For my first book launch five years ago, I had a book tour with about a dozen book signings across the country, as well as countless television appearances, radio interviews, newspaper articles and speaking engagements.
But there’s no way I would have had these opportunities if I hadn’t built a solid plan and started my outreach in advance. I started working on my plan nine months before its release to ensure my book was a success.
And yet, very few of my entrepreneur friends who write books spend any real amount of time on their marketing plan. Sure, they email their lists and post on social, but they often come to me a month – or even a week! – before their publication date asking how I can help get publicity for the book.
And the sad news is…I can’t. Not with that little time. You see, it’s FAR easier to get publicity for a book before its release than after, which is why it’s absolutely critical to start building your plan 6-9 months out, 3 months at a BARE MINIMUM.
Done correctly, your book can pay dividends for YEARS – maybe even the rest of your career. I still make 10s of thousands of dollars every year from paid speaking gigs that come from my book…and it’s been out FIVE years!!