Best Books on Book Marketing, in Reading Order
This curriculum is built for authors who already understand the basics of publishing and want a serious, strategic command of book marketing — from pre-launch platform building through long-tail sales. The four stages move from mindset and platform foundations, through launch execution and advertising mechanics, to advanced audience monetization and sustainable sales systems.
Platform & Positioning Foundations
IntermediateUnderstand what an author platform is, why it matters before launch, and how to position yourself and your book for a specific, reachable audience.
▸ Study plan for this stage
Pace: 6–7 weeks, ~25–30 pages/day (approximately 3 weeks per book, with 1 week for integration and exercises)
- An author platform is a direct communication channel with your audience built before, during, and after book launch—not a vanity metric but a business asset
- Platform building requires identifying and serving a specific audience segment rather than trying to appeal to everyone
- Your personal brand and book positioning must align; they reinforce each other and create a coherent narrative
- The StoryBrand framework positions your book (and you) as the guide, not the hero—your reader is the hero of their own story
- Clarity of positioning comes from understanding your reader's problem, desire, and stakes, then articulating how your book helps them win
- Platform is built through consistent, valuable communication across owned channels (email, website, social) before you need it
- Positioning requires a clear point of view and willingness to exclude audiences that don't fit your niche
- Your platform and positioning work together: platform is the megaphone, positioning is what you say into it
- What is an author platform, and why is it more valuable to build it before your book launches rather than after?
- How do you identify your specific, reachable audience, and why is niche positioning more effective than broad appeal?
- What are the core elements of the StoryBrand framework, and how do you apply it to position yourself and your book?
- What is the relationship between your personal brand and your book's positioning, and how should they reinforce each other?
- What are the key owned channels for building platform, and how should you prioritize them based on where your audience spends time?
- How do you craft a clear positioning statement that articulates your reader's problem, your solution, and the stakes of change?
- Read 'Platform' (Chapters 1–4) and list the three core platform pillars Hyatt identifies; then audit your current presence across those pillars and score yourself 1–10 on each
- Identify your specific target audience for your book: create a one-page audience profile including their primary problem, desired outcome, and where they currently seek solutions
- Map your current communication channels (email, social media, website, podcast, etc.) and categorize them as owned, earned, or paid; identify gaps and prioritize the top 3 owned channels to develop
- Read 'Building A StoryBrand' and apply the 7-part StoryBrand framework to your book: write a positioning statement that positions your reader as the hero and your book as the guide to their transformation
- Draft a 'positioning statement' (150–200 words) that clearly articulates: who your ideal reader is, what problem your book solves, what transformation they'll experience, and why you're the credible guide
- Create a 90-day platform-building action plan with specific, measurable goals for one owned channel (e.g., email list growth, blog posts, social content frequency) tied to your positioning
Next up: This stage establishes the foundation—who you are, who you serve, and what you stand for—which directly enables the next stage to focus on the tactical execution of reaching that audience through specific marketing channels and campaigns.
The definitive starting point for author platform building — covers website, social presence, and audience-first thinking. Establishes the vocabulary every later book assumes you know.
Teaches you to clarify your book's message so marketing copy, pitches, and ads actually convert. Read this before writing a single piece of marketing material.
Email Lists & Direct Audience Ownership
IntermediateBuild and nurture an email list that becomes your most reliable, algorithm-proof sales channel for every book you launch.
▸ Study plan for this stage
Pace: 6–7 weeks, ~40–50 pages/day. Week 1–2: "Perennial Seller" (focus on audience-building chapters). Week 3–4: Complete "Perennial Seller" + begin "Email Marketing Rules." Week 5–7: Deep dive into "Email Marketing Rules" with practical application.
- Building a 'minimum viable audience' before launch (Holiday's foundation for long-term sales)
- Why email lists are superior to social media algorithms for direct, owned-audience communication
- The psychology of list-building: permission, trust, and consistent value delivery
- Segmentation and personalization strategies to increase engagement and conversion rates
- Email sequence architecture: welcome series, nurture campaigns, and launch sequences
- Testing and optimization: A/B testing subject lines, send times, and content types to maximize open and click rates
- Compliance and deliverability fundamentals (CAN-SPAM, authentication, list hygiene)
- Converting email subscribers into book buyers through strategic messaging and offers
- Why does Ryan Holiday emphasize building an audience before you have a finished book, and how does this connect to email list strategy?
- What makes email lists more valuable than social media followers for book authors, according to the material?
- How do you ethically grow an email list without resorting to spam or misleading tactics?
- What are the key elements of an effective welcome email sequence, and why does it matter for long-term engagement?
- How should you segment your email list, and what different messages might you send to different segments?
- What metrics should you track to measure email campaign success, and how do you use them to improve?
- How do you balance promotional content with value-driven content to keep subscribers engaged and prevent unsubscribes?
- What is the relationship between email list size, engagement rate, and actual book sales?
- Audit your current audience channels (social media, website, existing contacts) and calculate your starting 'minimum viable audience' size; identify gaps.
- Create a lead magnet (free chapter, exclusive short story, or reading guide) specifically designed to attract your target book readers and write the landing page copy.
- Design a 5-email welcome sequence for new subscribers: introduce yourself, deliver the lead magnet, share your author story, provide value, and make a soft pitch.
- Set up email list infrastructure: choose a platform (ConvertKit, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, etc.), configure authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and test deliverability.
- Write and send 4 weeks of nurture emails (one per week) that provide genuine value to subscribers without selling; track open rates and click rates.
- Conduct an A/B test on 2 subject lines for a promotional email; analyze results and document what you learned about your audience's preferences.
- Create 2–3 audience segments (e.g., 'engaged readers,' 'inactive subscribers,' 'recent sign-ups') and draft different email messages for each.
- Plan and outline a launch email sequence for your next book: pre-launch teasers, launch day announcement, post-launch follow-ups, and limited-time offer emails.
Next up: This stage establishes email as your owned, algorithm-proof sales engine; the next stage will teach you how to leverage this list strategically across multiple book launches and build a sustainable author business model.
Reframes marketing as a long game rooted in word-of-mouth and direct relationships — the perfect mindset bridge before diving into list-building tactics.
The most thorough, practical guide to email strategy: list hygiene, segmentation, deliverability, and sequences — everything needed to turn subscribers into buyers.
Launch Planning & Execution
IntermediateDesign and execute a structured book launch — from pre-launch buzz and advance reader teams to launch-week tactics that drive rankings and reviews.
▸ Study plan for this stage
Pace: 4–5 weeks, ~25–30 pages/day (approximately 150–180 pages total)
- Building an email list as your primary launch asset before publication
- Creating a structured pre-launch campaign with advance reader teams and beta readers
- Designing a launch week timeline with coordinated tactics across multiple channels
- Using reader magnets and lead pages to convert interest into email subscribers
- Leveraging your existing audience and building momentum through social proof and reviews
- Pricing strategy and promotional tactics to drive initial sales and rankings
- Post-launch follow-up systems to convert launch momentum into sustained sales
- Why does Tim Grahl emphasize building an email list before launch, and how does this differ from relying on social media alone?
- What are the key components of an advance reader team, and how should you recruit and manage them?
- What is a reader magnet, and how does it function as part of a pre-launch strategy?
- Walk through a typical launch week timeline—what should happen in the days before, during, and after official launch?
- How do you use pricing promotions and visibility tactics (like free days or price drops) to drive rankings and reviews during launch week?
- What post-launch activities should you prioritize to maintain momentum and convert one-time buyers into repeat readers?
- Build or audit your email list: Create a reader magnet (free chapter, exclusive short story, or downloadable guide) and set up a simple lead page to capture emails before your next launch.
- Map your advance reader team: Identify 20–50 potential advance readers from your existing network, create recruitment messaging, and establish a system for distributing ARCs and collecting feedback.
- Design a launch week calendar: Create a detailed day-by-day timeline for launch week, including email sends, social media posts, promotional activities, and outreach moments.
- Write your pre-launch email sequence: Draft 3–5 emails to send to your list in the weeks leading up to launch, focusing on building anticipation and driving pre-orders.
- Execute a mini-launch test: If you have an existing book or short work, apply Grahl's tactics to a smaller launch (free promotion, ARC team, email sequence) and document results.
- Analyze a successful book launch: Study a recent launch in your genre using Grahl's framework—identify the email strategy, ARC approach, and launch-week tactics used, then note what you'd replicate.
Next up: This stage equips you with the tactical execution framework to drive immediate sales and visibility; the next stage will likely focus on sustaining that momentum through longer-term reader relationships, community building, and platform development beyond the launch window.
Read after the Blueprint to deepen the connection-based marketing philosophy — shifts focus from a single launch event to building ongoing reader relationships that compound over time.
Paid Advertising & Long-Tail Sales
ExpertRun profitable Amazon and Facebook/Meta ad campaigns, understand retailer algorithms, and build a system that sells books consistently months and years after launch.
▸ Study plan for this stage
Pace: 8–10 weeks, ~40–50 pages/day (with implementation sprints between books)
- Amazon Ads architecture: campaigns, ad groups, keywords, bid strategies, and how to structure accounts for profitability (from Amazon Ads Unleashed)
- Customer journey from stranger to superfan: email capture, nurturing sequences, and building a direct audience independent of platform algorithms (from Strangers To Superfans)
- Visibility mechanics on Amazon and retail platforms: keyword research, categories, pricing psychology, and how algorithms rank books (from Let's Get Visible)
- Profitable ad campaign fundamentals: ACOS (Advertising Cost of Sale), break-even calculations, scaling winners, and pausing losers systematically
- Long-tail sales systems: how to maintain consistent sales 6–24 months post-launch through evergreen ads, email funnels, and reader retention
- Retailer algorithm optimization: understanding how Amazon, Apple Books, and other platforms surface books to readers organically
- Building a sustainable marketing stack: integrating ads, email, pricing, and category strategy into one cohesive system
- How do you structure an Amazon Ads account (campaigns, ad groups, keywords) to maximize profitability and avoid wasting budget on low-intent searches?
- What is ACOS, why does it matter, and how do you determine a profitable ACOS target for your specific book and genre?
- How does the customer journey from 'stranger to superfan' work, and what role does email capture and nurturing play in long-term book sales?
- What are the key visibility factors that influence how Amazon and other retailers rank and surface your book to readers?
- How do you build a system that generates consistent sales months or years after a book's launch, rather than relying on one-time promotional spikes?
- What is the relationship between paid ads, organic visibility, and email marketing in a sustainable book marketing system?
- Audit your current Amazon Ads account (or set up a test account): map out your campaign structure, identify any inefficient ad groups, and calculate your current ACOS by campaign and keyword.
- Run a keyword research exercise using Amazon's search bar and tools mentioned in Amazon Ads Unleashed: identify 20–30 high-intent keywords for your book, categorize them by intent level, and draft a campaign structure around them.
- Set up a basic email capture funnel (landing page + email sequence): create a lead magnet (free chapter, exclusive scene, or reader guide), build a 3–5 email nurture sequence, and calculate the lifetime value of an email subscriber vs. a one-time ad click.
- Conduct a visibility audit on Amazon: research your book's current category placement, analyze the top 10 competing titles in your category, and identify 5–10 keywords where you could improve ranking.
- Create a 90-day ad campaign plan: define your ACOS target, set daily budgets, plan keyword bids, and establish metrics for pausing underperforming keywords (e.g., keywords with >$3 CPC and <5% conversion).
- Build a long-tail sales projection: map out how you'll maintain sales 6, 12, and 24 months post-launch using a combination of evergreen ads, email campaigns, and organic visibility improvements.
Next up: This stage equips you with the tactical and strategic tools to run profitable, scalable ad campaigns and build systems that generate consistent revenue long after launch—preparing you for the next stage, which will likely focus on multi-book series strategy, cross-promotion, and building a sustainable author business across multiple revenue streams.
The most comprehensive hands-on guide to Amazon Advertising for authors — covers keyword targeting, bid strategy, and scaling campaigns, which is the highest-ROI paid channel for most books.
Focuses on the full reader journey from discovery to loyal fan, tying together retailer algorithms, metadata, and advertising into a cohesive long-term sales strategy.
Gaughran's deep dive into retailer algorithms and discoverability — the ideal capstone that shows how platform, email, launch, and ads all interact to keep a book selling indefinitely.
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