Many authors are all too familiar with a cruel irony: After writing the tens of thousands of words and surviving round after round of editing, one of the hardest challenges can be finding the right words to talk about and promote their book.

When Greenleaf’s CEO, Tanya Hall, published her book, Ideas, Influence, and Income, our marketing team treated the launch just as we would any other Greenleaf book. We discussed goals, expectations, budget, and timeline and developed a marketing strategy that we felt set the book up for success.

As the publication date of your book draws near, it's important to take some time to review the pieces of your branding and marketing strategy to ensure everything is working towards your ultimate goal, whether that's book sales, establishing your expert brand, or securing speaking or consulting work.

The title (and subtitle) of a book does a lot of heavy lifting. It has to attract the intended audience, communicate the book’s promise, differentiate the book in the marketplace, and accurately convey the book’s theme and content.

The launch of a book, or any product, can earn a lot of attention from the media, industry colleagues, and the public in general. Debut launches done right are sexy and full of potential, bringing with them opportunities for feature stories, author profiles, “ones to watch” lists, and so on.

After the shiny launch veneer has worn off, how do you remain on the radar of the influencers who can help your brand grow?

In the process of publishing a book, the publication date can often be viewed as the end goal. But for a book to truly be successful and have staying power in the market, it’s important to see beyond the publication date. During the lead-up to publication and surrounding publication, there will be a flurry of marketing, promotion, and publicity. But what do you do after the initial fireworks to keep your book top-of-mind with readers?

Writing a book can be a romantic notion for many aspiring authors, but it is a process that requires time, dedication, and perseverance to get to the finished product. The thought of simply giving away your newly published book, which you poured your energy into for months—maybe even years—can seem like the most absurd idea ever.

Just like knowing the right people in business can help you reach your professional goals, having the right people support your book is invaluable to building awareness and credibility. But how do you get influencers to share your book with their followers, peers, and other potential readers? Here are a few tips for connecting with influencers to help publicize your book.