Ever since I started promoting books and authors over three
decades ago, the following trends have taken place:
a. More books are published annually than ever
before, up about 12-fold for traditionally published books since my career
began. This has been a long-standing trend that does not look like it will
slow down.
b. Authors moved from vanity publishing into
self-publishing and hybrid publishing, and the majority of published books each
year are no longer from traditional publishers. In fact, around only 1 in 7
new books comes from a traditional publisher. There are millions of new books
coming out each year from the non-traditional publishing world — and growing.
c. The number of media placements needed to
impact book sales and grow one’s brand keeps increasing. There are fewer
outlets that have a high command of influence. Further, author-generated media
like social media, has increasingly grown in importance.
So, what does this mean for today’s author?
1. Understand that to be a successful writer
may take some redefining. The average book sells fewer copies than it used
to. So many titles are competing for a certain amount of money available from
consumers and libraries. Too many people don’t dedicate time to read books
while others choose to obtain their books for free — online giveaways, amazon
unlimited free kindle, libraries, borrow from friends.
2. Authors who produce more books are likely to
be more successful, meaning being prolific increases your chances of visibility
and getting more sales. Writing a series, trilogy, or sequels is a good
idea, because once someone discovers, reads, and likes one of your books, they
are likely to explore your other books.
3. The key is discoverability and getting
word-of-mouth exposure for your books. This can happen only with
intentionality on your part. You must market your books on a consistent basis,
either through things like social media, speaking engagements, applying for
book awards, and securing paid book reviews. You must also utilize the help of
a book marketing consultant or a book promoter, someone who can either guide
and advise you, or do things for you, such as secure news media interviews,
write press kit materials, develop a web site, and media coach you.
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
6,750,000 page views. With 5,600+ posts over the past 15 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 2026, 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) and (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/10-things-my-dog-taught-me-about-marketing-books). 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, three times at BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers
Association, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod
Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, five
times at Morgan James Publishing Red Carpet, 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
