How to Sell Books When Your Network Fails You

by Penny Sansevieri | Aug 25, 2022 | Book Marketing Basics

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I realize the title of this post is a little ominous, especially when it comes to something as critical as figuring out how to sell books.

But believe it or not, it’s a very real problem that a lot of authors deal with in some capacity.

I hear it and see it all the time, authors that literally bank on having a successful book launch because they have an extensive personal or professional network.

Or because they’re already clocking 30K followers on Instagram or TikTok.

Or because all their closest friends raved about the early draft they sent around.

But the reality is, no matter how popular you are online, or how successful you are in your industry, or how many of your nearest and dearest have supported you along the way, good intentions from others don’t guarantee book sales.

And this isn’t just a hypothetical cautionary tale.

I consulted with a very well-known, mega-celebrity who 100% knew her typical fan base was not going to show up to buy her upcoming title. She also understood she had an uphill climb when it came to book promotion and figuring out how to sell books to the right people.

So what do you do about it?

Absolutely tap into your network, remind them over and over again that you have a book out, you’d appreciate it if they’d pick up a copy and leave a review, but have a lot of other solid book marketing strategies planned out as well.

In fact, create a smart book marketing plan that does not rely on your network, and everything above and beyond that will be a welcome bonus to all your hard work.