How Do You Successfully Market a Book?
So, how do you successfully market a book without feeling pushy or self-promotional? This is something I struggle with because we write alone in the darkness, but we are forced to market out in the open under the brightest light—the light of scrutiny. Not just scrutiny for the work itself, but for the way you might be saturating your social media feeds with endless—or perceived endless—book promotion. At times, it feels a little gross and self-serving.
But how do you separate the work itself from the work it takes to get the work out there? How do you successfully market a book without pushing it and promoting it on a regular basis? How much is too much? Where’s the balance?
The truth is, I have no idea. I’m just learning as I go.
How Much Is Too Much?
When it comes to social media, I ask myself all the time: How much is too much? This is a difficult question to answer. I just tried to post about my book without cramming it down everyone’s throat. And, I see what works and what doesn’t.
For the most part, my posts are well received in terms of likes and engagement. But there are times when I get fewer views and likes and question the effectiveness of a post. There are even times when I decide to delete it altogether and post something different instead. It’s a constant process of trial and error—seeing what gets engagement and what causes people to scroll on past.
Every time I prepare a social media post about my book, I first ask myself whether it’s been long enough since my last one. And how long is long enough?
Again, I have no idea. I’m just trying to figure it all out. Now that my book has been out a while, my posts are fewer and farther between. That seems appropriate. But, there are times when something relates to my book, and it makes sense to share on social media. For example, when I am a featured guest on a podcast or a friend posts a review of my book. I love to shine the spotlight the people who take the time to show their support for me.
And then there’s the challenge of keeping it fresh and interesting. How do I engage with my friends and followers while also reaching new ones? More importantly, how do I generate real interest in my book that will, in turn, generate more sales?
Why I Wrote My Book
And let’s be clear: It’s not about the money. I never did this for money. I wrote Cancer Don’t Care to offer hope and inspiration to those who find themselves on this journey—the breast cancer journey—and to those who love and support them. I wrote it as a way of paying it forward.
But even when you create something with the purest of intentions, putting yourself out there can be a vulnerable experience. I’ve had a couple of people leave some really horrible comments. The kind that stop you in your tracks and make you question everything you’re doing. And these weren’t just comments from random strangers. Oh no—these were from people who know me, albeit at a far distance.
I won’t lie—it bothered me at first. But then you stop, take a breath, and realize that you have to let it go and keep going. A couple of nasty comments aren’t worth your attention. I don’t invite negativity; I send it packing! The people who need your words, your story, and your message are all that matters. Let go of the rest.
What I’ll Do Differently for Words of Rhythm
With my upcoming book, Words of Rhythm, I want to approach marketing with more purpose and intention. That means thinking beyond just promotion and focusing on connection—continuing to engage with my audience in a way that feels natural and meaningful. I plan to be more deliberate with my messaging, ensuring that each post, conversation, and collaboration serves a purpose in sharing the heart of this book. Whether through storytelling, behind-the-scenes insights, personal reflections, or meaningful discussions, I want to create an experience around Words of Rhythm that resonates with people on a deeper level.
Still, the challenge, as it was during the writing of Cancer Don’t Care, is that when I’m writing, I’m focused on the writing. Not just focused, but I am somewhere else entirely. I’m in my creative space—physically and mentally. It’s very difficult for me to compartmentalize the writing from the marketing.
So, I at least sketched out a pseudo book marketing plan before I sat down to begin working on the book. And like everything, it is a work in progress. And I am doing my best to learn the ropes by watching what other authors do. Spending some of my off hours in the trenches of book marketing research. But research, planning, and marketing exist on a different plane from writing. And I can’t be in two places at once.
So, how do you successfully market a book without feeling pushy or self-promotional? All I know is, I keep showing up. I keep learning. I keep writing. And I keep figuring it out—one post, one page, one book, and one person at a time.