When it comes to marketing and promoting your books, it
might seem totally overwhelming to find the best tools. Creating graphics and
other assorted items can be a lot of work. That's why I'm always looking for
ways to work more efficiently, if possible!
Here are a few tools that might be helpful. Even if you're
already using them, there are additional features that you might not be aware
of.
Dropbox – I've been using this for several years for file
storage and sharing. One of the things I like about it is you can upload files,
then create links so that others can download and/or view the files. If you use
multiple devices, you can upload files from one device, then access them from
another. I've connected Dropbox to MS Word on my laptop, so I can save my WIP
directly to the Dropbox folder. That way, I never have to worry about losing my
work.
Unsplash – When this site first came on the scene it was the
place to find interesting royalty-free images. It still is, but I also use this
platform to create collections of the images I like. For instance, if you want
to create a collection of images to use as inspiration for your WIP, you can
create a collection. Then you can share that collection with others using the
link provided. That way, you don't have to download every image that you want
to save.
Canva – This platform is extremely popular, though it's not the
only one of its kind (there are others such as PicMonkey and Adobe Express). You
probably already know you can create mock-ups, book covers and social media
posts. But you can also connect your social media to your Canva account and
create calendars for sharing. Another thing I recently learned is that you can
make printables. So, if you want to print items like cups, notebooks or t-shirts
using your design, Canva has you covered.
Adobe Express – This was originally called Spark (in case
you're familiar with that product). Now it looks a lot more like Canva. I've
used it to create a video for YouTube and it was very easy. I added my own images
and used their music. If you're looking to create a trailer for your book, or
other promotional video or image, give it a try. (If you already have Adobe
Creative Cloud, this product is included.) It can also be downloaded to your
mobile device as an app.
Voice Dream Reader – I use this text-to-voice app on my
tablet when I want to hear my WIP being read to me. When you read it's easy to skip
things – or fill things in that aren't there. And, to be honest, there are
times when I'd rather just listen. The app can be downloaded to your mobile
devices and be connected to file storage platforms, like Dropbox. What I like
about this reader (as opposed to Word's reader) is that you can choose different
voices and accents. It comes with a set of voices, or you can upgrade for more.
If you have any favorite tools from this list – or if you
have others that I haven't mentioned – please share!
