Do Authors Alter Their Messages To Fit The Circumstances?

 

It seems that no matter what someone says, it will only have impact if it’s communicated in a persuasive way. I know this observation is nothing earth-shattering, but it’s a simple fundamental that is too often ignored or simply executed poorly. To speak in a memorable, influential, and results-oriented way is not so easy, but it is what authors need to do if they are to get their books discovered and sold.  

Let’s have a look at the ways authors can get heard and not be ignored or dismissed.  

First, an author must target his or her message to the audience at hand, and with a purpose in mind. So, what does that mean? 

Know your audience. Are you speaking before a group and if so, what are their needs or interests? What do their habits look like? What common demographic points do they hold? 

Purpose: What are you trying to say or sell? Are you there to give advice, tell interesting stories, move them to take a specific action, or be left with a certain message? 

Are you emailing a book reviewer to have your book considered for review? Are you calling a bookstore to secure a speaking engagement? Are you at an event where you have a 20-minute slot to speak about your book? Each of those situations are different - the who you speak to, the how (medium) and the what they would want or need to hear. 

Bottom line: Your communication style has to vary depending on whom you are talking to and what your goal for that interaction is. You must customize your approach to the occasion. Some things may overlap, meaning what you say to a bookstore in an email or to a news reporter in person may reference similar points about your book or background, but the order you present them, the words you use, the length of the content, and the attitude conveyed or the level of energy expressed may vary, even subtly, but just enough to make a difference.  

Case in point: you might tell a friend to “shut the fuck up” but you would tell your seven-year-old to “please be quiet.” Same goal - different words, different tone.  

There is room for a lot of variety in how one communicates, and you can call upon more than one voice if it meets the moment at hand.   

Sometimes using laughter works. Other times you need to be dead serious. Sometimes the facts speak for themselves and other times you need to voice strong opinions to get a point across.  

You have a lot to play with when it comes to how you talk to another. If by voice, you have speed, volume, tone, energy, enthusiasm, sounds, and words at your disposal. If in person, you have your body language, dress and appearance, scent, touch, and eye contact to add to all of that. If it’s a written communication, you can add files, charts, photos, videos, and audio, but likely it’s just your words and their font, color, layout, background, and point size to play with. You can use bullet points and write a lot, a little, or just the right amount. You can add emojis, for better or worse. You can use textspeak shorthand, if appropriate.  

Just as Crayola has 64 or more colors to choose from, you too have a lot at your disposal. Think hard about what to say, how you say it, and to whom you are speaking to. Think of your goals and their needs or expectations. Try to marry what you have with what they don’t.

 

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 was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

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/ o