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Reader,
Today’s 321 is partly inspired by a fantastic interview with Tim Grahl on The Write Anyway Podcast hosted by Sue Campbell.
3 Secrets:
1. How to network with authors more famous than you
Successful people want to see other hard-working people succeed.
If you can show someone how hungry you are by actually implementing a piece of advice they have, they are more likely to be invested in your journey.
After all, it’s their advice on the line.
Step 1: Ask whoever you want to be friends with for a piece of advice
Step 2: Go do that thing
Step 3: Follow up with them and let them know how it went
(s/o to Tim for this one, who’s one of the most connected people in publishing)
Relevant previous secret:
How do you get someones contact that can’t be found anywhere online? Make it up! If you know their first name is Alex and their website is getshelflfie.com then you could try alex@getshelflife.com or alex.strathdee@getshelflife.com. We do this all the time to get in contact with podcast hosts, notable figures, and famous authors. It works great and they reply around 25% of the time. Get creative with it and just keep trying email addresses until one doesn’t bounce back.
2. Bad business leads make the best Amazon reviews
*Non-fiction/business author specific*
If your book attracts a lot of people who want to chat with you about your specialty, don’t discount them just because they don’t have the budget to hire you.
A good book will leave the reader either:
A. With their problem solved and so they become a fan who tells others about you, or
B. With the understanding that you are the person to solve their problem and so they hire you.
A lot of authors tell us they are only interested in reaching Group B, but if you’re able to create an army of Group A, they will carry you to Group B.
We still take the time to talk with any author who comes our way because if we can provide enough value to them in our short chat, they make a perfect Amazon reviewer for your book….and we all know how hard it is to get genuine Amazon reviews.
3. Giving away free copies ≠ undervaluing your work
Think of it this way:
A majority of the population would rather pay you $10 to NOT have to read your book than get a free copy of your book and have to read it.
That’s what you’re working against as an author.
So the next time an event offers to give your book to their attendees for free, realize that your chances of getting a real person to read your book is much higher than charging $20 for it on Amazon and thinking people will come buy it.
A trend we’re seeing with top authors is a focus on how many FREE copies they can give away. Word of mouth is what brings people back to buy the book.
2 Links
- Before The Bestseller Podcast Update: New episodes airing second week in February, including new guests like Eric Ries of the Lean Startup and welcoming back some old guests too, like Nir Eyal talking about his new book, Beyond Beliefs. In the meantime – here’s an interview with the #3 top-selling non-fiction author of 2025: Over 200,000 copies sold with 5,000+ Amazon ratings in just 1 year with Joseph Nguyen.
- Got more time than money to invest in your book launch? Use HARO to see what journalists are writing articles in your niche and offer your expertise to them.
1 Quote
“To get what you want, you have to deserve what you want” -Charlie Munger
with love and sincere appreciation,
Alex
BeforeTheBestseller | ShelfLife
alex@getshelflife.com
P.S. Know someone who needs help marketing their book? We offer a $500 referral bonus 🙂
P.S.S. Did someone share this 321 with you? Sign up here.
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