Should First-Time Writers Give Away Their Books for Free to Build an Audience?
by Brendan H. • Nov 6, 2024
Self-publishing is a tough industry to break into, with over a million new books released every year. It's especially challenging for first-time authors because you're likely building an audience from scratch. So, how do you stand out in a crowded field when no one knows who you are? One strategy that can work is giving your book away for free.
I know what you're thinking—you've poured your heart and soul into this work, and giving it away for free seems crazy. Writers deserve to be paid, just like everyone else. But sometimes, offering your book for free is the best way to get it in front of readers, allowing you to build a fan base and grow from there.
Let's look into why this strategy can help kickstart your writing career.
Mindset Shift: Why First-Time Authors Should Focus on Building Relationships
If your main goal in writing a novel is to get rich quickly, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. While income can certainly come later as you build a backlist, the real reward, especially early on, should come from sharing your passion for storytelling. The focus shouldn't be on short-term sales. It is about building a long-term connection with readers who truly love your work.
Building a loyal fanbase is far more valuable than a few quick sales. Readers who enjoy your free book are likelier to buy your future work, leave reviews, and recommend it to friends, family, or book clubs. That's how you turn a one-time giveaway into a growing audience.
Establishing Reader Trust: Overcoming Barriers for Self-Published Authors
One of the biggest challenges self-published authors face is the lack of trust. Readers have been burned before by poorly edited or low-quality books that flood self-publishing platforms. To grow an audience, you need to recognize that traditional publishers still have one big advantage over self-publishers: trust.
The Big Four publishers have spent decades building a reputation for delivering quality reads. Readers are more likely to pick up a debut novel with a major publisher's imprint, not because they know the author but because they trust the publisher to deliver something good.
As a self-published author, you don't have that same built-in trust. Readers are cautious about spending their hard-earned money on an unknown name. This is where offering your book for free can help break down that barrier. By giving readers a risk-free opportunity to check out your work, you build trust, which leads to future sales.
What the Power of Word-of-Mouth Can Do for Authors
Getting your book into the hands of genuinely interested readers can create a ripple effect. Once people recommend your book to others, you've sparked the all-powerful word-of-mouth marketing.
It's one of the top reasons people buy books—because someone they trust said, "You have to read this." Here's an example: You give away a copy of your book to one person. They love it and tell two friends. Those friends buy the book, read it, and tell two more people. Before you know it, your free book has led to 12 sales, and the chain keeps growing.
Word-of-mouth marketing snowballs over time. Depending on how you run your giveaway, you can see both short-term sales boosts and long-term growth. Word of mouth isn't just a one-time thing; it keeps your book alive and relevant, year after year, as each new recommendation leads to another sale.
The Takeaway
Many authors mistakenly believe earning a sale means they're earning a reader. But for first-time authors, it's important to accept that your debut book likely won't make you rich or even cover what you've invested in it.
That's why focusing on building readers first is essential rather than chasing sales. By shifting your mindset to prioritize growing your audience, you'll see how a loyal fan base can lead to long-term success.
There are countless ways to connect with readers, engage them, and grow your audience over time. Offering your book for free is one way to start that snowball effect—building trust, generating word of mouth, and setting yourself up for future sales.