The Wisdom of Book Marketing Proverbs

For thousands of years, proverbs have been passed down through the generations because they still speak undeniable truths about simple aspects of society. Proverbs are based on human nature, not so much on the specifics of any one time period. Some things that were true in 300 BC are still true today because the way humans act and think, to some degree, has changed little over time.  

True, the world has changed tremendously over the centuries, as scientific and technological advancements have altered how we live, and are even the reasons we live as long as we do. But the way people treat each other or deal with the odds of handling life’s common or eventual occurrences — sickness, injury, weather, death — has seemingly not evolved greatly.  

For instance, “A stitch in time saves nine,” still rings true even if virtually no one sews anymore. The sentiment — take your time to get something done right, or spend a lot more time or money to undue your mistakes — still sounds relevant. 

Proverbs were best described as “The wit of one man and the wisdom of many,” by Lord John Russell in 1850. 

I was reading Dictionary of Proverbs and their Origins by Linda and Roger Flavell, a 1993 book I had recently picked up at a used bookstore. As I learned of how scores of proverbs came to be, I was reminded of their meanings and saw how they still apply to today’s world. In fact, they apply to one’s approach to book marketing.  

Here’s my application of over a dozen proverbs to how authors should market their books: 

”Beggars can’t be choosers.”

Don’t complain when someone gives you something, even if you feel it is not anything great. Same is true with your book. Start small and get the low-hanging fruit, even if you are not jazzed about getting interviewed by your town’s free weekly rag or a friend’s podcast with a listenership of 12.

“As you make your bed, so you must lie in it.”

Your behavior dictates your circumstance. When marketing your book it will come down to how much you out into it — time, money, effort — that will dictate your sales success.

“Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.”

Just because you don’t like one part of something, it doesn’t mean the whole thing is bad.  In book promotions, some of the activities that you undertake may not yield desirable results. but that doesn’t mean you should dismiss the idea of marketing your book. Find what works for you. 

“If the blind lead the blind, both shall land in a ditch.”

If the inexperienced or those with little knowledge are leading the way, and one knows less than the other, good things will not likely happen. When it comes to book marketing, too many authors get bad advice from those who don’t know any better. Find an expert that you can trust to guide you 

“You can’t make bricks without straw.”

To do anything correctly, you must have the key ingredients available. To promote your book, you must have all of the key tools at your disposal, such as social media, book reviews, awards, speaking engagements, a website, etc. 

“Easier said than done.”

We all think we know what should be done about things we are not involved with, and make a problem’s solution sound obvious and simple when it may not be. In marketing a book, it is easy to declare what should be done, but it is another thing to actually do the heavy lifting. 

“Two heads are better than one.”

It is best to get help and utilize all resources that are available to you. With your book marketing, you will need multiple heads to help, whether it is from a friend, family member, or a paid professional. 

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

If you don’t try to do something, you have zero chance of getting it.  If you don’t try to secure book publicity, it will not just appear. 

“One in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

Take the sure thing over the potentially bigger but payoff that is not guaranteed. Take the same approach with book publicity and make sure you secure the low-hanging fruit before thinking big.

“Practice makes perfect.”

If you want to develop and improve a skill, one must practice it.  In book marketing, you will need to work hard to successfully perform some tasks. Few people out of the gate can be successful without performing a task enough times to get better at it. Whether it is your ability to persuade the news media to interview you or your skill set to impress on social media, practice makes you better. 

“You reap what you sow.”

Be prepared to get a payoff from your efforts that is commensurate with that level of effort. If you did little to plant seeds for growth, don’t be surprised when the crops don’t come in. Garbage in produces garbage out. If you do little to stir up book sales, you will likely get few sales  

“Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.”

Don’t delay in doing what is needed and that you are capable of doing. Get as much done in a day as you can — and repeat this process tomorrow. In marketing your book, go the extra mile every day. Instead of making 10 calls, make 13. Instead of sending 30 emails, double it. Instead of putting off until another time what can be done now, you will be that much closer to a achieving your goals  

“A bad workman blames his tools.”

It is not the paint brush but the painter who is at fault if a house looks sloppily painted. Authors can’t blame anyone or anything for their failure to create great books, so look inwardly for the blame — and the solution.  

“The pen is mightier than the sword.”

What one writes or communicates can effectively change government or society beyond the power of fighting. Books can enlighten us and be our strongest tool to effectuate change. As an author, embrace that responsibility with both excitement and caution.

 

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 4.7 million pageviews. With 5,400+ 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