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Before the Bestseller

Written by Alex Strathdee

Book Marketing Mastery: The Data-Driven Guide to Bestseller Status

Your guide to book marketing for authors who want to sell more books with less stress.

Let's get your books in the hands of real readers who'll feel your impact.

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Before the Bestseller by Alex Strathdee
The Marketing Blueprint - No matter if you're traditionally published, hybrid, or self published, this is the most comprehensive guide on book marketing and selling more copies of your book.

Featured In:

Make Money by Marketing Books Like a Pro | Alex Strathdee
Make Money by Marketing Books Like a Pro | Alex Strathdee
Self Publishing School Episode 293: Amazon Ads Masterclass: How To Start & Scale Your Ads with Alex Strathdee
SPS 293: Amazon Ads Masterclass: How To Start & Scale Your Ads with Alex Strathdee
Building a Book Marketing Agency: Alex Strathdee on Specialization, Scaling, and Success
Building a Book Marketing Agency: Alex Strathdee on Specialization, Scaling, and Success
How To Plan A Book Launch: Step-by-Step Guide with Alex Strathdee
How To Plan A Book Launch: Step-by-Step Guide with Alex Strathdee
How To Plan A Book Launch: Step-by-Step Guide with Alex Strathdee
How To Plan A Book Launch: Step-by-Step Guide with Alex Strathdee
Lean Marketing for Authors: How to Get Bigger Results with Less Effort with Alex Strathdee
Lean Marketing for Authors: How to Get Bigger Results with Less Effort with Alex Strathdee

What Our Readers Are Saying:

Dan HeathAuthor of Reset and Upstream, co-author of Switch and Made to Stick (1+ million books sold)
It's the perfect book for sales-hungry nonfiction authors: No BS. Insider tips. Industry secrets. And plenty of case studies to make it come alive.
John StreleckyAuthor of The Cafe on the Edge of the World (5+ million copies sold)
Before the Bestseller is more than a guide—it's a compass for every author with a message to share and a difference to make. Alex Strathdee has crafted a book that doesn't just teach you how to sell more copies—it reminds you why your words matter in the first place. This is my go to recommendation when an author asks how to get more copies of their books into the hands of readers who will love them.
Mike MichalowiczAuthor of Profit First and The Money Habit (1+ million books sold)
Put your marketing worries to rest and drive book sales like you always envisioned. Thanks to Alex for cracking the code.
Allan DibAuthor of The 1-Page Marketing Plan and Lean Marketing (1+ million books sold)
This book is your blueprint to becoming a bestselling author from the go-to expert in book launch strategy.
Brad StulbergBestselling author of The Practice of Groundeness and Master of Change (150,000 books sold)
A comprehensive guide to book marketing in the 21st century. It's filled with practical insights and ideas to get your book into the hands of readers.
Stephen Snyder MDAuthor of Love Worth Making. (100,000 books sold)
Alex Strathdee's strategies tripled my sales right away. I'm sorry I didn't know about him years ago. Glad he's finally getting the word out!
Nicole GebhardtCEO of Niche Pressworks (Publisher of books by Grant Cardone, Ed Rush, Mike Koenigs & many more)
We ensure our authors publish the right book. This is the blueprint we then give them to make sure that book gets read.
Ricardo FayetFounder of Reedsy
A goldmine of strategies for nonfiction authors serious about turning their writing into a thriving career.
Chandler BoltCEO of SelfPublishing & Self Publishing School
Working with over 7,500 authors, we've learned a thing or two about successfully marketing a book. Any level of non-fiction author will see book sales soar if they just apply what's taught here.
Steve HarrisonCo-founder AuthorSuccess (PR for Rich Dad Poor Dad)
Alex Strathdee has written a must read for authors everywhere. BEFORE THE BESTSELLER is chock full of proven tactics to sell more books. It shows you step-by-step how to take your sales and your impact to a whole new level. Get your copy today!
Alex is who we send people to when they need help with their non-fiction ads. His approach to ads has created a lot of great results for authors and continues to show that he's always on top of Amazon and their system. - Dave Chesson, founder of Kindlepreneur
Most authors think their job is done when they finish writing. They're wrong. In Before The Bestseller, Alex Strathdee reveals the strategies successful nonfiction authors use to make their books impossible to ignore. If you want your book to sell long after launch, this is the guide you need. - Nir Eyal, author of Hooked & Indistractable (1+ million books sold)

What sets Before the Bestseller apart from other book marketing guides?

Data-Driven Book Marketing

Proven tactics from $10M+ ad spend and 1M+ books sold.

Nonfiction Focus

Tailored for authors solving real-world problems (business, self-help, health, etc.).

Anti-Guru Approach

No vague theory—only actionable steps with measurable results.

Amazon Ads Hacks

CTR benchmarks, conversion rates, and "brand vs. nonbrand" breakdowns.

Podcast Pitching Template

20% success rate script from top book marketers.

Launch Team Secrets

Nir Eyal’s "contributor list" trick for 200+ legit reviews.

Guide to Free Reader Seeding

How Joseph Nguyen used free copies to hit 1M sales.

"Stop Wasting Time"

Ditch random acts of marketing for systems that scale.

"You’re Being Selfish Not to Promote"

Ethical case for sharing your book.

FAQ

How does the "Commit to a Number" strategy work?

  • Authors should aim to seed 1,000–20,000 copies (free or paid) to trigger word-of-mouth. This helps give your book momentum among readers who would benefit the most from your book.

  • Case studies: Joseph Nguyen (Don’t Believe Everything You Think) used this to hit 1M sales in 2 years.

  • Healthy CTR/conversion benchmarks (e.g., 10–40 clicks per sale = good).

  • “Brand vs. nonbrand” targeting – Why most authors misreport ad success.

  • Sponsored Display beta tricks (video ads, untapped features).

  • “Don’t ask, guide” method – Ask readers what they loved, then say: “Copy/paste this to Amazon!”

  • Review bookmarks – Include QR codes in physical copies.

  • Gatekeeper strategy – Doctors, teachers, and orgs bulk-recommend (e.g., Katrina Ubell’s weight-loss book).

Absolutely! Before the Bestseller covers:

  • Free reader seeding – How to ethically give away copies to micro-communities.
  • “Author Twin” stalking – Reverse-engineer a competitor’s promo plan.
  • Organic social media shortcuts – Post 3x/day like Joseph Nguyen or 1x/week like Colton Dubell (Anime Academy).

  • “Trojan-Horse-Heat-Seeking Missile” – Give two copies (1 to read, 1 to gift). Help your readers build micro-communities for you.

  • Carwash bookstores – How Rich Dad Poor Dad sold books in unlikely places.

Both! A few things the book goes over to help you whether you’re self-published or traditionally published:

  • Self-publishing tips – Amazon Ads, reader seeding, bulk sales.

  • Traditional publishing hacks – Negotiating author copy discounts ($6–8 per book).

Yes! Both can be powerful tools to help get the wind in your book’s sails. Features:

  • 20%-success-rate podcast pitch template (used by top marketers).

  • TikTok/LinkedIn breakdowns – Quantity (Joseph Nguyen) vs. quality (Colton Dubell) approaches.

“Random acts of marketing” – Jumping between tactics without a seeding goal or systems.

This book helps you set up goals and foundations to your book marketing plan so you can waste less time and money.

Read the First Chapters Free—Recommended by book marketing experts for authors looking to up their game.

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