Freelance Writing Advice: Free or Cheap Ways to Promote Your Writing

Most writers know that promotion is the key to how well their work will sell, get noticed, or invoke fervor. However, most writers don't have PR funds to do this promotion. Well there are simply free or cheap ways to promote your work. This article will show you free or cheap ways to promote your writing and get you noticed.

1) Opinion Articles and Letters to the Editor

Did you write a book on global warming? Write up a small op-ed piece that is current and passionate, drop the name of something important you can find in the book that isn't included in the op-ed piece, and then zip it to every major newspaper market out there. Newspapers are more apt to give you a small bit of exposure, and this is nothing more than a free advertisement for you and your book.

This can also be used if you have a website that specializing in a topic where your articles are showcased. Just pop a tag to the website instead of the book.

2) Make it a Column

I briefly touch upon this in Self Syndicating your Column, but what you can do is write a column on the topic of your book or specialty. You can find a market that will pay you for these, or you can barter it out. Make it free to the newspapers or magazine in exchange for a link to your name, book, website, etc... The more popular this column gets the more exposure you will receive.

3) Your Email Signature

Yes, your email signature. This simple and sometimes often overlooked method of promotion is a key part of success. It allows you six lines to provide a hook to your book and or website plus makes it easy for the receiver to see your work quickly. Emails between friends and family are good, but between networking associates and publishers is tremendous. This way those in the business that are interested in you will be able to quickly see your work without waiting.

4) Postcards

Postcards are a lovely way to put a book cover on, or a nice little bio/website splash with a graphic that ties into the niche market you write for. Giving away postcards may cost you a bit, but people will use these, and they will get noticed by both the sender and the receiver. You can use these as announcements, as handouts, and as part of your media kit.