As the social media landscape evolves, new platforms continually emerge to challenge established giants. One such contender is BlueSky Social, an invitation-only platform that has garnered significant buzz as a decentralized, community-focused alternative to X (formerly Twitter). BlueSky reached an all-time spike in sign-ups during the few weeks following the 2024 election. But will BlueSky continue to grow, and should authors—fiction and nonfiction alike—consider it a viable marketing platform to expand their reach and promote their books?

For centuries, book clubs have been a cherished tradition among readers, offering both an excuse to socialize with friends and the motivation to hit reading goals. Whether they're neighborhood meet-ups or celebrity-endorsed institutions, book clubs have evolved dramatically over the years. In recent times, they’ve grown in visibility, popularity, and diversity, emerging as an essential way for readers to connect over shared literary experiences. For authors, this surge in popularity offers a unique opportunity to expand reach, garner reviews, and drive discussions around their books.

Now, Amazon is stepping into the book club arena with a new feature poised to change the way readers and authors connect: Amazon Book Clubs. This new platform, while still in its "early access" phase, has the potential to be a game-changer for both readers and authors alike. But how can you, as an author, leverage this new feature to help get your book into the hands of more readers?

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The publishing industry is more competitive than ever in today's hyper-connected world. Whether debut or experienced, authors like yourself face the colossal task of writing a book and ensuring it reaches the right audience. One critical strategy in this endeavor is "opening doors" by initiating connections and opportunities that place your book in front of the media.

Seeding Content, Priming Your Audience, and Strategically Marketing Your Book Ahead of Publication

Congratulations! You’re just starting to get out of the weeds of the editing and design process, and you’re beginning to think about book promotion. At this point, the realization that your ideas and thoughts are actually going to be bound in a book and in the hands of readers in just a few months may terrify you, excite you, or maybe a bit of both. It’s important to start using that energy to catapult you into the book promotion mindset. But how early is too early when it comes to book promotion? And how do you actually promote an unpublished book? The Greenleaf marketing team has put together a comprehensive timeline to help guide you through the months leading up to your book launch.

Your book tells your story. Whether it's a fantasy novel that speaks to real world issues, a self-help title to improve readers’ lives, or a guide to building and growing a business, you’ve put it all down on paper for the world to see. But reviewers, guest bookers, and journalists don’t have time to look over a 300 page manuscript.

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Congratulations! You’ve poured your heart and soul into creating your book. Now the question becomes, how do you tell the world about it? Earned media coverage can significantly impact sales, establish your authority as an author and thought leader, and amplify the message you set out to share by writing your book in the first place. Crafting a personal, professional, and precise pitch is the first step in securing coverage.

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Print on Demand publishing (POD) provides authors with great speed to market and reduced overhead costs without sacrificing quality. If your book is being published as print on demand, the following guide provides a useful overview of the timeline to publication, execution of distribution and marketing initiatives, and the best ways that you can support your book launch.

Getting your book into the hands of readers for reviews, discussion, and word-of-mouth is an essential part of a book marketing campaign. It’s also the dream of most authors to see their book spark lively discussion and community building. One way to do that is by connecting with book clubs, which can be challenging and time-consuming as there’s no one central place where book clubs congregate. Below are some ways that you might connect with book clubs both locally and virtually.