If you’ve written a book (or you’re in the process of writing one), there’s one thing you need to know, and that’s that your book won’t sell itself. Your book’s visibility is everything, and that’s where platforms like the Socially Shared Online Bookshop come in. 

Summary

• Publishing your book is only half the journey. Promotion is what drives sales and visibility 
• The Socially Shared Online Bookshop is a powerful tool, not a “list it and leave it” platform 
• Use your listing as part of your wider marketing and networking strategy 
• Promote your book consistently across social media, newsletters, and conversations 
• Support and collaborate with other female authors to grow reach and community 
• Position your book as a gateway to your business, brand, and opportunities 
• Stay visible with small, regular actions that build momentum over time

Wouldn’t it be lovely to know that once you’ve published your book, it will magically fall into the hands of your ideal reader? Unfortunately, that’s never the case. Book marketing requires care and attention, and sometimes that can be more overwhelming than writing the book in the first place. 

At our Socially Shared monthly meetings, we were coming across amazing female authors who had written and published books but weren’t getting the traction they deserved. That’s when we created the online bookshop, but this isn’t somewhere to list your book and forget about it. We have thousands of visitors to our site every month, and our online shop can become a powerful tool for connecting authors to readers – a bit like a virtual shop window! 

Why Promoting Your Book Matters

Writing your book is only half the journey. The other half is about getting it into the hands of those who need it without being pushy or salesy.

You need to:

• Share your message 
• Reach your ideal reader 
• Create opportunities (speaking, collaborations, media features) 
• Build your authority and visibility 

To do this, you need to think of your book as less of a product and more of a doorway to your business, your brand, and your story. If people don’t know it exists, they can’t buy it.

The Power of Buying from Local Women Authors

There’s something incredibly special about supporting local authors, especially women in business who are building something meaningful. When someone buys a book through the Socially Shared Online Bookshop, they’re supporting a woman’s dream, investing in small business growth, championing creativity and storytelling, and strengthening a community of like-minded entrepreneurs.

Think of it as a ripple effect.

One book sale can lead to confidence, momentum, and new opportunities for that author. 

Your Book as a Networking Tool

As an author, how many times have you taken your book to a networking event and used it as a show-and-tell in your introduction? We see this all the time at our meetings. Authors quietly mention their books as an afterthought instead of boldly saying, ‘I’ve got something to share.’

Being listed in the Socially Shared Online Bookshop gives you a natural way to:

• Start conversations at networking events 
• Collaborate with other authors 
• Cross-promote within the community 
• Position yourself as an expert in your field 

Your book becomes part of your visibility strategy when you add “I’m one of the featured authors in the Socially Shared Bookshop” to your intro. 

How to Get the Most Out of Being Listed

Listing your book in the Socially Shared Online Bookshop is step one. When you add this into your book marketing strategy, you can increase sales and opportunities. Here’s how to maximise your presence on our platform:

• Talk About It Regularly – don’t list your book and forget about it. Share the link on your social media platforms, in your newsletters, in your email signature, and during networking conversations. Make it easy for people to find and buy it. 

• Think About the Writing Community – you’re not in this alone! Engage with other authors in the bookshop by sharing their books, tagging them in posts, creating joint content, or sharing a stand at our annual Meet the Author Event. 

• Use it as Social Proof – being featured on a trusted platform adds credibility. Use “As featured in the Socially Shared Bookshop” in your marketing. Add it to your website and bios, and mention it when pitching yourself for opportunities. 

• Tie It into Your Offers – your book can bring readers into your world, so remember to use your listing to support your coaching offers, workshops, speaking engagements, and memberships. Your book becomes the entry point for ideal clients/readers.

• Stay Visible, Not Just Present – being listed is passive, but promoting it is active! Consistency is key. Even small, regular mentions will build momentum over time.

The Socially Shared Online Bookshop is a super place to build your book (and author brand) visibility as part of your networking toolkit.

If you’re an author, it gives you a place to be seen, and if you’re a reader, it gives you a way to support incredible women doing meaningful work.

Explore the bookshop here: https://sociallyshared.co.uk/bookshop/

Are you a female author looking to share your book with a wider audience? We host a wide variety of books from non-fiction, fiction, children’s books, cookbooks, journals, poetry, and more. 

Raise your author profile and meet like-minded creatives in the Socially Shared community. 

Submit your book for FREE entry on our Online Bookshop by contacting Shelley at books@sociallyshared.co.uk