Authors, how do you actually promote your books and get both readers + reach?

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I’m a new indie author and I’m struggling with the promotion side of writing. I can write the book, but getting people to actually discover it is a completely different battle.

I’ve tried posting on social media, making reels/content, etc., but I’m not sure what actually converts into readers instead of just views.

For authors who have successfully grown their readership:

What promotion methods actually worked for you?

Which platforms gave you the most genuine readers?

How often did you promote without annoying your audience?

Did you focus more on short-form content, communities like Reddit, or something else?

And what would you recommend to an author starting from almost zero?

I’m looking for practical strategies that actually worked, not just “post consistently.”

Would really appreciate any advice or lessons from your own experience!

Also I'm new to reddit and don't know how to use it 😭🙏pls help in this too!!