Why Are People Buying Your Book?

 

 

Do you know why someone will buy your book? Are you aware of whether your book is one they feel they need and want, one that they desire, or one they are open to trying? Have you a sense of what type of reader you are targeting?

 

Authors write books out of a passion for the subject, a love of the writing craft, to impact people’s lives, to change society, to entertain, enlighten, educate, or inspire, or to use a business card to gain something else, such as the sale of a service or product or to build one’s brand. They may write as a passion project or to leave a legacy. But that’s why an author wrote a book, not why others will buy it.

 

So, why will people buy your book?

 

First, be aware of the obvious. People won’t buy what they don’t know exists. Every book needs a marketing boost for discoverability.

 

Second, they won’t buy what is out of their price range, exceeds the competitive norm, or can be found for free somewhere else.

 

Third, they buy based off of third-party validation from book reviewers, testimonials, or book awards. Other people need to test it and say it is very good.

 

Fourht, they see the book in places they respect, such as in a bookstore, featured on a popular podcast, advertised on their Facebook feed, or spoken of by an influencer.

 

Fifth, they buy books with attractive covers, titles that make sense, and that are packaged well (typeface, font, paper stock, images used, length).

 

Sixth, when you can differentiate the unique selling proposition, and convey this with your origin story, people are more apt to buy in. Sharing why your book was written and how you are perfectly positioned or qualified to write it will help move people to take an action step.

 

Seventh, people buy from people they know and trust. Word-of-mouth is powerful. To get it, your book must be exceptional and in the hands of many people.

 

Eighth, people don’t buy in a vacuum. They compare it to competing books in that genre, to other books outside that genre, and to other forms of content, such as films, plays, music, television, social media, web sites, etc.

 

Lastly, people buy from people they like. They may like how you sound or look. They may like whatever demographics that are associated with you (gender, race, religion, nationality, age, etc.). They may agree with your political views or connect with you on a personal level. If you sound knowledgeable, authentic, confident, or compassionate, you may also score points with your potential reader–consumer.

 

Know why people are buying your book and play those things up. Ignore your weaknesses or drawbacks – there is not much that you can do there. It doesn’t even matter if 90% of the people don’t know your book exists or don’t like it even if they are aware of it. Just focus your efforts on the pool of people who are best positioned to be your customers.

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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