What Should Authors Expect When They Are Published?

  

One thing that all good book marketers should do for their potential clients is temper the expectations of an author. This does them both a huge favor.

Some writers expect too much or demand too little of their book marketer or publicist. Many do not know what to expect when their book is released. Well, let me dispel false notions, dismiss unachievable expectations, or clarify on the misinformation regarding what is customary and reasonable for an author to experience in regards to a reception for their book.

First, get realistic. There are over 7500 new books published daily in America. All kinds of books: great, good, bad, and awful. They vary in genre, style, and price. They could be published by a Big 5 like Penguin Random House, a medium-sized independent publisher, small press, university press, hybrid, self-publisher, or Amazon KDP/Ingram Spark. You have a lot of competition, so not every book breaks even, and few become a best-seller.

Second, it will take lots of time, an investment of money, sound planning and strategy, an opportunistic mindset, and luck to help your book advance from being a hobby, passion project, or legacy project.

Third, set goals and create smaller steps and identify your timeline and resources to achieve them. Measure your progress. Once you hit your marks, set new ones and repeat the process. Be sure to identify what you will do, what gets outsourced, and what will have to wait for later on.

Fourth, view the book marketing exercise as a numbers game: the more you ask for, the more often, from more people positions you to get more favorable results.

Fifth, seek help: ask for or cash-in favors; trade with others, buy things like a publicist, ads, or reviews; beg for free help, borrow useful things or resources, or, if desperate, steal what you need.

Sixth, don’t expect that your book, if it is even as great as you think it is, will get discovered without you driving its exposure.

Seventh, be prepared to make a diversified effort. Your book marketing portfolio will consist of some disproportionate amount of each or most of these: speaking engagements, advertising, book awards, social media, website, blogging, news media, book reviews, etc.

So, what should you expect when your book gets published? Nothing.

The sooner you realize that, the sooner you will go on the offensive to make stuff happen. Take ownership of your marketing — no whining, excuses, or misunderstandings. You have the truth right here. Now live it. 

 

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/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum