SEO Tips for Authors: How to Make Your Book Discoverable Online
- Elisabeth Fowler
- May 27
- 3 min read
You poured your heart into your book. You edited, formatted, and maybe even designed the cover yourself. Now comes the hard part: getting people to find it.
In a digital world full of distractions and algorithms, search engine optimization (SEO) isn’t just a tech buzzword—it’s a crucial tool for authors who want their work to be seen, shared, and sold. And the best part? You don’t have to be a marketing expert to start using SEO to your advantage.
Here are simple, practical SEO tips to help make your book discoverable online:

🔑 1. Use the Right Keywords (But Not Too Many)
Think like a reader. What would someone type into Google to find a book like yours?
Instead of stuffing every sentence with keywords, focus on including:
Your genre (e.g., "dystopian thriller for teens")
Specific themes (e.g., "Black speculative fiction")
Your target audience (e.g., "books for BIPOC readers")
Problem-solving terms (e.g., "how to self-publish a novel")
Use those phrases naturally in your blog posts, book descriptions, social media bios, and your website.
📝 2. Optimize Your Book’s Description and Title Tags
Search engines scan titles, headers, and page descriptions first. Make sure your book’s landing page includes:
A clear title with relevant keywords
A short but engaging meta description (150–160 characters)
One or two internal links (e.g., link to your author bio or blog)
Example:
"We the People" is a dystopian novel by BIPOC author Elisabeth Fowler about survival after the fall of the U.S.
📸 3. Name Your Images with Purpose
When you upload your book cover or promo images, don’t name them "image001.jpg."
Instead, use descriptive, searchable names like:we-the-people-book-cover.jpgblack-speculative-fiction-novel.jpg
This helps your images show up in Google Image Search, which can drive unexpected traffic to your site.
🔗 4. Build Internal Links (Keep Readers on Your Site)
If you're blogging (and you should be), link related content together.
For example, in a post about book marketing, you could link to another post about how to write a compelling book blurb. This tells search engines your site is organized and valuable—and it keeps readers clicking through.
🌐 5. Claim Your Online Real Estate
Make sure you:
Have a professional author website
Use consistent naming across platforms (author name, pen name, imprint)
Create a Google Business Profile (yes, even authors can benefit!)
Bonus: Set up a Books2Read link to organize all your retailers in one place—easy to share, and Google loves clean links.
📱 6. Share Your Content Strategically
When you post a blog or release update, share it more than once across platforms. Reframe the content:
Turn quotes into Instagram carousels
Use snippets for TikTok or Reels voiceovers
Add the link to your email signature
More clicks = more visibility = more SEO juice.
🧠 7. Write Blog Posts Readers Actually Search For
Don’t just post updates. Blog posts that answer real questions perform better long-term.
Here are blog post ideas readers might Google:
“How I self-published my first novel as a BIPOC author”
“5 lessons I learned from building my indie publishing imprint”
“The best book cover design tools for self-publishers”
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