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Welcome back to the Weekly Book Business Brief—your weekly shot of strategy, tools, and real talk for authors building a book-based business.

Just like that, it's Tuesday again. FAST!

Thanks to everyone who expressed excitement about my upcoming show, followed me over on Substack, said nice things. So super cool, much appreciated.

🤞🏻 HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY

The email reads, "I'm finished with the first draft of my manuscript, and I just hope my book will be a success."

If only hope were a strategy, then we'd all have books that mean business, royalties, fame, and fortune.

But it isn't. And while I know for certain that if we don't have hope, we don't have a lot of anything else, there are some other ingredients necessary to have a successful book, and ultimately, build an empire.

The message went on, "I've been subscribing to your emails for awhile, and congrats on all of those books (Thank you!), but is there a way for you to point me in the right direction so I don't feel like I'm spinning my wheels?"

Boy, do I! There are two books in my arsenal specifically written for aspiring first time non-fiction authors:

• The Bestselling Book Formula
• Write Your First Nonfiction Book

They both have either a companion workbook or journal, and a mini-course or course. You can check out the series here.

And if you've already written your book, you can still use them as a sort of check or balance to ensure your book will hit the mark you've intended.

🎁 10 WAYS TO MARKET YOUR BUSINESS WITH YOUR BOOK

Another email had this question:

... and I've had three cups of coffee this morning, so here are ten distinct ways to market your business with your book.

1. Lead with it everywhere "you" live. On your LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram (even X and TikTok) headlines, website, email signature, and podcast guest/host bios. "Author of [X]" outranks "expert in [Y]" every day and twice on Sunday.
2. Send it ahead. Mail a signed copy to ten (or 100) dream clients. You know to put a handwritten note inside (fail to pitch even a little). FYI: the book is the pitch. This is the lowest-cost, highest-warmth biz dev move you can make, and it also converts like a dream.
3. Speaking of podcasts... Hosts book guests who are authors (IKYK). Every appearance connects you with new eyes and ears you didn't have before, so send 'em a book (even through BookFunnel, digital is great!) and follow-up like a champ.
4. Build a "first two chapters" giveaway + funnel. Free PDF of your intro and chapters one and two → email list → nurture sequence → your bigger offer. Permanent (read: effective) top-of-funnel equals eventual clients.
5. Sell in bulk. This is one of my favorite ways to earn income and make an impact. Corporations buy books for teams, retreats, and onboarding purposes, plus inspiration and motivation, too. The buying conversation can even turn into a speaking gig or a training contract (so this is great if one or both of those is your main goal).
6. Turn the book into a keynote. Your table of contents can be your outline. Get paid to deliver the message you already published and know by heart--the one you're super pumped and passionate about. Feels like getting away with something!
7. Stack a higher-ticket back-end behind it. Workshop, course, mastermind, coaching. The book finds and creates a new conversation with the buyer; the program becomes the next logical step for them.
8. Quote yourself into the press. Reporters search for "author of [topic]" when they need a source. Pitch journalists with your book as the credential and you can be one of their easiest yeses.
9. Open partnership and joint-venture doors. Other authors, hosts, and creators collab with another author much faster than with an unknown expert. Your book is the door key.
10. Gift signed copies as your follow-up. After meetings, after big calls, (and depending on your topic) for the holidays, a signed book stays on someone's desk way longer than your business card (which, as we know, is a piece of trash waiting to happen...). 💜

Want more of these? Press reply and ask. You can also learn how to think about book marketing (and marketing with your book) by reading You Must Market Your Book (the companion workbook is helpful, and the course is also solid (save 30% with code subscriber).

I haven't asked for awhile, but if you've read any of my books, would you kindly leave an honest review on Amazon? Then let me know you did and which book you'd like to read next. If I have one on hand, I'll send it to you (or if you will read an ebook, I've got links to all of mine to send with my gratitude).

Back to the studio I go... Thanks for reading, Reader, you're the best.

To a successful and productive week!

Honorée Corder. Author. Executive Book Producer. ​​​​​​

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P.S. If you have a question, like the one above, would you press reply and ask it? I'd love to help if I can--and I might feature you and/or your question in an upcoming issue of The Weekly Book Business Brief.

P.P.S. My monthly LIVE Q&As are today--if you've considered joining us, please do. You can get 50% off your first month here (and cancel anytime).