S3 Ep 06: AJ Harper - Book Writing For Speakers (Part 2)

Learn proven ways to market your book with confidence and build a lasting audience.In this episode, Li Hayes welcomes back bestselling author and editor AJ Harper, who shares the exact steps that successful authors use to move books—from pre-writing to post-launch.Discover when and how to start your marketing, why your network and author community matter, how pre-orders and bonuses drive momentum, and the truth behind bestseller lists. Plus: actionable tips to leverage speaking and podcast appearances for book sales, and the one tool every author must develop—a robust mailing list.If you want actionable strategies to sell your book—and transform your speaking career—this episode lays out the real Path to the Main Stage.Timestamped Overview:00:00 – Introduction; why this episode matters for aspiring speaker-authors01:12 – When and how to start marketing your book—even before you begin writing03:36 – Distribution, leveraging networks, and why social media alone isn’t enough06:09 – How to test your book’s market value and gauge interest07:47 – The vital role of community and author networks (literary citizenship explained)12:00 – Pre-launch marketing tactics: what works, how and when to use pre-orders15:29 – Understanding publisher support (and why the visible marketing is up to you)17:13 – Email list strategies, crafting incentives and bonuses for readers20:27 – The honest truth about paid advertising (and a smarter alternative: BookBub)24:20 – High-impact launch events: what actually moves the needle28:18 – What to do after launch day: ongoing book marketing and the power of speaking30:42 – Podcasting as a long-term book promotion strategy33:19 – Licensing, derivative works, and adding income streams for your book34:57 – What is a “good” number of book sales? The truth behind author statistics38:29 – The top 5 actions authors must take to sell books40:14 – Unpacking bestseller lists: Amazon, USA Today, NYT, and what it really means45:13 – AJ’s #1 piece of advice for new authors: start building your mailing list now45:56 – Episode wrap-up and resources for authorsReady to rethink everything about book marketing? Tune in now.