What's Your Book Marketing Strategy?

 

I hear all kinds of things from authors who seek glory for their books. Here is a sampling: 

“I need to do something big, something different from what everyone else is doing.”

But they ignore tackling the things that are more easily achievable.

“I want to write and have others promote my books.”

It is good to get help, but authors must still do some things on their own.

“I have done everything that could be done to market my book, but have few sales to show for it.”

Chances are you did not do everything, nor did you do it as well as it should be done.

“The book is great and should sell itself.”

Don’t we wish! It takes time, money, help, persistence, hard work, connections, and luck to break through — not randomness. Hope is not a strategy. 

My approach to book marketing is simple: Start with the low-hanging fruit and obvious stuff that one needs to build an author brand. Then experiment and try a few long-shot approaches. Maybe you will get lucky.

Start with creating the tools needed to build a platform. This means:

Open several social media accounts: improve your profile, increase your posting frequency, improve the quality content, use the platform to network with your targeted readers.

Have a web site — and not just a social media presence or an amazon page. Use words, charts, photos, reviews, book excerpts, blog posts, book giveaways, free content, media, and anything that you can create or buy that gets your message across powerfully.

Craft targeted pitch letters for the news media, seeking speaking engagements, and soliciting testimonials.

Research your lists of the people and institutions that you plan to reach out to, such as targeted media outlets, book awards, bookstores, and family and friends.

Join writer associations based on your location, such as Florida Writers Association, your book’s genre, such as Romance Writers Association of America, or general ones, like IBPA.

Identify the keywords and terms needed for string SEO on your website, social media, and Amazon page. Develop the hashtags, and headlines you will want to incorporate in your messaging.

Get third-party validation: Ask for testimonials, get paid reviews, and apply to book awards and writing contests. 

Develop a strong elevator pitch and be prepared to succinctly play your book up anywhere, anytime.

Pursue news media coverage, including local media where you live and where you grew up. Create a press kit and research the media to pursue appropriate feature stories, interviews, and byline article opportunities.

Hire a professional to help you with certain marketing aspects, but do not expect to outsource everything. 

In short, no matter what you think book marketing is or should be, I can guarantee you that some measure of savvy book marketing will be needed to give your book a competitive chance to succeed.  

What is your book marketing strategy?

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 11 million page views. With over 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