Do You Need A Book Marketing Pep Talk?

 

 

Every author needs to market their book. Plenty do nothing. Others try, weakly, while others try hard — but with mixed results. There is enough evidence to support one should market better but too many lack something — time or money or awareness of what to do or the knowledge of how to execute well or courage or confidence or a combination of several of these things. All that said, most authors could use a swift kick in the ass to jumpstart their marketing campaign.



So, here is your pep talk.

Look at the positive: you can do this! Plus, you have to, so it is not a choice, it is a command. 

Your book marketing mindset must reject whining, fear, or failure. You don’t have to be envious of authors who succeed, nor quick to find a brotherhood with authors who fail to market well. Only assume you can succeed, and do not waste time second-guessing yourself.

Create a solid marketing plan with an intention to execute each step that will be needed to complete your tasks and serve your goals.

Seek to learn what you don’t know and to acquire the skills and information to carry out your campaign. You may need to network, outsource, and pour in some blood, sweat, and tears.

Find a work-around for challenges and obstacles that will pop up, such as these:
* time: manage it better
* money: invest more in your marketing
* confidence: develop this
* skills: try, practice, repeat until new habits form
* knowledge: learn what you can about marketing

Get help:
* buy book reviews amd advertisements
* hire a publicist, a social media assistant, and/or a web site designer
* trade for help
* beg for assistance
* seek out favors
* do some give-aways

Do the things that you can do:
* create an email signature
* craft a good elevator speech
* write a blog
* post regularly on social media
* research best book marketing practices
* meet people who can help you
* create a business card
* hand out fliers
* join writer associations

 

Here is the bottom line. Book marketing is like going on a diet, managing your finances, or nurturing healthy relationships: They take work and they can have a high payoff. So, don’t look to anyone else but yourself. Take ownership of your marketing and push your limits. 

 

You can do this! 

 

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum 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 5,400,000 page views. With 5,500+ 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 2026.

 

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