100 books like How to Market a Book

By Ricardo Fayet,

Here are 100 books that How to Market a Book fans have personally recommended if you like How to Market a Book. Shepherd is a community of 10,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Book Title Generator: A Proven System in Naming Your Book

Joel Stafford Author Of The First 100 Days of Your Book: Book Marketing for Self-Published Authors

From my list on marketing for self-publishing authors.

Why am I passionate about this?

A very good friend of mine wrote a great non-fiction book – I know it’s great because I read it –, and he sincerely asked for help saying “Joel you learned a bit about marketing, how can I get some traffic?”. I checked several “book promotion” websites and I was shocked how awful they were that day. I learned UI design so I decided that I can start my own book recommendation website, which will be at least user/reader friendly. Continuing my friend's story, I helped him trying the most popular promotion methods and I was surprised that there were a lot that simply don’t work and of course we found some that were nearly unknown. 

Joel's book list on marketing for self-publishing authors

Joel Stafford Why did Joel love this book?

The title is the first thing people will see, so it needs to be done right. It can make a difference or push people away. The author analyzes a few cases that show how important the title is. If you fail to draw some attention, you can call it a day – it is game over.

The book brings great marketing value and you will love it for the author's well-kept secrets. You will learn how to alter the title to boost sales, the power of alliteration and numbers, the importance of keyword research upfront, and other details to draw attention.

By Scott Lorenz,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Book Title Generator as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

It’s the first thing they see…
…and if done right, can make all the difference.
Is your Title designed to sell?

George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 started out as The Last Man in Europe and Dracula was originally titled Dead/Un- Dead. Would Harper Lee’s renowned classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, have done as well as Atticus?

What will they read next?

If the title doesn’t grab them, it’s game over.

Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the…


Book cover of Online Marketing for Busy Authors: A Step-By-Step Guide

Joel Stafford Author Of The First 100 Days of Your Book: Book Marketing for Self-Published Authors

From my list on marketing for self-publishing authors.

Why am I passionate about this?

A very good friend of mine wrote a great non-fiction book – I know it’s great because I read it –, and he sincerely asked for help saying “Joel you learned a bit about marketing, how can I get some traffic?”. I checked several “book promotion” websites and I was shocked how awful they were that day. I learned UI design so I decided that I can start my own book recommendation website, which will be at least user/reader friendly. Continuing my friend's story, I helped him trying the most popular promotion methods and I was surprised that there were a lot that simply don’t work and of course we found some that were nearly unknown. 

Joel's book list on marketing for self-publishing authors

Joel Stafford Why did Joel love this book?

Whether you are busy or inexperienced, this book will teach you how to make as much as possible out of it. This is an exciting time to be an author because you have direct access to your audience – the Internet will certainly help.

This book is a step-by-step guide with direct instructions on how to identify your brand, define your audience, and set priorities. Find out how to come up with your own website, develop a strategy, or even blog as a marketing tool.

By Fauzia Burke,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Online Marketing for Busy Authors as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

If You Want People to Read Your Book,
Writing It Is Only the Beginning

There has truly never been a better time to be an author. For the first time, authors have direct access to the public via the Internet—and can create a community eagerly awaiting their book. But where do new authors start? How do they sort through the dizzying range of online options? Where should they spend their time online and what should they be doing?

Enter Fauzia Burke, a digital book marketing pioneer and friend of overwhelmed writers everywhere. She takes authors step-by-step through the process of…


Book cover of Permission Marketing: Turning Strangers Into Friends and Friends Into Customers

Joel Stafford Author Of The First 100 Days of Your Book: Book Marketing for Self-Published Authors

From my list on marketing for self-publishing authors.

Why am I passionate about this?

A very good friend of mine wrote a great non-fiction book – I know it’s great because I read it –, and he sincerely asked for help saying “Joel you learned a bit about marketing, how can I get some traffic?”. I checked several “book promotion” websites and I was shocked how awful they were that day. I learned UI design so I decided that I can start my own book recommendation website, which will be at least user/reader friendly. Continuing my friend's story, I helped him trying the most popular promotion methods and I was surprised that there were a lot that simply don’t work and of course we found some that were nearly unknown. 

Joel's book list on marketing for self-publishing authors

Joel Stafford Why did Joel love this book?

This book shows why interruption marketing (phone calls, TV ads, or people at your door) no longer works and focuses on a new way to gain attention from potential readers. This is about giving people something for their attention.

The author will give you a completely different and modern way to advertise products. Find out how to develop healthy and long-term relationships with your readers, how to increase awareness and boost your selling chances overnight.

By Seth Godin,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Permission Marketing as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

By reaching out to only those individuals who have expressed an interest in learning more about a product, permission marketing enables companies to develop lon-term relationships with customers. This text explores permission marketing.


Book cover of Sell Your Book Like Wildfire: The Writer's Guide to Marketing and Publicity

Joel Stafford Author Of The First 100 Days of Your Book: Book Marketing for Self-Published Authors

From my list on marketing for self-publishing authors.

Why am I passionate about this?

A very good friend of mine wrote a great non-fiction book – I know it’s great because I read it –, and he sincerely asked for help saying “Joel you learned a bit about marketing, how can I get some traffic?”. I checked several “book promotion” websites and I was shocked how awful they were that day. I learned UI design so I decided that I can start my own book recommendation website, which will be at least user/reader friendly. Continuing my friend's story, I helped him trying the most popular promotion methods and I was surprised that there were a lot that simply don’t work and of course we found some that were nearly unknown. 

Joel's book list on marketing for self-publishing authors

Joel Stafford Why did Joel love this book?

Whether this is your first book, or you are already experienced, this book will give you some great value by teaching you how to increase book sales, building a brand, and making sure your book stands out in the crowd. Everything is detailed in step-by-step instructions for easy application in real life.

Furthermore, you will learn how to come up with more speaking engagements and interviews, connect with influencers and gain more notoriety and create a solid fan base that will spread the word. Everything goes in small details, so it makes no difference how experienced you are – follow these steps and your book will skyrocket.

By Rob Eagar,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Sell Your Book Like Wildfire as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Note from the author: This book, published in 2012, is outdated and out of print. For my most up-to-date, expert, marketing advice for authors, please refer to my new collection of books called The Author's Guide Series.

In Sell Your Book Like Wildfire, marketing expert Rob Eagar explains how to use the best promotional methods available to get your book noticed and drive sales. You'll learn how to: Increase your book sales by driving readers to bookstores and online retailers Build a brand that makes your books stand out from the crowd Secure more media interviews and speaking engagements Connect…


Book cover of Let's Get Visible: How To Get Noticed And Sell More Books

Scott Lorenz Author Of Book Title Generator: A Proven System in Naming Your Book

From my list on how to market and promote a book.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a book publicist and President of Westwind Book Marketing, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. I work with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it's their first book or their 15th book. I’ve handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers, and Adventurers. My clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman's World, and Howard Stern. 

Scott's book list on how to market and promote a book

Scott Lorenz Why did Scott love this book?

In my years as a book marketer and book publicist I have found the real experts in this field are other authors. These are the people whose livelihoods depend on selling books. This is not a hobby for David Gaughran, being an author is how he makes a living. As a result, he’s studied, analyzed, and written about what makes a successful book and graciously shared this knowledge with fellow authors.

The fact that he is a bestselling author himself and has taken the time to analyze Amazon in every way conceivable way is reason enough to buy this book. I highly recommend Let’s Get Visible and consider it a must-read for all authors.

By David Gaughran,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Let's Get Visible as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Take your sales to the next level! The author of the award-winning, bestselling Let's Get Digital is back with an advanced guide for more experienced self-publishers.

There are over 4 million books in the Kindle Store, with thousands more added every day. How do you get yours noticed? Visibility isn't a challenge that can be bested once - it requires continual work. But there are tools and strategies to do much of the heavy lifting for you.

In Let's Get Visible: How To Get Noticed And Sell More Books, you'll discover how to:

* Leverage Amazon's famous recommendation engine to…


Book cover of How to Promote Your Book: A Practical Guide to Publicizing Your Own Title

Claudine Wolk Author Of Get Your Book Seen and Sold: The Essential Book Marketing and Publishing Guide

From my list on book marketing and book publishing how-to guides.

Why am I passionate about this?

In 2008, as an author who had a message that I was desperate to get out into the world, I had a decision to make… to continue to pitch my non-fiction book for new moms to traditional publishers or to create a publishing company and publish it myself. I chose to create a publishing company and publish it myself. I loved the publishing and book marketing process so much that I started to help other authors to market their books.

Claudine's book list on book marketing and book publishing how-to guides

Claudine Wolk Why did Claudine love this book?

Once you decide how you are going to publish your book, you will have to promote it, whether self-publishing or traditional publishing, in order to sell it. Dr. Jan Yager’s book is your next step to learn book promotion and offers the details behind the next steps on your book marketing journey.

Yager has written over 50 books, both traditionally published and self-published. She has pretty much seen it all and recognized that authors needed a detailed guide for how and where to market their books. She decided to write a book dedicated to book promotion by presenting material in a logical fashion, in the order of any book launch promotion timeline.

The sections of her book make sense and are easy to follow for authors: The first section is about what to do before your book is published. The second section is about what to do after your book…

By Jan Yager,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How to Promote Your Book as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Writing a great book is the easy part. Getting people to buy the book is wicked hard. Jan’s book shows you what promotion to do so you increase the possibility that your book becomes a bestseller.”

―Jeffrey Fox,bestselling author,How to Become a Rainmaker

"Being an author is 50% creative and 50% promotion. Jan Yager's comprehensive and practical book, How to Promote Your Book, tells authors exactly what they need to know and do to promote their book. I'm recommending it to all the authors I know including those whose books I share through my Bedside Reading program."

―Jane Ubell-Meyer, CEO,…


Book cover of Dan Poynter's Self-Publishing Manual: How to Write, Print and Sell Your Own Book

Claudine Wolk Author Of Get Your Book Seen and Sold: The Essential Book Marketing and Publishing Guide

From my list on book marketing and book publishing how-to guides.

Why am I passionate about this?

In 2008, as an author who had a message that I was desperate to get out into the world, I had a decision to make… to continue to pitch my non-fiction book for new moms to traditional publishers or to create a publishing company and publish it myself. I chose to create a publishing company and publish it myself. I loved the publishing and book marketing process so much that I started to help other authors to market their books.

Claudine's book list on book marketing and book publishing how-to guides

Claudine Wolk Why did Claudine love this book?

Whether you decide to self-publish, hybrid publish, independently publish, or traditionally publish, reading this book is a must.

Mr. Poynter covers the details of book creation and the publishing process in order, in a gentle and easy-to-understand way. Even the font of the text is large and easy on the eyes.  Poynter describes the details of self-publishing (and traditional publishing) and incudes resources and actual industry contacts so that the reader can literally create their own self-publishing company and publish, distribute and sell their book. As you know, the publishing industry changes rapidly and some of topics covered, like book distribution, has changed a bit but the overall description of publishing, the publishing timeline, and creating a book publishing company holds true. 

This bright, red book holds a special place in my heart. When I was trying to find an agent/publisher for my first book, with no luck, this is…

By Dan Poynter,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Dan Poynter's Self-Publishing Manual as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Self-Publishing Manual, more effectively and successfully than any other book, has turned writers with an idea into successful authors with books by providing solid, usable information in clear, concise, readable lanugage. This is not the stuff of theory, it is the product of hard-earned experience.


Book cover of Writing the Novel from Plot to Print to Pixel

John Gaspard Author Of The Ambitious Card

From my list on for writers who want to write scripts.

Why am I passionate about this?

I started making movies at age 13; to make a movie, you need a script, so I became a screenwriter by default. A dozen low-budget movies (and a couple of TV scripts) later, I started writing fiction: Two mystery series, (The Eli Marks mysteries and The Como Lake Players mysteries), four stand-alone novels, plus a couple of filmmaking “How To” books followed. Over the years, I’ve always searched out the best ideas on how to write, and how to write well. If I were to teach a course on writing, the five books I’ve listed would comprise the reading list.

John's book list on for writers who want to write scripts

John Gaspard Why did John love this book?

To be honest, I sort of threw a dart at Lawrence Block’s books on writing and hit this one. You’d benefit from the others just as much (Write for YourLif Life, Telling Lies for Fun & Profit, The Liar’s Bible). 

Or read any of his fiction. I started down the Block path with his Matthew Scudder series, but it’s his “Burglar” books that had the greatest influence on my Eli Marks mystery series. But don’t overlook his darkly funny Keller series, about a hitman with a heart (and a love of stamp collecting). And, if you’re into audiobooks, grab any of his books that Block narrates himself. He’s pretty good at it!

By Lawrence Block,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Writing the Novel from Plot to Print to Pixel as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"WRITING THE NOVEL FROM PLOT TO PRINT TO PIXEL is like having a pocket-sized mentor you can consult any time. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy.”—Alex Kourvo, Writing Slices

Lawrence Block is almost as well known for his instructional books for writers and his 14 years as a monthly contributor to "Writers Digest," as he is as a bestselling author and MWA Grand Master. WRITING THE NOVEL, his first book for writers, has remained continuously in print since its original appearance in 1978. Recently revised and expanded, each chapter has been updated, and Block has included essential…


Book cover of Over the Under, and Around the Square: A Tale of Enduring Friendship

Aviva Gittle Author Of Kitten & Butterfly

From my list on kid’s picture books about unusual friendships.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am pathologically allergic to “message” books. As the former host of The Gittle List contest for self-published authors, I’ve read hundreds of children’s books. Many were “tell, not show” books. Stories with phrases like “we all should respect each other’s differences” rather than showing characters respecting each other’s differences. My recommended books are, at least in part, about diversity. Like my own book series, they demonstrate diversity through unusual friendships. Showing how characters work out their differences by learning about each other and finding ways to get along. A good story can change hearts and minds when characters carry the message–not beat readers over the head with it.

Aviva's book list on kid’s picture books about unusual friendships

Aviva Gittle Why did Aviva love this book?

I’m absolutely obsessed with this book.

It earned a spot on the 2014 Gittle List, a contest I hosted for 5 years for self-published children’s book authors. I’ve purchased several copies for both children and adults. Somewhere, there’s a video of my grandson reading it to me (well, a couple of pages).

It’s unique in character, words, and pace. Seeing the two characters becoming friends, being the closest of friends, having a fallout that separates them, and finding their way back to each other moved me to tears because that is what my son and I were doing, at the time. Finding our way back to each other.

The lessons of forgiveness and humility flow naturally without ever saying those words explicitly. 

By Craig Kunce,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Over the Under, and Around the Square as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A modern day tale of devoted friendship and the things each of us has to endure to make a valued friendship last.
Spring has sprung in vibrant and colorful Under Valley. The valley is alive with wonderful creatures and tales to tell.
As our story unfolds, we find an unusual pair. One is a silky orange snake, the other is a bright pink square. Their new friendship will blossom, then change, and change again. Let's hope, for their sake, it gets better in the end.


Book cover of Theft of Swords

Cheryl Dyson Author Of The Gauntlet Thrown

From my list on epic fantasies with epic bromances.

Why am I passionate about this?

For me, “bromance'' is simply two (or more) men having a bond that extends deeper than mere friendship. It is usually not romantic (sadly, in some cases), and is often between cousins or even brothers, but I absolutely love it when a hero is willing to die for his friend/soulmate/brother/mortal enemy. Men have been discouraged from saying the dreaded “I love you,” especially to other men, so they have been forced to disclose their feelings through action. I find a special delight in bonds that develop between two people who initially dislike one another; they must first reach “like” before they can achieve real emotional connection.

Cheryl's book list on epic fantasies with epic bromances

Cheryl Dyson Why did Cheryl love this book?

The bromance in this series is between two longtime friends that are also independent thieves. A running joke between them is Hadrian’s insistence on constantly doing “good deeds” instead of simply taking jobs that pay well. Despite Royce’s complaints about Hadrian’s apparent charitable streak, it becomes clear that he also has a penchant for doing the right thing. The banter between them is fluid and speaks of a shared history that keeps me reading, hoping to dig more into their past and discover how they became such a strong team. I also adore books with humor in the midst of drama or stress and this book definitely delivers.

By Michael J. Sullivan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Theft of Swords as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater, make a profitable living carrying out dangerous assignments for conspiring nobles-until they are hired to pilfer a famed sword. What appears to be just a simple job finds them framed for the murder of the king and trapped in a conspiracy that uncovers a plot far greater than the mere overthrow of a tiny kingdom.

Can a self-serving thief and an idealistic swordsman survive long enough to unravel the first part of an ancient mystery that has toppled kings and destroyed empires?

And so begins the first tale of…


5 book lists we think you will like!

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