It's Not About Book Marketing Anymore ...
With Authors Empire Workshop right around the corner I'm really tightening my thinking on 'book marketing' and shifting it almost entirely to 'authority building'. You see - book marketing puts the focus on launch plans, social posts, ads, podcast pitches, and short bursts of promotion. And when sales slow down, authors assume they need to âmarket harder.â And what we have seen in 8.5 years is that it doesn't work for the majority of authors. What does work? When you see your book not as a product you promote, but rather an asset you build upon. Thatâs what this flywheel represents. Instead of asking, âHow do I sell more books?â the better question is, âHow does this book strengthen my authority so everything gets easier?â And "What else can I do to build my authority with this book?" It starts with clarifying the entity. Who are you in the market? What do you stand for? What problem do you own? Then you activate that authority by aligning your assets. Your messaging, your platforms, your positioning all need to point in the same direction. Next, you package it. Structure your presence so people understand your expertise quickly and clearly. Then you ignite it. Expand your influence through speaking, media, community, and partnerships. Finally, it compounds. Credibility builds on credibility. Visibility leads to more visibility. Opportunities multiply. Thatâs the flywheel as we are seeing it now. Book marketing is a push. Authority is a system. The real question is not how youâre promoting your book. Itâs whether your book is strengthening your authority. Where are you in this flywheel right now? By the way - the flywheel works the best when you plan for it right from the moment you start thinking about writing a book.