A New Wave for Poetry Books: Interactive Marketing That Actually Works
Become a digitally savvy author
This interactive marketing and promotion method we will discuss can also be used for any type of book.
This post will focus on poets and their beautiful collections of poetry that need a fresh face in the modern era. From battling short attention spans, people who think poetry is drab and dreary, to those who don't much like Shakespeare and think that all poems read like a confusing sonnet of flowery laments from a rejected writer.
Yes, I heard the things people said behind my poetry's back, or maybe I made them up.
Either way, this essay will show you how to get a comprehensive overview of your compiled book of poetry, filter out your right reader audience, create a new marketing and promotional toolkit, and most importantly, help you refine your sales page.
Not to mention a host of new ideas to turn passionate poetry into purposeful profit, where both the reader and the poet reap the rewards and save time.
Let me preface this by saying we will be using AI. If you have some hang-up about that, thank you for reading this far. Feel free to stay, learn, ask questions, but nagging monologues and degradation of another poet's choice are not welcome. I would also like to add that this will be ethical and with much integrity, so if that isn't for you, you may leave as well. Pardon my lack of pleasantry — this is poetry, not people pleasing. I still love ya, and take care.
Why This Method Works
The traditional approach of book descriptions and sample readings often fails because readers can't quickly determine if a poetry collection matches their emotional needs and reading preferences.
This method addresses real pain points: poets struggling to reach their ideal audience, and readers wasting time on books that don't resonate with their current journey.
Now that the naysayers are gone, let's jump right in.
Firstly, because I hate fluff, this method will use two AIs: NotebookLM and Claude.
Both have a range of purposes for authors, but I will only be focusing on the 2 core details you need for this method.
Let's go.
Step 1: Audience Analysis with NotebookLM
What is NotebookLM?
In a nutshell, NotebookLM is Google's AI-powered research and writing assistant that was launched in 2023.
Its main purpose is to help users organize, analyze, and synthesize information from multiple sources.
You can upload documents, PDFs, web articles, and other materials, and NotebookLM will help you understand connections between ideas, generate summaries, create outlines, answer questions about your content, and even produce audio discussions about your materials.
It's especially powerful for research, content analysis, and getting comprehensive insights from large amounts of information.
How to Use NotebookLM for Audience Analysis:
Upload your completed poetry book (PDF format works best)
Ask specific questions like: "Who is this book ideal for?" and "Who might this book NOT appeal to?"
Request analysis of themes, emotional depth, and reading level
Get comprehensive insights about your target audience's characteristics, interests, and readiness for your content
I stumbled on this AI back in February and created a video about how to use it.
I shared the video in a private Facebook group for a 12-week, very expensive book course I was enrolled in. You can watch the video below to see some of the things it can do.
Since NotebookLM already had a copy of my book, I asked it to determine who the book was ideal for and who it wasn't. It gave me a very comprehensive list (See photo below).
Now, for your sales page on Amazon or your website, this is much too long. People want that sweet spot of information. I learned that for my first book, when I basically created a novel as the sales page, and the book was not moving apart from the family and friend sales.
After shortening the verbiage, coupled with more specific promotion, the updated sales page got traffic. Less is truly more.
Plus, you don't want to bore people before they even get to buy the book. The comprehensive analysis is still quite helpful in creating a focused sales page.
In this case, to create the compatibility quiz with Claude AI, this expansive explanation was perfect.
Step 2: Quiz Creation with Claude AI
Now Let's Talk About Claude AI
Think of Claude as a brainier version of ChatGPT. ChatGPT is Steve Urkel, and Claude is Stefan. Suave and smart.
You can use Claude for a myriad of tasks and processes. I find the outputs are more refined.
But always remember: AI can be wrong, very, very wrong. Due diligence is required.
AI is not your ghostwriter — it is a virtual assistant, proofreader, coder, and system generator, but you are the lead brain. If you follow this rule of thumb when using the robot, you will never break ethics or have to question if you were the author.
Also, by re-reading and fact-checking, you actively keep your brain cells working and do not allow the bot to “dumb you down.” Yes, that is a thing.
You must do the work. When AI does get smart enough, this will ensure you are right there with it instead of dying first, like most humans do during the robot apocalypse movies.
Back to Claude.
Claude has updated its system to include many more artifacts.
An artifact is a self-contained piece of content that Claude creates and displays directly in the interface, such as interactive applications, documents, code, quizzes, or visual content that you can use immediately without needing external tools.
Claude recently added quiz and survey creation to this arsenal, similar to Typeform or Google Forms. Except what would take you 2-4 hours to research, compile, write, and create now takes less than 15 minutes. This is the true power of AI that people overlook — the additional time it gives you to do more projects, spend time with loved ones, hell, even sleep.
Here's How to Create Your Quiz Step-by-Step:
Access Claude: Go to Claude.ai and start a new conversation
Select Quiz Option: At the beginning, you'll see options for what you want to create, select "Quiz or survey"
Answer Setup Questions: Claude will ask you three key questions about your quiz idea, target audience, and desired vibe
Provide Your Prompt: You can use this simple prompt I wrote: "I have a poetry book and would like to help people decide whether the book is the right pick for them by asking questions related to [insert your comprehensive audience analysis from NotebookLM here]"
Review the Outline: Claude will create an outline for the quiz
Make Adjustments: Vet it and make changes if any
Generate the Quiz: Tell Claude to create it
Test Everything: Take the quiz yourself to see all possible results
Publish: Hit publish to make it live
Copy Link: Voilà, your quiz is ready
Be sure to double-check the quiz. You should know your quiz just like you know your book.
Step 3: Implementation & Marketing Strategy
Now for the Interactive Part
In your next online post, whether it’s a newsletter, Twitter, IG, or LinkedIn, introduce the quiz. Explain that instead of reading a book description, readers can now find out in 2 minutes (or whatever time frame your quiz is) if a book is right for them.
Then add the link to the quiz in the post.
Sample Social Media Posts:
"Skip the guesswork! Take this 2-minute quiz to discover if my poetry collection is your perfect match 📚✨"
"Tired of buying books that don't resonate? Find out in under 2 minutes if '[Your Book Title]' speaks to your soul"
"Before you read another book description, take this quick compatibility quiz and save yourself time and money"
My only recommendation, which I didn't do, was to have Claude include a link to purchase the book directly if readers matched. It should be at the bottom of the quiz results. Instead of having the potential reader click back to the main post.
This was something I learned in the book course: don't have your online customers do too much work to get your product. The fewer clicks, the better.
Advanced Implementation Ideas:
Book Clubs: Share the quiz with poetry book clubs to pre-screen interest
Collaborations: Partner with other poets to cross-promote each other's quizzes
Literary Events: Use the quiz at poetry readings to help attendees discover new collections
Real-World Applications & Results
There are multiple ways you can take advantage of this interactive method.
I had a book recommendation email to send. The timeline coincided with the notification from Claude about the new artifacts (quiz and survey). Thus, the creation of this post.
I didn't want to send another plain old book description and the information came at the right time.
If you have tried this NotebookLM and Claude AI method, let me know how it went for you.
I am still in the beta statges with this new artifact. Once enough quantitative results are gathered from my book website traffic, sales and engagement then I report those findings. Nonetheless, I was excited about the endless possibilities and ideas this method inspired, as well as the new artifacts they added to the platform.
Tracking Quiz Results & Analytics
There is a con to this remarkable method. Currently, you cannot directly track individual user responses or get detailed analytics from Claude's quiz artifacts. Yes, I know, nothing is perfect. The quiz exists as a standalone interactive element that users can take, but the data doesn't flow back to you automatically.
Current Limitations:
No built-in analytics dashboard
No email capture functionality
No direct data export
No user identification tracking
Workaround Solutions:
Use Claude's quiz as a lead magnet/engagement tool
Direct high-compatibility results to a separate email signup or purchase link
Track clicks on those external links using UTM parameters/Google Analytics
Use social media engagement (shares, comments, DMs) as proxy metrics
What You CAN Track:
Social media engagement on quiz posts
Click-through rates to purchase links
Website traffic increases after quiz promotion
Email signups if you include opt-in offers for quiz takers
Sales conversions during quiz campaign periods
Quick Refresher Guide
Time Investment: 30 minutes total
Tools Needed: NotebookLM (free) + Claude AI (free tier available)
Steps:
Upload book to NotebookLM → Ask audience questions (10 min)
Go to Claude → Select "Quiz or survey" → Input analysis (5 min)
Review and publish quiz (5 min)
Create social media posts with quiz link (10 min)
Track results and optimize
Pro Tip: Include purchase links in high-compatibility quiz results for immediate conversion.
Why This Method Benefits Everyone
This approach creates a win-win situation: readers save time finding books that truly resonate with their current needs and emotional state, while poets connect with their ideal audience more efficiently.
Instead of casting a wide net and hoping for the best, you're creating a targeted, personalized experience that respects both the reader's time and your artistic vision.
The beauty of this method lies in its scalability.
Once created, your quiz works 24/7 as a marketing tool, qualifying leads and creating engagement without constant manual effort.
I hope this piece was helpful.
If you found the details here creative, please take the time to interact with my quiz.
I would also appreciate your support on Ko-fi.
I worked in the tourism industry for many years, so tipping is normal for good service; however, there, you don't ask, but in the writing world, I learned people just call it buy me a coffee.
Your tips help me continue to fund my writing and build this book business as a sustainable venture for my livelihood. Nothing is too small.
Every contribution, whether it's a quiz completion, a share, or a tip, helps keep this creative work flowing.
Final Thought
Poetry has always been about connection, between writer and reader, between experience and understanding, between pain and healing.
This interactive approach simply modernizes how we make those essential connections in our digital age.
Take Action:
Try this method with your own poetry collection
Share your results and experiences in the comments
Connect with me on Substack to continue the conversation
Support fellow poets by taking their compatibility quizzes
Remember, in a world of short attention spans and endless content, the poets who succeed are those who make meaningful connections with their readers. This method is just one tool to help you build those bridges between your words and the hearts that need to hear them.
Until next time, keep working towards your dreams.
If you enjoyed this poem, read my book, Then Til Now The Decade Continues. It is a powerful blend of travel and poetry as self-therapy, complete with journaling pages to help you move through pain into fulfilment.