How to Promote a Kindle Book for Free?

Did you know that more than a quarter of worldwide book sales consist of e-books?

How to Promote Your Kindle Book for Free (and Actually See Results)

If you’re just starting out with self-publishing, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. You’ve done the hard part—you wrote the book! But now comes the next challenge: getting people to actually read it.

Luckily, promoting your Kindle book doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, there are several highly effective ways to market your ebook for free. Here are some tried-and-tested methods I personally use to get downloads and grow my audience:

1. Optimize Your Amazon Listing

Before you promote your book anywhere else, make sure your Amazon page does the selling for you. That means:

• A strong book title and subtitle
• A compelling description (use formatting and short paragraphs)
• Relevant keywords and categories
• A professionally designed cover (yes, even free tools like Canva can help)

Think of your book page as your digital storefront—first impressions matter.

2. Use Amazon’s Free Book Promotions (if you’re enrolled in KDP Select)

KDP Select lets you run free book promos for up to 5 days every 90 days. During this period, your book will be available for free, which helps boost your ranking and visibility.

Don’t worry about giving your book away—it can result in more reviews, followers, and eventual paid downloads.

3. Submit to Free Book Promotion Sites

There are dozens of websites and newsletters that feature free Kindle books. Submitting your title to these sites during a KDP Select promo can result in hundreds (sometimes thousands) of downloads in a single day.

A few popular ones include:

• Freebooksy
• Book Rebel
• ManyBooks
• BookSends
  (Check their submission rules—some offer free placements, others charge.)

4. Promote in Reader Communities

Join Facebook groups, Reddit communities, and online forums that cater to your book’s genre. Don’t just drop links—engage in real conversations and share your book only when it’s welcomed.

Some great places:

• Reddit: r/selfpublish, r/FreeEbooks
• Facebook: Kindle Book Promotion, Free Kindle Books & Tips

5. Start an Email List

Even if you only have a few readers now, start collecting emails early. Offer a short story, bonus chapter, or exclusive content in exchange for their email address. That way, the next time you publish a book, you’ll already have an audience to notify—for free.

Final Thoughts

Book promotion doesn’t have to be intimidating—or expensive. These simple, free techniques helped me go from zero downloads to regular sales, reviews, and a growing audience. Consistency and experimentation are key. Not every tactic works for everyone, but when you find your rhythm, it gets easier (and more fun).

Got any questions or want me to expand on any of the tips above? Drop a comment—I’d love to help!