Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Associates links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a couple of pennies (at no extra charge to you).

I learned about Make a Big Impact With Your Book: Author Marketing Strategies for Long-Term Success by book marketer Melanie Herschorn on social media.

Without looking the book up on Amazon, I contacted the author for a review copy. The title told me that it’s a book you’ll want to know about. (I mean, if you’re reading a book marketing blog, you’re probably interested in long-term book marketing success.)

I didn’t even look at the Amazon description before I started reading the book. Again, the title was so broadly on-target with what most of my blog readers want to learn, that I didn’t think I needed to.

That was a mistake.

Note to self: Always read the book’s description

It’s why I was surprised when I saw in the third paragraph of the first page of text that the book is for “thought leaders” who have written a nonfiction book. That’s a pretty narrow focus.

Huh.

Only then did I pull the book up on Amazon.

The description clearly says,“Are you a nonfiction or children’s book author with a powerful message to share with the world? Do you dream of becoming a thought leader, increasing your book sales, and leaving a lasting impact on your readers?”

Whoops.

Stop now if you write fiction

The fact that it’s for a narrower audience than I expected is not a dealbreaker, of course. (But it does explain why my Kindle announced it was a one-hour read and the description noted the paperback version is just 115 pages.)

And really, so much of what works with nonfiction book marketing also applies to fiction.

Except not in this case – and that’s okay. Most of Make a Big Impact With Your Book won’t help novelists.

The key to long-term book marketing success

This book is built around the premise that its readers are mission-driven (yes, cynical me rolled her eyes while reading that chapter), and the advice focuses 100% on content marketing.

The Content Marketing Institute defines content marketing as “a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.”

It adds that when you use content marketing, you aren’t pitching products or services – in this case, a book. Instead, you’re providing your target audience with relevant information that helps them in some way.

It’s an approach designed to build trust in the entity providing the useful content.

All good. This blog is an example of content marketing, so you know I appreciate the strategy’s value.

Repurpose your book’s content for long-term book marketing success

The author wisely advises readers to build their content marketing plan from their book’s content. She explains that you can use it to create:

• Blog posts
• White papers
• Podcasts
• Emails
• Social media posts
• Lead magnets
• Guest blog posts
• Articles for blogging platforms such as Medium and Substack
• Public speaking
• LinkedIn articles and newsletters
• Recorded videos
• Live videos
• Online summit presentations

(I’ll add one more to her list: tip sheets.)

This strategy is absolutely a smart timesaver.

Herschorn shares more “what” and “why” than “how,” though. She writes about what you need to do, but I felt like you’d need more instruction on how to do much of it.

Still, repurposing your book’s content into several different forms for marketing purposes is smart.

Will the book help children’s book authors?

Back to that book description I overlooked…it says it’s for children’s book authors.

Um, no.

The content marketing strategy might work for some children’s book authors, especially nonfiction books for older readers.

But there’s no question that it’s a book for people who have written nonfiction books they want to use as giant business cards to generate consulting and speaking gigs, among other opportunities.

The author illustrates her points with helpful anecdotes from client experiences, but only one of them is for a children’s book.

Children’s book authors might need more help connecting the dots than the book offers.

Should you buy this book?

Take these specifics into account before buying this book:

• I’ll admit that I feel like the title makes it a bit of a bait and switch. A more accurate title would be: Make a Big Impact with Your Nonfiction Book: Content Marketing Strategies for Long-Term Success.
• The author’s advice is solid. And some of it is universal for all authors — specifically, why you must get clear on your target audience and where you’ll find them online, and the importance of consistency in your marketing.
• Readers get a URL for several helpful worksheets and tips. That URL is repeated over and over and over. Including screenshots for those bonus resources plus information on how to use the worksheets would have added value to the book. (But I love a digital download!)
• If you believe the book will help you, get the Kindle version after you’ve accumulated a few digital credits from Amazon. At $9.99 for the equivalent of 100 print pages, I think it’s a tad over-priced. But it’s more affordable than the higher-than-I’d-expect print price.
• This book is a big lead magnet for the author. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say Herschorn wrote this book to build credibility with the people her LinkedIn profile says are her ideal clients: law firm founders and million dollar business owners. She’s saying to them, “You can trust me to market your books.”

Regardless of Herschorn’s motive for writing Make a Big Impact With Your Book, it’s a useful, albeit limited, resource for nonfiction authors. Just don’t expect it to give you a complete blueprint. (Here’s a better book for that.)

What’s your best nonfiction book marketing tip? Please share it in a comment!

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Associates links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a couple of pennies (at no extra charge to you).

When Stephanie Chandler asked if I’d like a review copy of her new book for authors, I replied “Yes!” without even reading on to see what the book was about.

I’ve known, liked, and respected Stephanie, founder of the Nonfiction Authors Association, for years. I’ve read a few of her earlier books and know her content is relevant, well-written, and loaded with specific how-tos.

I was even more interested when I learned the new book’s title is “The Nonfiction Book Marketing and Launch Plan: Build Your Audience and Sell More Books.”

It’s a time-saver for you … and for me

I wondered if this might be a book I would write if I finally made the time to do it. I hoped it was, because it’s so much easier to recommend someone else’s excellent resource than it is to create your own, right?

Not surprisingly, this information-packed guide and workbook printed in an 8.5 by 11-inch format is everything I hoped it would be … and more.

(Feel free to skip the rest of the review and buy this workbook now.)

What’s “The Nonfiction Book Marketing and Launch Plan” about?

Part training manual, part workbook, this 243-page resource instructs you to:

• Acknowledge and accept the authority you gain from authoring a nonfiction book.
• Own that authority.
• Leverage that authority in ways that help sell books.

Stephanie uses the word “influencer” rather than “authority” or “expert.” I prefer “authority.” I encourage you to read Chapter 1, “Become an Influencer in Your Field” with the word “authority” in mind instead.

Why? Because in today’s lexicon, “influencer” and “influencer marketing” don’t necessarily have anything to do with knowledge or expertise.

When people hear “influencer,” they think of TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube stars. You can be a social media influencer simply because of your personal style, celebrity parent, or physique.

But if you’ve written a book on a subject, you’re an authority. A subject matter expert. You know what you’re talking about.

“The Nonfiction Book Marketing and Launch Plan” does a masterful job of showing how to make the most of your position of authority to promote your book.

Use these features to launch your nonfiction book

Stephanie combines three features to educate and prompt action:

• Instructional content
• Exercises with accompanying worksheets
• Checklists

You can write on the worksheets in the print book, but if you’d rather not – or if you’ve purchased the e-book – use the downloadable worksheets and checklists available at a URL provided in the book (email address required).

The instructional content addresses most tactics you’ll need to make your nonfiction book a success, from creating an effective website to pursuing podcast interviews and from public speaking to snagging publicity.

The chapter on author and book websites is outstanding. You might buy the book just for that information if you haven’t created your website yet or are looking to improve an existing site.

Blurbers and beta readers

I love the attention Stephanie gives to securing pre-publication blurbs – endorsements and testimonials – that validate and praise your content. Too many authors skip this step.

She focuses on securing them from other authors. I encourage you to look to other people who influence your target audience, too. I’ve had success with that approach for my books.

I wish the book offered more of a distinction between beta readers and launch team members, too. Beta readers provide early feedback on content. Launch team (also known as street team) members help promote the book when it’s published.

Some beta readers might join the launch team, but you’ll want to recruit non-beta readers to your launch or street team, too.

Buy this book, but don’t let it overwhelm you

You need this book. Get it here.

But … keep in mind that any time you find a resource as comprehensive as this one, you risk overwhelm. (The table of contents alone is seven pages.)

So, take your time with it.

You might already know some of what’s in there. Skip those sections. Jump to what’s new to you.

As you learn and complete the exercises, remember that you’re an authority. You’re an expert. You know more than the average person about your book’s topic.

Let “I’m an authority on this subject” be your mindset as you select the tactics you’ll incorporate into your book marketing plan.

And be sure to download my free Book Marketing Plan Template. It will let you take all you’ve learned from “The Nonfiction Book Marketing and Launch Plan” and drop it into a simple, easy to follow template. Use it as your blueprint as you move forward.

When you want to learn how to do something, do you prefer to learn from a book or a course? Please tell us in a comment.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Associate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a couple of pennies (at no extra charge to you).

I never know if I should be relieved or disappointed when I read a book about book marketing that validates what I already know.

The validation is definitely reassuring. But, I do love when the hours I spend reading someone else’s take on the subject gives me a few major “ahas.”

In this case, the lack of new insights for me is because How to Sell Your Book Today: Focus Your Book Marketing for the New Economy by a colleague I met recently, Karen Hodges Miller, is a Book Marketing 101 kind of book. Nearly every author needs a resource like that.

Here’s my take on this book.

Don’t let the book’s description fool you

“How can you sell your book in today’s new world of social distancing?” reads the first sentence of the book’s description. That’s soon followed by “So how do you market your book when you can’t hold an in-person event of more than a few people? Go digital.”

Because of this, I expected How to Sell Your Book Today, published in 2021, to focus completely on online strategies and tactics. It doesn’t though, and that’s okay.

The book includes a fair amount of information on in-person tactics. It felt like Karen wrote the book pre-pandemic, then tweaked the title and description to make it more timely.

But because of that “selling books during the COVID lockdown” positioning, I was surprised that the section on book launches included more specific information for in-person events than for virtual launch events. I expected to read tips for creating an engaging Zoom book party, something authors struggle with even today.

The content is relevant even now, as in-person events have returned for many.

What I like most about the book

Chapter 3, “Marketing basics,” is excellent. Its “10 Things to Remember” list that includes “The day you stop marketing your book is the day it stops selling,” is exactly what authors need to hear. I was high-fiving Karen as I read that section.

Karen continually delivers the message that you need to zero in on a specific audience (it’s not “everybody”) and you need to be marketing constantly. We all need to be reminded of these things, and repeating it in the book is a good thing.

One of my favorite sections in the book is Chapter 6, The 100 Review Book Launch.

Definitely follow the recommended process with one exception. Karen says that to get 100 reviews, you have to contact 100 people.

Nope. To get 100 reviews with outreach versus receiving them organically from readers you don’t know, you’ll have to contact more like 1,000 people. You already know that 100% of 100 people you contact won’t read and review the book.

I also appreciate how Karen acknowledges that marketing fiction is just plain harder than marketing nonfiction. She gives novelists a little extra help in Chapter 13, “Marketing Fiction.”

There’s also more information on snagging book publicity than you’ll find in most books like this.

The author’s style is clear, direct, and helpful. She’s that friend who looks over your shoulder to make sure you stay on track and on task.

Where I disagree

Karen’s written a helpful book about book marketing basics. But writing an honest review for you requires that I point out advice I disagree with. (Please forgive me, Karen!)

Don’t add people you know to your newsletter list.

Should you announce your book to everyone in your contacts list? Absolutely. But, as suggested, should you “Start your newsletter list by going through your email contacts and adding their names to the list”? No, no, no.

via GIPHY

Sending a book announcement one or two times to your contacts is fine. But emailing them repeatedly without their permission – without them opting-in to your email list – is against FTC guidelines. You could be identified as a spammer.

Don’t hound friends and family to write reviews.

It’s a great way to piss them off. I don’t read science fiction, so pushing me hard to review your science fiction book won’t generate a meaningful review on Amazon or Goodreads.

Will it add to your review count at the top of your sales page? Sure.

Will it create friction in our relationship? You betcha. Is that your goal?

Do the work to find other reviewers instead.

Don’t tempt Amazon.

Also, counter to what the book states, your family can’t review your book. I mean, sure, they can physically write and post one. But it’s against Amazons terms of service and puts your Amazon account – and your book sales – at risk.

Amazon’s customer product reviews policy states that violations include, “A family member or employee of the seller posts a review of the seller’s product or a competitor’s product.”

I understand why Karen recommends this. She believes that it’s unlikely that Amazon will figure out who’s connected to you, so you can probably get away with it.

I, on the other hand, have never gotten away with anything. When taking food out of the dining hall was prohibited my freshman year of college, I tried to smuggle a sandwich out in my purse anyway.

I didn’t get away with it.

My penalty was embarrassment. Yours might be losing access to the retailer that sells more books than any other site online.

Buy the book for book marketing basics

If you’re new to book marketing, How to Sell Your Book Today will help you. It’s an excellent, thorough, overview. And, importantly, it’s not overwhelming.

I think you’ll like it.

This book will help even if you aren’t a new author, too. There are specific sections, including the information on getting reviews, that will help all authors.

If you get even just a few gems from How to Sell Your Book Today that you can use for your book, the value will be far, far more than the $3.99 e-book price.

What’s the best book you’ve read on any topic related to book marketing? Please tell us in a comment. 

A book review is a literary criticism that expresses the reader’s opinion about the book’s content. It might be flattering; it might be unflattering.

An endorsement, also known as a book blurb or testimonial, is short, advance praise for your book from someone who influences your book’s target audience. They key word here is “praise.”

Two forms of book reviews

While endorsements are (nearly) always solicited, reviews aren’t always. They can happen organically when any random reader decides to critique your book.

Before Amazon, book reviews were written by professional reviewers — people whose job it is to read and critique books. Since Amazon initiated “customer reviews,” book reviews now come in two forms:

1. Professional media/editorial/literary/trade reviews (they go by many names)
2. Reader reviews

Professional reviews (media/editorial/literary/trade) are written by professional book reviewers. Their goal is to provide objective commentary that will help people decide if they want to read the book.

They can come from reviewers who work for publishing industry publications (such as Kirkus Reviews or Publisher’s Weekly), trade magazines, newspapers, or certain blogs or websites.

Publishers and authors solicit them in advance of publication for two reasons. First, so that they can pull excerpts to use as blurbs. And second, so that the reviews will be published around the time the book is released.

You solicit them from monthly, printed publications three to four months in advance of publication date. Newspapers, bloggers, online publications, and websites have shorter lead times, so you can contact them closer to your release date.

Reader reviews are exactly that — reviews from your book’s target audience. They’re reviews from the people you wrote the book for.

You can secure them before publication by giving away pre-publication review copies. Unlike literary reviews and blurbs, however, they can’t be posted on your Amazon sales page until the book’s publication date.

Still, if you’ve got a well-organized review campaign in place, it’s possible to get honest reviews posted and shared on or near your publication date so that people see honest reader feedback as soon as they visit the book’s sales page.

Book endorsements

Endorsements/blurbs/testimonials are secured pre-publication so that they can be featured:

• On the book’s front or back cover
• Inside the front pages
• On the book’s Amazon and other retail sales pages in the “Editorial Reviews” sections
• In your book’s Amazon A+ Content on your detail page
• In your marketing materials
• On your website

They might be from media/editorial/literary/trade reviewers, but more often than not, they’re from influential people in your book’s niche or category. The people you ask for a blurb are those your target readers like, trust, and respect.

You control endorsement visibility

You (or your publisher) control whether endorsements are or aren’t used and seen.

The expectation is that any influencer who takes the time to endorse your book will truly endorse it by saying something positive. If you get negative feedback from an endorser, you might be able to learn from the comments, but you won’t use any of them publicly.

If you get negative feedback from an endorser, you might be able to learn from the comments, but you won't use any of them publicly.Click to tweet

That said, a professional reviewer — as opposed to an influencer — can write and publish a less-than-flattering review. If that happens, you simply won’t pull an excerpt from that for your book marketing.

Endorsements in action

How will you use endorsements or excerpts from early reviews? Here are three ways a publisher of a thriller I just read (and loved), 56 Days, is using early endorsements from both professional reviewers and influencers.

Back cover

Editorial Reviews (click on the image to enlarge it)

Amazon A+ Content

Why should you care?

via GIPHY

Blurbs/endorsements/testimonials from influential people give your book credibility while reassuring your target audience that the book will deliver on its promise.

Honest reviews, whether they’re from media outlets or readers, help readers decide if your book is what they’re looking for in fiction or nonfiction. Even negative reviews are important, since what one reader didn’t like about your book might be exactly what another reader is looking for.

Make sure you’ve got strategies for soliciting both reviews and endorsements in your book marketing plan. They’re essential to your book’s long-term and ongoing success.

Make sure you've got strategies for soliciting both reviews and endorsements in your book marketing plan.Click to tweet

Resources that will help

Need help? I have two resources for you. The Build Book Buzz multi-media training program, “Blurbs, Endorsements, and Testimonials: How to Get Experts, Authorities, Celebrities, and Others to Endorse Your Book,” provides everything you need to secure pre-publication blurbs from influential individuals.

And, my Reader Book Review Forms — one each for fiction and nonfiction — help you get more reader reviews by taking the mystery out of the review-writing process for your fans.

It’s important to note that you can always solicit both endorsements and reviews. Work with your publisher (or do it yourself if you’re self-published) to update your Editorial Reviews section and cover as you acquire more endorsements.

You can never have too many reader reviews, too, so continue to pursue them as much as you can.

What’s keeping you from going after an endorsement from your dream book blurber? Tell us why you haven’t done it yet, and maybe we can get you past the obstacles. 

(Editor’s note: This article was first published in May 2015. It has been updated and expanded.)

Make it easier for readers by giving them a direct Amazon review link they can use to write an honest reader review.

I’ve created a short video that shows how to send them directly to the review form for your book on Amazon.

Finding your direct Amazon review link

All it takes is a few clicks. Here’s how to do it:

Abbreviated transcript/instructions:

1. On your book’s sales page, go to the review stars at the top under the book title. (No reviews yet? I cover that later in the video.)
2. Hover your mouse over the stars. Click on “see all customer reviews.” That takes me down the page to my reviews.
3. Underneath the summary of reviews, you’ll see the option to “review this product.” Click on “write a customer review.” It takes your readers to the review template. This is where readers review your book.
4. To share that specific link, go to top of your screen and copy the URL. Use a URL shortener (I use bit.ly but there are others) to make a shorter version.
5. When you don’t have reviews already, from your sales page, scroll down to customer reviews. (You’ll still have the customer review section.) You’ll see the “write a customer review” link. Click on that.
6. Copy that URL and shorten it.
7. Share the link with readers. In particular, include it when you give them the Build Book Buzz Reader Book Review Form.
8. Add it to the end of your book so readers can click on it in the e-version or  type it into a browser for the print version.

Why this is important

Like it or not, reader reviews are the “social proof” readers look for when making a decision about buying a book.

Most authors struggle to get reviews, so the easier you make it for readers to write a short, honest, and meaningful review, the more likely they will be to support you with a review.

The easier you make it for readers to write a short, honest, and meaningful review, the more likely they will be to support you with a review.Click to tweet

For help finding readers who write reviews, be sure to read “9 places to look for readers to write reviews” on this site.

What’s your best tip for getting reader reviews? Please tell us in a comment! 

“Does anyone have a book publishing checklist?”

It’s a common question in author groups.

In the past, I might have recommended using Google to find one, but now I can recommend Andrea Schmidt‘s new book, Almost Done Writing: Now What? A Guided Workbook for Self-Publishing Authors (Nonfiction).

Take a deep breath

Recognizing that new authors might be overwhelmed by the self-publishing process, Andrea uses words, design, and typography to quietly and gently guide them through the process.

In fact, Andrea’s “voice” is one of this book’s best features. She’s not your cheerleader; she’s your encourager, quietly touching your shoulder or nudging you to take a break when you start to feel overwhelmed.

She's not your cheerleader; she's your encourager, quietly touching your shoulder or nudging you to take a break when you start to feel overwhelmed.Click to tweet

It’s like having the nicest person you know sitting next to you as you take on a new challenge.

More workbook than how-to book

Almost Done Writing: Now What? is a thin workbook that offers an overview of everything from cover design to front and back matter and launch teams.

“Overview” is the key word here, as this is not a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know to self-publish a nonfiction book. Instead, it presents a high-level look at most topics covered, often giving them just a paragraph or two.

Along the way, Andrea  leads you through exercises that will help you create a compelling cover and better understand your target audience, among other things.

And that’s as it should be, since this is a workbook rather than just a how-to book.

Highlights

From my perspective, Andrea’s thought-provoking exercises are the best part of the book. In fact, the book title exercises alone are worth the price.

From my perspective, Andrea's thought-provoking exercises are the best part of the book.Click to tweet

I also appreciate the various checklists, including those for the front and back book matter. (And oh-by-the-way, much of the content applies to fiction as well as nonfiction.)

Each exercise includes space for your answers or brainstorming. There are also plenty of lined pages for “notes” and, at the end, blank monthly calendars for planning and scheduling.

I’ll admit, though, that I was sometimes confused a couple of times about how Andrea organized the book’s content. More than once, I stopped and thought, “Why is this here, rather than there?”

I think that shows that my brain approaches things differently. I mention it only so that if your brain works like mine, you won’t let it slow you down, because it shouldn’t.

And just a head’s up on word choice: Andrea uses the term “advance reviews” for endorsements, testimonials, and blurbs. I think some authors will think “reader reviews” when they see “advance reviews” so I want to get ahead of any potential confusion now.

Buy the print format

If you’re interested in this book, I recommend buying the printed version.

Completing the exercises and activities within the book, rather than in a separate notebook, will make it more useful for you. It will help to have that record in one package to refer to as you move through the publishing process.

Think of Almost Done Writing: Now What? A Guided Workbook for Self-Publishing Authors (Nonfiction) as a friend leading you to the finish line. It will get you there.

Do you have a favorite book publishing or marketing book? Maybe I’ll review it here! Please tell us in a comment. 

Ahem. Myth number two in my friend and colleague’s book is, “My publisher will sell and promote my book.”

There was my justification to continue with this review.

There is absolutely no question that if you’re new to book publishing, you need to read Terry’s slim new book. 

Myths and misconceptions galore

10 Publishing Myths * hits every myth or misconception about publishing and authorship that I can think of, but doesn’t stop there. In addition to providing an essential book publishing reality check (or 10), Terry shares helpful insights, anecdotes, and how-to information related to the myth. 

For example, for that second myth about publisher marketing support, he explains that authors are responsible for book marketing — and why. He goes on to offer insights into how to proceed with that important task.

In fact, there’s a great deal of book marketing advice woven throughout the book because, as you’ll learn, it’s not enough to “manufacture” a book. You have to tell the right people — your ideal reader — that it exists, too.

Terry can share insights and anecdotes because he’s been in the business a long time. He’s been a writer or editor most of his career. In his current position as an acquisitions editor for hybrid publisher Morgan James Publishing, he has an insider’s perspective that guides what he shares in his latest book. 

What you’ll learn

Here are just a few things you’ll learn from this quick read:

• There are more publishing models today than there were when Terry and I wrote our first traditionally published books in the ’90s. You’ll get a sense of how they’re different, yet how, in some ways, they’re the same.
• Why all authors are responsible for book marketing and some ideas about how to go about it.
• The importance of quality. Cutting corners? You’re also cutting sales.
• The importance of a book proposal, even if you’re self-publishing.

One thing I especially like about this book is that it’s like having a conversation with Terry. I know him pretty well, and his kindness and compassion come through in every paragraph. He wrote this book to help authors at all stages of their writing and publishing processes, and that motive is obvious.

About self-publishing . . .

Terry addresses the self-publishing option in myth eight, “Self-publishing is the best way to get my book out into the market.”

This one is something of a Catch-22. I wish he had hit harder on the fact that in spite of this myth, self-publishing is usually the only option for most authors-to-be.

To land a traditional nonfiction contract today, you usually need a marketable concept and a significant platform. If you can’t write well, the publisher will find you a ghostwriter. The path to a fiction contract is different — platform is much less of a factor, for example.

In either case, there are often so many obstacles in your way that most need to at least start with self-publishing. You can then leverage your book’s quality and sales success to open doors to a contract for your next book.

Learn the business

10 Publishing Myths* is an excellent starting point for all authors. Whether you see authorship as your ticket to wealth and fame or as a tool that will let you make a difference, you’ll be much better informed about how the business works after reading this.

Invest in your success in the coming year by getting a copy of  10 Publishing Myths: Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed* by W. Terry Whalin. You owe it to yourself.

What books have helped you learn about authorship and book publishing? Please tell us in a comment so we can all learn. 

*All book links in this review are Amazon Associate -- affiliate -- links. 

I was recently asked to be a book beta reader, only to discover that the author was actually recruiting volunteers for a launch or street team.

Not long after that, an email from another author showed that she was using “beta reader” and “launch team member” interchangeably.

But a beta reader and a launch/street team member aren’t the same thing. They serve different purposes.

Here’s what you need to know so you don’t confuse the people you recruit for the important tasks involved.

A beta reader and a launch/street team member aren’t the same thing. They serve different purposes.Click to tweet

What’s a beta reader?

Beta readers, known collectively as a “beta group,” help improve the manuscript before the book is finished.

You typically ask beta readers to read the close-but-not-quite-there-yet manuscript for specific details.

For fiction, ask about specifics that concern you. Consider plot, character relatability, story plausibility, whether anything was confusing, and so on.

Nonfiction beta readers can serve different purposes, so they fall into two categories:

• Subject matter experts
• Target audience members

Subject matter experts read for content accuracy and to see if you’ve overlooked anything important. Depending on the book, you might recruit several expert beta readers, sending each only the table of contents and chapter(s) relevant to them.

Nonfiction target audience readers provide feedback on things like:

• Were they confused at any point?
• Did you go into enough depth in each chapter?
• Did they feel satisfied that they learned enough about the topic?
• Did they expect to see something that wasn’t in the book?

What’s a launch team?

A launch team, also known as a street team, writes reviews and shares information about the book online. Your launch team kicks in after the book is done, but before it’s released.

via GIPHY

You provide team members with a pre-publication copy of the final book as well as the team “rules.” They will read the book, write an honest review, and post that review on retail sites as close to publication date as possible.

You also ask them to help launch the book by sharing book announcement images and text that you provide. They can do that with email or on the social networks they use.

Depending on the situation and relationships, some of your beta readers might volunteer to be on the launch team, too.

One is a critic, the other, a reviewer

Beta readers critique early versions of the manuscript, helping you make it as good as possible. You might end up doing more than one round with beta readers.

Launch team members don’t see early versions of the book. Because they’re reviewing the manuscript after it’s been edited and proofread, they critique the book differently than beta readers will.

Beta readers read and comment for an audience of one: the author. Launch team members read and review with other book readers in mind. Their goal is to help readers decide if they will like the book.

Note, too, that while it might not be too late to fix an errant typo when you’re at the launch team stage, you’re past the point where you will re-structure the entire book based on a single team member’s feedback.

But if a few team members provide the same “this doesn’t work” feedback? Consider postponing your publication date so you have time to fix the problem.

Should you skip the beta readers?

Authors often ask if beta readers are really necessary.

The answer depends on a number of factors, including your writing experience and comfort level with the topic or genre. For example, if I wrote mysteries and was trying historical romance instead, I’d probably want beta readers.

A professor with in-depth knowledge on the nonfiction book’s topic might not need a content review, but could benefit from feedback on readability.

A professional writer with a subject specialty might feel confident skipping the beta reader process altogether.

Be honest with yourself when deciding

That said, be honest with yourself. If your pattern is to be overly confident (admitted no person ever . . .), factor beta readers into your schedule. If you’re unsure of your writing ability, positive feedback from a beta group will boost your confidence.

The last thing you want to do, though, is skip beta readers because you think they’ll slow down an arbitrary publishing schedule. Make time for anything – anything – that will help improve your book’s quality.

You want your book to be as good as you can make it. Beta readers can help with that. Launch/street team members can help share that good news with others.

If you’ve recruited beta readers or launch team members, please share your best recruiting tip in a comment. 

The Nonfiction Book Publishing Plan: The Professional Guide to Profitable Self-Publishing

Turns out I can — to both nonfiction and fiction authors.

Don’t stop reading this review because Stephanie Chandler and Karl Palachuk’s new-ish book has “nonfiction” in the title. Yes, the first few chapters focus on the advantages of writing and publishing a nonfiction book, but the majority of the 19 chapters are relevant to all books, regardless of genre and category.

Why I read this book

There are lots of other books I could have read, but I selected this one because I’ve read a couple of other books by Stephanie, so I know her work is excellent. Her content is thorough and accurate, and she offers specifics. She also owns a small publishing company, which means she writes about this topic from experience.

I can see that her co-author knows the topic just as well.

Here’s my review.

Lots here for all authors

Chapter 5 has some solid advice for creating your title, and the advice to write your back cover copy before staring to write the book is genius! It will help give you the focus you need to stay on track as you write.

But if you’re already sold on writing a nonfiction book, or if you write fiction, you can pretty much skip the first five chapters and start with Chapter 6, Beta Readers. Beta readers might be even more important for novelists.

You’ll find the specific information on where to find these helpers and how to work with them valuable.

There’s a great deal of information and emphasis on print books, presumably because nonfiction readers often like to read and mark up that format. Planning to publish only in e-book format? Just skip the few chapters pertaining to printed books.

What makes this book valuable

Here’s what I think makes this book useful to people who are new to self-publishing:

• You get clear, specific, and detailed instructions you can trust. The authors both have a great deal of knowledge that they share freely.
• The “Author Interviews” sprinkled throughout take you behind-the-scenes with successful self-published authors. They all answer the same questions. Because I teach how to market your books, I recommend reading everyone’s answer to this one: “What have been some book marketing strategies that have generated the best results for you?” You’ll find their insights helpful.
• The authors often use their own experiences to explain how they made decisions. I particularly appreciate the sections where they explain the options, then add, “Here’s how I handled it.” I like knowing what solution they settled on.
• The authors answer your questions before you ask them. As a moderator of a self-publishing and book marketing group, I know what questions new authors have about self-publishing. I had those common questions in mind as I read this book — and got the answers to all of them. You won’t have many questions left after you read this book.

Is anything missing?

As a self-publishing novice, I wasn’t left with any questions. (But you don’t know what you don’t know, right?)

It gave me the level of detail I need to feel like I could take on a self-publishing project with confidence. That’s precisely what I need from a resource like this.

I should point out, though, that I think the content about endorsements in Chapter 14 could have been stronger. The authors focused on getting pre-publication endorsements only from other authors. You also want to ask industry leaders and influencers. Many of them won’t be authors.

(For more on that, see my training program, “Blurbs, Endorsements, and Testimonials: How to Get Experts, Authorities, Celebrities, and Others to Endorse Your Book.”)

Two thumbs up

Too many authors don’t bother to learn the essentials before getting started on Amazon, Smashwords, or anywhere else. Whether they realize it or not, this means they make mistakes that impact their book’s quality and sales.

I highly recommend The Nonfiction Book Publishing Plan: The Professional Guide to Profitable Self-Publishing for anyone smart enough to look before they leap.

Let this resource give you the best start possible.

What other resources do you recommend to help authors learn about self-publishing? Please tell us in a comment.

I think some of the best nonfiction how-to books available today are self-published. How to Self-Publish and Market a Children’s Book: The key steps to self-publishing in print and as an eBook and how to get your story into young readers’ hands by Karen P. Inglis is one of them.

But don’t let the title fool you.

The first half of this book walks you through every step required for quality self-publishing, but the second half is packed with marketing advice that traditionally published authors need, too.

Inglis, a successful British self-published children’s book author, generously shares what she’s learned while writing, publishing, and marketing books that enjoy international recognition and sales.

Use this as your children’s book-publishing Bible

In 30 chapters and nearly 300 pages, Inglis takes on everything from selecting the best self-publishing option for your book to getting early feedback from young readers and how your target audience isn’t quite who you think it is.

While reading How to Self-Publish and Market a Children’s Book, I found myself either nodding my head in agreement, writing down a gem I wanted to flag for you, or thinking, “That’s a genius idea!”

For example, Inglis recommends that authors with several books create a free e-book with the first chapter from each of the books. Include a link to each book’s sales page, as she has done in Story Stack, her version of this strategy. (This will work for any book genre or category.)

Here’s another gem: You might already know that scheduling school visits near where you live is a smart move. But how about where you grew up? Wouldn’t you enjoy sharing your children’s book with students in the community you lived in when you were their age? School librarians and teachers will enjoy that, too.

What, exactly, will you learn?

I can’t think of a single subject Inglis has left out of this helpful resource. Topics covered that are unique to children’s book authors include:

• The true target audience for children’s books
• How to find beta readers, what to ask of them, and how to work with them
• Why you must create a book mock-up before you publish and how to do it
• Finding, working with, and compensating illustrators
• Lead magnet ideas for building an email list
• Content that children’s book authors need on their websites that other authors don’t need
• How to schedule and handle school visits*
• Publicity angles that have worked for her that will help you think through what will work for you
• The best social media networks for children’s book authors
• 21 social media content ideas unique to you and your books
• A killer tip for your Pinterest boards
• The best places for finding reviewers
• The good, the bad, and the ugly of online advertising for these books

It includes self-publishing information all types of authors need, as well. These topics range from the importance of quality to how to decide if you should enroll your book in Amazon’s KDP Select program.

As Inglis writes, “Serious children’s self-publishers follow the same steps as traditional publishers in making sure that their stories are engaging and relevant for their target readers, well-written and use appropriate language.”

I’m giving it 5 stars

Each reader brings their own questions and knowledge level to a how-to book. I’m confident that no matter where you are in the publishing or marketing process, you’ll benefit from reading this book.

How to Self-Publish and Market a Children’s Book is a comprehensive, easy-to-read guide that’s loaded with specifics wrapped in wisdom.

I can’t imagine any beginning, intermediate, or veteran children’s book author reading this and not discovering something new and helpful.

Or being disappointed.

*For an in-depth look at school visits, read “Book review: Sell Books and Get Paid Doing Author School Visits” on this site. 

Got a question for author Karen Inglis? Ask it here and I’ll invite her to respond in the comments.