How Do You Get Better Results From Your Book Marketing?

  

For authors who are actively marketing their books, they may feel any or all of these things: spread thin, disorganized, uninformed, lazy, or unskilled. You get discouraged from a lack of results and frustrated by the amount of time and money you invested to sell all of 50 copies.

It does not have to be this way.

When marketing a book, a lot is on your plate. You are likely:

* Attending seminars, reading blogs and magazine articles, watching videos, and reading books about marketing and publicity.
* Experimenting with how you promote your book.
* Planting seeds and handling multiple marketing pursuits on several levels.
* Getting ahead of the curve by being informed, thinking ahead, and staying organized.
* Learning of, and researching, ways to sell more books.
* Evaluating these potential methods.
* Developing marketing plans.
* Prioritizing what to do overall.
* Seeking to schedule your week and today.
* Needing to rest.
* Asking others for help.
* Buying things like book reviews and ads.
* Wanting to escape to do something fun.

So, how do you manage it all?

First, make sure that you are always taking action. Less thinking, debating, pondering — more action. Avoid paralysis by analysis.

Second, stop thinking that everything has to align in order to move forward. Resist waiting for ideal circumstances and just act.

Third, stop waiting for a savior — it is you! Take ownership of your book marketing. Random discovery of your book increasingly happens when you do things to drive it.

Fourth, stop making excuses or dwelling on setbacks. You go to war with the soldiers you have and engage in the battle with the tools at your disposal. Things are never fair and always far from perfect.

Fifth, ask for help. Beg, pay, or trade for assistance. Figure out what you can offer to another to get them to do something for you. Figure out what you need, what that person is capable of doing, and then make a targeted ask.

Sixth, live by deadlines, whether they are set by others or yourself. We all need structure and accountability. Strike the right balance between feeling burdened and over-scheduled with being uncommitted to anything.

Seventh, know your why and be mission-centered. Why did you write your book? Why are you marketing it? Set your priorities, feel empowered, and be driven by your goals, needs, and wants. Stay grounded and focused.

Eighth, remember the majority of your efforts, resources, and mindshare should be devoted to the things that pose the greatest payoff, which typically involve:

* Having a web site
* Being active on social media
* Pursuing speaking engagements
* Securing more book reviews
* Getting news media exposure
* Submitting to book awards and writing contests
* Networking
* Having your own blog or podcast

Ninth, you must identify who your likely reader is and figure out where it is that they congregate and communicate, both in-person and online. Reach out to them with a targeted message , and an incentivizing offer.

Lastly, stay hungry, disciplined, and strong. Know your limits, keep pushing forward daily, and remain resolved and committed to your mission. 

 

Do You Need Book Marketing 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 4.5 million pageviews. With 5,300+ posts over the past 14 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