How to Market Non-Fiction Books for Success

Non-fiction book marketing services Our team of pros at Smith Publicity has successfully marketed non-fiction books on thousands of topics. While we can effectively promote any genre, we regard non-fiction books as the most marketing-friendly. It’s because they are about useful information that the media and public regard as valuable. Some even go as far as having controversial or provocative information — which can make them powerfully newsworthy. Many more nonfiction titles help readers solve a problem, improve their lives, etc. In all of publishing, the most publicity-friendly books are self-help, health and wellness, business, personal finance, current/recent events, and politics.

Our non-fiction book marketing campaigns begin with media outreach and targeted pitches to relevant editors, producers, and bloggers. Many titles in this genre provide our publicists and book promoters with a lot to offer. It helps us develop pitches to entice editors, producers, and reviewers.

Insider Tips to Promote Your Non-Fiction Book

It’s been a fact since the beginning of book marketing services– media love numerical pitches and press releases. Example: “10 Things the IRS Doesn’t Want you to Know About Your Tax Return,” or “5 Guaranteed Ways to Spice Up Your Love Life.”
Less is much, much more. Like all of us, reporters and producers are stretched for time. Some receive hundreds and hundreds of pitches every day. If your email is too long, you’ll turn them off. Whenever drafting a pitch to the media, before sending it, make yourself trim one-third of it. It works, and it will make your author marketing efforts more effective.

Years ago, we crafted a pitch that consisted of precisely six words; that’s it. It landed the client on national TV within days. “Call me about a former dwarf.” Wouldn’t you be curious about this? You’d love to know more, right? That’s why it worked.

You have about seven seconds to get the attention of media contacts. It’s true. So make sure your non-fiction book publicity pitches get right to the point in the first few sentences. If you don’t, you’ll lose them.
Sometimes, the book itself doesn’t mean a lot in book marketing for authors. We use the saying, “No one interviews a book.” They interview people. As a non-fiction book author, the media want you to provide information based on your experience and expertise. They want you. Your book is in the background and provides credibility.
It’s ALL about the subject line. The vast majority of media outreach today is done through email. Take a look at your inbox. Most likely, your display settings make you only see the first several words in a subject line. Make every word count in subject lines, especially the first few!
Think like a producer or editor; put yourself in their shoes and understand what they are looking for and need. It’s not about what you think is relevant or newsworthy; it’s about what they believe. Pretend you’re a booker for a TV talk show, and think about what would make you interested.

Non-Fiction Book Marketing Really Does Help Sell Books

Non-fiction book marketing is important for self-published authors who write non-fiction books. While no one can guarantee the exact sales figures, it’s well-known that marketing a non-fiction book with a robust publicity campaign can help sales. When media and bloggers become interested in a book and author, stories and interviews result. The publicity provides content for websites and author social media channels in addition to reaching potential readers directly. The net result is an increase in the discovery of a book by people who might be interested in buying and reading it. Non-fiction titles are very often of great interest to the media.

Like anything else, effective book marketing campaigns need to be well-planned and executed. While it’s possible for authors to handle it on their own, professional marketers like our expert team at Smith Publicity can help. We will put years of experience to work for you and your book in creative and meaningful ways. With us, no two projects are alike, and we have a knack for making you exceptionally newsworthy. If you’re about to launch a non-fiction book, whether self or traditionally published, please reach out and let us tell you more about how we can help you.