Happy Saturday!
Hope your week has been more successful than mine.
I tried to bake a batch of cookies, but they turned out looking like sad, flat pancakes. Maybe baking isn’t my superpower after all!
But enough about my kitchen disasters—let’s dive into this week’s newsletter!
You may know Alicia Ortego as the author of the My Superpower Books series, a collection loved by parents and educators for teaching social-emotional skills like kindness, gratitude, and empathy.
Her books help kids become more emotionally intelligent, and they’ve become staples in classrooms and homes around the world.
Now, imagine being an author like Alicia, writing books you know can make a difference.
But getting those books noticed? That’s a different challenge.
How do you stand out without a massive marketing budget or feeling like you’re shouting into the void?
That’s where Alicia’s strategy comes in.
Instead of hoping her audience will find her, she finds them.
And she does it in a way that’s so genuine and effective, it feels more like a friendly conversation than marketing.
Let’s break down how she makes it work.
The Strategy
Picture this: You’re a children’s author who’s been writing thoughtful blog posts to promote your book.
You’ve poured your heart into articles on topics that tie into your story’s themes—maybe posts about fostering kindness or handling big emotions.
But despite your best efforts, the traffic to your blog is a trickle.
Your carefully crafted content is going unnoticed, and you’re left wondering how to get more eyes on your work.
Enter Alicia Ortego’s strategy.
Instead of waiting for people to stumble across her blog, Alicia took a proactive approach.
She engages with her target audience right where they’re already spending time—on popular blogs about social-emotional learning (SEL).
Alicia writes meaningful, value-packed comments on these posts and includes a subtle link to her own blog.
There, on her blog, she introduces her books as helpful resources for readers already interested in SEL.
This method is a smart example of guerilla marketing—a creative, low-cost way to get her books in front of the right audience without directly advertising them.
Why It Works
This strategy is genius for a few key reasons:
Drives Targeted Traffic: Readers who click her links are already interested in SEL topics, making them the perfect audience for her books.
Builds Authority: By providing thoughtful commentary, Alicia positions herself as a trusted expert, which makes her book recommendations feel genuine.
Cost-Effective: Blog commenting is free and accessible, perfect for authors who want to boost their visibility without a hefty marketing budget.
How to Apply It
Want to give this strategy a try? Here are some steps to make it work for you:
1. Find Your Niche
Search for blogs that align with your book’s themes.
If your story covers themes like empathy or resilience, look for parenting or education blogs that discuss these topics.
2. Leave Thoughtful Comments
Read the blog post and write a meaningful comment.
Share what resonated with you or add your unique perspective. Remember, authenticity is key.
3. Link to Your Blog
Instead of promoting your book directly, link to a relevant post on your own blog.
Make sure your blog content is engaging and provides extra value, with a natural lead-in to your book.
Potential Downsides
Of course, no strategy is without its drawbacks:
1. It’s a Time Commitment
Genuine engagement takes time. You can’t just throw a link into the comments and call it a day.
2. Indirect Book Promotion
You may not see immediate sales. This approach builds awareness and trust first, with book sales coming later.
3. Traffic Isn’t Guaranteed
Even with the perfect comment, not everyone will click your link or explore your site.
Key Takeaway
Engage in conversations where your audience is already active.
By adding genuine value and subtly directing readers to your content, you can boost visibility and build trust—all without spending a fortune.
And that’s a wrap!
You can see more examples of how Alicia uses this strategy here:
See you again next week!
Liked what you read? Why not share it with someone who might enjoy it too?
If you’re new here, welcome! This is part of my weekly newsletter where I share how top authors market their children’s books—giving you marketing ideas without the 40+ hours of research. Subscribe here!
Alex Safari
Co-founder, Zuri Book Pros
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