How Do You Get Out Of Book Marketing Purgatory?

Let’s say you believe that you have a very good book with an interesting story. It is underselling its potential and can’t seem to gain traction with a wider reading audience. Too few people even know it exists. They would love it if only they heard about it. You are debating whether to use a promoter or marketer to help you, but you can’t seem to quite pull the trigger. 

Just do it! 

I am ready to pursue new opportunities to get the word out on your behalf — and I am also happy to strategically coach you on what you can do for yourself. 

But I am not here to give a pep talk nor beg. If you want to move forward, let’s go. If not, simply say so. But to be in book marketing purgatory or to be like Hamlet, crippled by decision-making, is not the state of affairs that will serve you well. You know that. 

Authors need to confront a simple truth: They would benefit from help. They should be asking these questions: 

·         Hire whom?

·         To do what?

·         How do I fund it?

·         What if it fails?

·         Can I do it myself?

·         Won’t my publisher help?

·         Is my book so good that it will sell itself? 

Test it. Send it to paid book reviewers. See if it is received well by the critics. 

Make a book marketing plan and see where — not if — you need professional help or guidance. 

Don’t drag this out with internal deliberations that never conclude with an actionable decision. Think on it, but don’t drown in these thoughts. You get out of book marketing purgatory by: 

1. Acknowledging a need or a problem

ie: I need more media attention for my book 

2. Making an informed decision on an action step

ie: Evaluating a few promoters who can secure interviews and media exposure for my book and choosing one 

3. Following through by taking action

ie: Hiring my best option for book publicity 

Don’t delay.

-Don’t torture yourself.

Stop feeling stuck or inadequate.

Step away from repeating your thoughts. 

Just take action — and move forward. 

 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over four million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over four million pageviews. With 5,000+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.”  Copyright 2025.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

 

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum