Cathy Fyock, CSP, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is The Business Book Strategist and works with professionals and thought leaders who want to write a nonfiction book about their expertise as a business development strategy. She is the author of 12 books, including—On Your Mark: From First Word to First Draft in Six Weeks, Blog2Book: Repurposing Content to Discover the Book You’ve Already Written, My New Book, and with coauthor Lois Creamer, The Speaker Author: Sell More Books and Book More Speeches. Her book, Authority, is an anthology about the power of authorship and was a Wall Street Journal bestseller. Her newest book is Writer Crisis Hotline, coauthored with full-time author Allie Pleiter.
Since beginning her business in 2014, she has helped over 250 professionals become published authors. She believes that we all have a purpose, and that our stories are the way in which we share our truth with others. She is certain that authors can and do change the world, one word at a time.
- Diane Sawyer’s mother was my 3rd grade teacher
- I love retail therapy
- I’m an active member of the National Speakers Association and I’ve been the referral champ for three years
10 Smart Marketing Moves You Can Make NOW to Promote Your Book
Whether you’ve just started writing, you’re racing toward the finish line, or your book’s been out for a while, there’s one truth that always holds: it’s never too early—or too late—to start promoting your book.
Here are 10 simple, strategic things you can do right now to build buzz and boost visibility:
- Design a Cover-in-Progress. Even if it’s a draft, create a mock-up of your book cover using tools like Canva or PowerPoint. Post it to build excitement, keep yourself motivated, and start gathering feedback. Bonus: when you reveal the final cover later, you’ve got another marketing moment!
- Update Your Email Signature. Add a tagline like “Author of the upcoming book…” or “Check out my new book!”—and include the cover image. Let every email you send be a subtle ad for your book.
- Collect Advance Praise. Reach out to 10+ influencers, colleagues, clients, or fans and ask for short, impactful testimonials. Use them in your book, on your website, in your launch campaign, or even on the back cover.
- Write Your Book Summary—Then Use It. Craft a compelling summary (with a little help from AI if needed), and turn it into a Speaker One-Sheet. Don’t wait for publication—use this summary now to book speaking gigs months in advance.
- Audit Your Online Presence. Review your website, bios, social media profiles, speaker intro, and newsletter. Make sure your book is mentioned everywhere your name appears.
- Build Your Media List. Gather contact info for your local newspaper, alumni magazine, and professional organizations. Then brainstorm niche outlets that would love to hear about your topic.
- Mine Your Manuscript for Content. As you write, highlight stand-alone sections that could become blog posts or articles. Include a note: “Excerpted from my upcoming book…” It builds credibility and anticipation.
- Tap into Timely Topics. Use “newsjacking” by connecting your book’s topic to trending headlines. A timely blog or LinkedIn post can attract fresh eyeballs and media attention.
- Start Teasing on Social Media. Share quotes, stories, stats, or sneak peeks related to your book’s theme. Use visuals—including your evolving cover art—for extra impact.
- Turn Your Book into a Talk. Create a presentation based on your book’s content. It could be a keynote, webinar, workshop, or book club session. Market it now—even before the book is finished.
Your book is more than a product—it’s a platform. And the sooner you start treating it that way, the faster you’ll grow your impact and visibility.
Got a Brilliant Idea for a Book or Keynote? Let’s Test It Out at Pitch Fest #3!
In May and June, Allie and I conducted our first-ever Brilliant Idea Pitch Fests, which were notable events with over 20 attendees and 5 pitching their brilliant ideas at each event. It was so successful that we’re doing our third Pitch Fest on August 20 at 2 pm Eastern!
If you’re interested in presenting a pitch, please not only register for the event, but also send Cathy an email at mailto: indicating that you’d like to be on the list. Cathy will send you some instructions for preparing your presentation.
For those who didn’t attend, here’s what it’s all about!
Do you have a game-changing idea for your next book or keynote but need to fine-tune it before taking the next step? What if you could bounce it off a group of like-minded professionals and get real-time feedback?
Here’s your chance! Join Allie and Cathy’s “Brilliant Idea Pitch Fest.” It’s a fast-paced, high-energy Zoom event designed for nonfiction authors and thought leaders who want to write a book to grow their business, promote their brand, and expand their platform.
Here’s how it works:
Pitch your idea in 2 minutes – Be ready to share:
- What your business is all about
- Your working book title?
- Your target audience
- Your core message or big idea
Instant Feedback – After each pitch, we’ll take a quick poll:
- Is this idea fully baked?
- Do you want to know more (for yourself or your network)?
Gather attendees’ insights, suggestions, and encouragement to help sharpen your idea and take it to the next level.
Want a spot on the pitch wait list? Just drop Cathy an email at mailto: to be added to our list AND register for this event.
This is your chance to test, tweak, and supercharge your next big idea, all in a supportive, idea-rich environment. Don’t miss out!
Most authors and businesspeople stake their careers on a book, but too many write the wrong one. Even success can lead you down the wrong path: every copy sold might actually take you further from meaningful, lucrative opportunities. Don’t let your book become a costly mistake.
In this compelling webinar, differentiation expert and veteran book coach Mark Levy shares counterintuitive strategies for writing not just any book, but the best book you’ll ever write. Drawing from his own bestselling experiences and his coaching of authors who’ve collectively sold millions of copies, Mark will guide you to:
- Identify the book you were truly meant to write
- Avoid the hidden pitfalls that sabotage careers
- Craft your book in a way that amplifies your influence and income
Mark Levy is a differentiation expert whose ideas—and those of his clients—are known by hundreds of millions of people. His clients include iconic thought leaders such as Simon Sinek and David Meerman Scott.
Register for this free event here.
Writing Prompt!
Looking for a little writing inspiration? First, look at the image, and explore how the image relates to your topic. Now, set the clock for 2 minutes. Go. See how much you can write in a short time!