep writing until you finish the next one and use the tips in this article again.

Writing can be a challenging career path, but it can also be gratifying. Keep working on your good ideas — there’s always someone out there who wants to know what you have to say.