How Can Authors Work Their Network?

  

Do you know 10 people? Do each of them know 10 people? Well, then you have a connection to 100 people. Chances are you know more than 10 individuals, and they each likely know more than 10 apiece.  You probably have access to a few hundred, even a few thousand people.  

Ok, so how do you create and harvest a network that can be utilized to sell more books? In other words, who do you know who can do something for you and how do you get them to do something for you? 

Who do you know?  

Make a list of everyone you know. Leave no one out. Start with family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, alumni, house of worship, leagues, clubs, trade associations, condo boards, sorority sisters, charities affiliated with, friendly shop owners and workers, parents of your kids’ friends, and anyone you interact with. 

Who do they know? 

·         Book-Buying Consumers

·         Book stores

·         Libraries

·         Social media

·         News media

·         Influencers

·         Book clubs

·         Speaking opportunities

 

What do they do or know? You can ask for: 

·         Ideas

·         Information

·         Introductions

·         Lists/Resources

·         Favors

·         Book sales

·         Reviews

 

What will incentivize them? 

·         Beg

·         Trade

·         Guilt/Fear

·         Hope/Values Alignment

·         Pride

·         Bonus Reward or Pay

 

This only works if you: 

·         Believe it will

·         Try hard in a consistent manner

·         Act opportunistically and take the initiative

·         Make a great list of connections

·         Reach out to them personally

·         Follow-up with them

·         Keep good notes 

I know, I know. You may say you live in a small town, you are retired, your family is not big or close, and you have few friends. I have two answers: 1. So what? Work whomever you know and their connections. 2. Expand your circle and start reaching out to strangers.  

The way to succeed is to utilize the efforts, resources, skills, knowledge, or connections of others. Open your mouth, extend your hand, smile, and talk it up! 

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 8,600,000 page views. With nearly 5,700+ 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