How to Market Your Books on X Without Sounding Like a Sales Pitch
Grow your readership, build your brand, and actually sell books — 140 characters at a time
Let’s be honest.
Marketing your book on X can feel like yelling into the void. The algorithm moves fast, attention spans are shorter than ever, and everyone seems to be promoting something. So, how do you, an indie author, stand out?
The secret isn’t being loud. It’s being intentional.
Here’s how to market your books on X without sounding like a walking advertisement:
1. Treat Your Profile Like a Bookstore Window
When readers land on your profile, can they instantly tell what kind of stories you write?
Use your bio to clarify your genre, tone, and personality. Pin a post that serves as your “starter kit” — whether that’s a link to your latest book, a tweet thread of your writing tips, or a teaser that hooks new followers.
Example:
📚 YA Horror | Author of Escape City
🎢 Influencers. Zombies. An amusement park that kills.
👇 Start here
When you make it easy for readers to see what you have to offer immediately, you erase the middle steps that risk losing them along the way.
2. Talk About the Process, Not Just the Product
Readers love a behind-the-scenes look. Instead of only tweeting “buy my book,” talk about:
What inspired your antagonist
Why is your protagonist morally gray
How did you feel writing your final scene
Talk about your book from the time you begin writing it, and tell people when you reach a word count milestone
Share some of your book research and give readers a taste of what they can expect, and show them you were prepared to make facts accurate
This builds emotional investment in the story — and in you.
3. Use Reader-Focused Language
Marketing on X isn’t about you. It’s about what the book gives the reader. Instead of:
“My book is out! Please support!”
Try:
“If you love morally gray heroes, locked-door thrillers, and one last twist that’ll ruin your night — in the best way — Escape City is for you.”
Give people a reason to care.
If creating catchy pitches like the one above is tricky for you, write down a few and run them by someone to get a second opinion. Or try them all out on X and see how people respond. Paying attention will tell you you are moving in the right direction.
4. Create a Content Mix
Here’s a simple formula:
25% writing journey: struggles, wins, behind-the-scenes
25% book world/lore: character reveals, mood boards, quotes
25% reader connection: ask questions, share reader reviews
25% promotion: launches, sales, preorder links
This keeps your timeline dynamic and human, not robotic.
And once you begin to see what content does well, being keeping track and planning out some future posts for yourself. Doing so will allow you to have content ready to go and see what you have already used.
5. Pin and Repurpose Strategically
That killer tweet? Pin it.
That book description thread? Turn it into an image, a video voiceover, or a quote graphic.
X rewards fresh visuals and engagement, so don’t be afraid to repackage your best content in different formats and at different times.
6. Engage First, Promote Later
The fastest way to grow on X?
Be a fan first.
Engage with other authors. Share reader posts. Retweet bookish memes. Build community.
People buy books from authors they recognize. Visibility grows from connection, not constant promotion.
7. Use Hashtags Sparingly (and Smartly)
Too many hashtags scream spam. Instead, pick 1–2 relevant ones per post. Good options:
#BookTok (yes, it trends here too)
#IndieAuthor
#AmWriting
#NewRelease
#ReadersOfX
Better yet? Start your own unique one readers can follow, like #EscapeCitySeries.
8. Make Use of X Threads
Threads are a goldmine for deeper storytelling. Use them to:
Share your book’s origin story
Break down your character arcs
Drop 5 lines that’ll make readers want the full chapter
List 10 reasons to read your book
A well-structured thread can go viral — and drive traffic to your buy link organically.
9. Promote Without Apology, Just Not Every Day
It’s okay to promote your book. Just don’t do it only. The 80/20 rule is golden: 80% value-driven content, 20% direct promotion.
And when you promote, make it personal. Why did this book matter to you? Why will it matter to them?
10. Make It Easy to Buy
Always include a link.
Use a short, clean URL.
Test it to make sure it works.
Bonus points if your link goes to a landing page with multiple store options (Amazon, Kobo, B&N, etc.).
No one will go searching. Make buying seamless.
You don’t need to go viral to sell books.
You need to be consistent, clear, and human. X is just one stage of your platform — but used well, it can become a powerful tool to build your brand and connect with readers who want to support you.
Now go tweet something worth clicking.