Sell Your Poetry Book

Guides to Help You Publish & Sell Your Writing

We highly recommend Amazon KDP to self publish your book. It's user friendly, easy, and COST NOTHING! But what about after you've published the book and it's staring back at you... wondering how it's going to get out into the world?

Well that's called marketing my dears. If you're allergic to that word it basically means how are you going to get your piece of art or product into the markets. We've collected some ways to help with selling your poetry book. Here are a few ways to do it.

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STEPS TO SELF PUBLISHING AND SELLING YOUR POETRY BOOK

1. Create your masterpiece
2. Self publish using Amazon KDP

Why wait for a traditional publisher to do these steps for you? It's in your control. We're not going to go over how to self publish here but hit us up on our social media accounts if you want to have a guide like this and we will put one together. For now, there are many, many guides on how to do it including this one. For the sake of this post we're going to assume you've already self published.

Okay, you've self-published so now what? Well you have choices. First of all going through Amazon means that it's already in one store - AMAZON. Whether you have it available as an e-book, a printed book, or both it exist and that's a big step.

But the Amazon product page and author page of your book is limited. That's where building your own website comes in - STOP. I know we artists are not tech savvy, but that's before HOSTINGER was created. Hostinger is a web builder that does all the work for you... I'm not kidding. It's super easy and you can even set up an online store through the platform if you want to sell printed copies, merch, and have downloadable poetry pages. It's worth it. If you don't want to have the store you can do a very simple author page with your about section, make some writings and musings, and most importantly - LINKS TO BUY YOUR POETRY. Before we dive in use this referral link to get 20% off your Hostinger account and trust me it's already cheap like in the $2-$10 range.

How to Use Hostinger Website Creator to Sell Your Poetry Book

If you're a poet looking to share your work with the world (and maybe even make some money along the way), Hostinger is a fantastic platform to help you do just that! But why do it? Well when you're marketing your book you want a place to point your audience to in order to buy your book, but also to buy your future work as well. Having an established website also makes you look legit, we're not gonna lie about that. Remember... it's marketing, baby! This is part of marketing yourself and no you don't have to put your face on it. You can do it face-less and let your words and art draw people in my little writer introverts. And you can do it all with HOSTINGER.

Hostinger is known for its user-friendly website hosting services and simple website builder, so even if you’re not a tech guru, you can still create a stunning site that showcases your poetry with ease.

Hostinger is a popular web hosting provider that’s affordable, reliable, and packed with features. It's designed for both beginners and experienced users, and it comes with a powerful website builder that makes it easy to create professional-looking websites without any coding skills. Hostinger’s tools allow you to design beautiful pages, customize layouts, and integrate media, so it’s perfect for artists and creators who want a space to showcase their work online. Hostinger’s plans are budget-friendly, making it an ideal option for independent authors who want to sell their poetry without breaking the bank.

How Easy It Is to Create a Hostinger Website for Your Poetry

Creating a website with Hostinger’s website builder is incredibly straightforward. The drag-and-drop interface lets you design pages in minutes—no coding required. Want to share individual poems as downloadable PDF pages? Or create a digital poetry book for fans to buy and download? Hostinger’s website creator has you covered! Start by choosing from their range of beautiful templates. Then, you can customize your site’s colors, fonts, and layouts to reflect the mood of your poetry. Add individual pages for each poem or create a full collection for download. Hostinger even lets you add media files, so you can enhance your site with images, audio, or video to create a multi-sensory experience for your visitors.

Setting Up an Online Store to Sell Your Book

With Hostinger, setting up an online store is easy and beginner-friendly. Using their eCommerce features, you can add a store page, set prices, and manage orders all from your dashboard. Want to sell single poems, collections, or even custom poetry written on demand? Hostinger’s store options let you do it all. You can set up secure payment options, offer discount codes, and track your sales. Plus, their integrated digital download feature makes it easy to share your work immediately—no need to worry about printing or shipping. Just upload your book, set a price, and start sharing your poetry with the world!

HOW TO USE SHOPIFY TO SELL YOUR POETRY

Okay, so what if Hostinger is not for you? Well then you can also use SHOPIFY to sell your book. You won't get all the bells and whistles that you would get with Hostinger, but it gives you a platform to sell your books from and you can set it up in minutes and they often have a free trial basis so you can see if it's the right choice for you.

This is how to use Shopify to Sell Your Poetry Book

1. Order your poetry book copies from Amazon and personalize them(i.e. autographs, thank you notes, lovely packaging, whatever you fancy)
2. Create your Shopify Book Store to sell your personalized book copies or even merchandise like custom bookmarks, mugs, t-shirts with your literary creations using Printify. Why not celebrate your written word creations with its very own online store?

Numerous bookstore owners use Shopify to operate their online stores. Shopify offers over 6,000 apps that can enhance the book shopping experience. These include tools for providing personalized book recommendations, managing store-linked email newsletters, and more.

A good successful model of this is The Lifted Brow, a company that sells its magazines using Shopify. They utilize cart abandonment apps from the Shopify app store to boost sales and have also used the Shopify POS app to sell magazine issues at in-person events.

With a free trial available, and an in depth guide on how to sell your poetry book there's no reason to wait to find out if Shopify is right for you. Start selling your poetry books today.

To sell books online, start by determining the types of books you want to offer, whether your own book or resell books. Your store could also feature a diverse range of literature, such as used books, textbooks, or antique books.

Love writing AND finding rare gems at the thrift store? Then your very own Shopify book store could help you achieve that goal.

Once you've decided on your inventory, you can use a Shopify theme to quickly set up your store. Upload photos and descriptions of your books, and you'll be ready to start selling in minutes... MINUTES! No tech knowledge needed at all.


DRIVING TRAFFIC TO YOUR BOOK PAGE

Okay, so now you have a book site to direct people to the place where your book and poetry pages live, but how do you get people to visit that place? How do we have them call upon you? Yes, call upon like in the Regency and Victorian eras.
Here are a few marketing tips. The best way to find out what works for you is to try one or two and see keep tabs on where your traffic is coming from. Hostinger has a great tool for this built into their platform.

MARKETING USING SOCIAL MEDIA

How to Use Social Media to Sell Your Poetry Book

If you're a poet with a book to share, social media is a powerful tool to help you reach readers. Here’s how to make the most of TikTok, Pinterest, and Substack to promote and sell your poetry book!

How to Use TikTok to Sell Your Poetry Book

TikTok is buzzing with readers, and poetry is thriving on #BookTok! To get started, create short, engaging videos that showcase snippets of your poetry. Try reading a few lines from your book over calming music or create aesthetic visuals that match your poems’ vibe. You can do this faceless. Look up other poets and poetry books to get a feel for how they use TikTok. TikTok’s editing tools make it easy to add text, music, and effects, so get creative! Be sure to use relevant hashtags like #PoetryBook, #SpilledInk, or #PoetryCommunity to reach the right audience. Engage with other creators and respond to comments to build a community. The more people connect with your words, the more likely they are to check out your book! The key is to have a place to direct them to. This is where your page comes in that you built with Hostinger, or Shopify, or simply your Amazon book's page. You want to always direct the community you build to one of these pages.

How to Use Pinterest to Sell Your Poetry Book

Pinterest is fantastic for poets with a strong visual sense! Design pins that feature beautiful images paired with excerpts from your book. Think about creating boards dedicated to themes in your poetry, like “Love Poems” or “Nature Poetry.” You can also link each pin to your website or book sales page, so interested readers can click through to purchase. Make sure to include keywords in your pin descriptions to help people find your poetry—words like “poetry books,” “romantic poetry,” or “modern poetry” can help your pins reach more people looking for inspiration!

How to Use Substack to Sell Your Poetry Book

Substack is a newsletter platform that lets you build a direct relationship with readers. Start a weekly or monthly poetry newsletter where you share insights, new work, or even exclusive excerpts from your book. Offer a free subscription to attract subscribers, then promote your book to your list. With Substack, you can build a dedicated audience who loves your poetry and is excited to support you by purchasing your book!

And writers, poets, artists... here's the key to marketing on these platforms. Ready for it? Ready for the key to it all? CONSISTENCY! That's it. You have to post once or twice a day for the basic social media platforms. For substack you can do once a week or month or bi-monthly. But for the rest you need to post, post, post. And here's a little tip. When you first open an account on TikTok or Pinterest, their algorithm will push you out and be on your side to success. To make the most of this it's best to post twice a day at least for the first two weeks. Utilize drafts and schedule pins so that you can create your posts in one day and simply have them go live later.

MARKETING USING STRATEGIC LITERARY ADS

How to Use Print Ads to Sell Your Poetry Book

Selling a poetry book is about getting the word out, and most people forget about traditional advertising and promotion because social media is an easy and free way to do it. But don't rule out traditional advertising that reaches your target audience! Print ads are a fantastic way to reach a sophisticated audience that loves the written word. Let’s look at some effective ways to use traditional print and digital ads to give your book the spotlight it deserves!

How to Use Traditional Print and Digital Ads in Literary Magazines

Literary magazines and poetry societies are a natural fit for poetry book promotions. They attract readers who are actively looking for new writing to enjoy, so placing ads in publications like Poets & Writers, The Paris Review, or Literary Hub can put your work in front of eager eyes. Many of these publications offer both print and digital ad options, so you can reach their readers wherever they’re browsing. Craft an ad that reflects your book’s tone, maybe with an eye-catching line from your poetry, and encourage readers to buy or check out your work on your website. Remember from our tip above, if you have a Hostinger site these people can find all your future work or even subscribe to your newsletter so don't think of the money you spend on an ad as only to promote your book, it's to promote you.

Promote Your Book in The Times Literary Supplement

The Times Literary Supplement (TLS) is a prestigious magazine known for its in-depth literary reviews and academic audience. Getting your poetry book mentioned here can be a huge credibility boost! Ad spots in TLS can be quite effective for reaching readers who appreciate well-crafted literature. Since TLS is read worldwide, this ad could spark international interest, too. If you’re able to secure a spot, keep the ad refined, focusing on what makes your poetry unique.

Promote Your Book in The New York Times

The New York Times is one of the most influential publications out there. With ad options that range from book-specific sections to digital placements, it’s an excellent choice for poets looking to get noticed. Placing an ad here could attract a broad spectrum of readers beyond traditional poetry lovers. A compelling visual or line from your book might be all it takes to pique a reader's curiosity and lead them to buy.

Price Ranges for Traditional Ads in Print and Digital

Print ads in literary magazines can range from around $200 to over $1,000 depending on the magazine and the size of the ad. The New York Times and TLS are on the pricier end, where full-page ads can cost thousands. However, digital options are often more affordable, ranging from $150 for small placements to over $500 for premium spots. The investment depends on your budget and reach goals.

Why Ads Are a Good Investment to Sell Your Book

Ads are a great investment because they put your poetry book in front of a targeted audience who loves literature. A well-placed ad in a respected publication can boost your credibility, generate buzz, and help your book reach readers who might otherwise never discover it. With thoughtful budgeting and creative ad design, print and digital ads can effectively drive sales and grow your readership.

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I followed the step-by-step guide on selling my book through Shopify and saw immediate results. Highly recommend!

Sara M.

★★★★★