Building a Readership After Publishing: 5 Effective Platforms and Strategies
BookPublishing.io
Building a Readership After Publishing: 5 Effective Platforms and Strategies
Ever wondered what it takes to make a book publishing journey truly rewarding? Insights from a Creative Director and an Associate Editor reveal the secrets. The first expert emphasizes the joy of hearing from inspired readers, while the final tip highlights the importance of focusing on marketing efforts. Explore the full spectrum of experiences and advice with a total of five expert insights.
- Hear From Inspired Readers
- Connect With Readers at Book Release
- Impact Lives With Your Writing
- Build Meaningful Relationships
- Focus on Marketing Efforts
Hear From Inspired Readers
The most rewarding part of my publishing journey has been hearing from readers who found meaning or inspiration in my work. It's a profound connection that makes all the effort worthwhile.
For new authors, my advice is to embrace feedback and be open to revisions. Your first draft isn't your final product—keep honing your voice and story until it resonates!
Connect With Readers at Book Release
The most rewarding part of the entire book-publishing journey for me has been the book release and connecting with readers. There's nothing quite like seeing my work out in the world and hearing how it resonates with people. Those moments—whether it's a heartfelt email from a reader or a lively discussion at a book signing—remind me why I write in the first place. It's a beautiful reminder that stories can create connections and spark conversations.
That said, the editing process can be brutal but is absolutely necessary. It's often where the real magic happens, even if it feels tough at times. I learned to trust the professionals involved in this process—editors, agents, and marketing teams—because their insights can elevate a manuscript in ways I hadn't imagined.
For authors just starting out, my advice would be to embrace the entire journey, including the challenges. Don't shy away from feedback; instead, see it as an opportunity for growth. Build a supportive network, engage with your readers, and remember that each step, even the difficult ones, is part of shaping your voice and your story. Most importantly, keep writing! Your unique perspective is what the world needs.
Impact Lives With Your Writing
When writing the flagship product for my company, the Own Your Future interactive journal, I found it incredibly rewarding to think about all the lives I would have the ability to impact as a result of the finished product. I am a helper by nature, although typically on a 1:1 basis. Having the ability to impact thousands—to give them the guidance, tools, and support to finally achieve their dreams through the work I was doing—was a very satisfying and rewarding outcome of my publishing journey.
To authors who are just starting out, my best advice is this: Keep writing until you finish. I've spoken to many aspiring writers, and they have all become plagued by self-doubts in the middle of the writing process. They say things like, "Why would anyone care what I wrote?" "I need more credentials and experience to be able to write this book as an authority." It's natural that doubt would creep in when we're taking on a new or significant challenge and putting ourselves out there to be judged by others.
One of the principles Own Your Future Journey highlights for success is Resilience. We encourage participants to feel the emotions (the fear, self-doubt, and discouragement—whatever comes their way), but to take action anyway. It's through our process and ability to push forward that we truly achieve success. The finish line is there for any person who can finish the race (no matter how long it takes them to get there). The writing process is challenging, and the editing process even more so. Hold firm to your "why" and keep writing until you reach the finish line.
Build Meaningful Relationships
My book came out last year, and there's one small thing and one big thing that have both been really rewarding.
The big thing is all of the relationships that I've made throughout this journey. I've met so many interesting people, from other authors to podcast hosts to event organizers to even just readers that I never would have connected with if not for my book. These relationships have been enriching in and of themselves, but many have also been productive professional relationships as well.
The small thing is the thrill of seeing my book on a shelf. Every time I pop into a bookstore and find my book, I get an overwhelming sense of pride—it doesn't get old. And when I see it on a friend's bookshelf in their home, that's an even more special treat.
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Happy to chat more! My book is "Simply Put: Why Clear Messages Win—and How to Design Them" (Berrett-Koehler, 2023), and I'm also a marketing consultant and professor.
Focus on Marketing Efforts
"Want to visit us in Hawaii?"
My face felt numb from shock and excitement. Somehow, my book marketing activities had attracted friends, business partners, and a trip to Hawaii.
I responded to the Facebook message right away, the lightness of gratitude filling my chest.
But the most rewarding part? It was visiting the people on the Big Island and giving them a copy of my book.
Seeing in person the tangible impact my book had on my readers was invaluable.
Irreplaceable.
Humbling.
And I had made business connections, made great money, and saw migrating baby whales off the coast of a tropical island all at the same time.
The only way I was able to do that was by putting all of my focus and effort into marketing my book, not just writing it.
That meant analyzing the market, spending hours in Facebook DMs, sending out 800 advance-reader copies, optimizing my Amazon page, and investing in Amazon ads and world-class book marketing education.
The result?
Over 15,000 copies sold (and counting).
Don't just write your book. Work with an experienced coach to guide you through how to create a book that sells.
You'll impact thousands of lives.
And your business will grow because of it, too.