The 5% Rule: From Book Idea to Business Strategy | Nicole Gebhardt (CEO, Niche Press) | Before the Bestseller 180


Today we welcome Nicole Gebhart, CEO of Niche Press, where she has worked with hundreds of business leaders, advisors, and experts to help them clarify what they want to be known for and turn that into a book that actually drives opportunity. With a background leading communications strategy at Caterpillar Inc. and years of consulting experience, she brings a structured, strategic lens to publishing. In this episode of Before the Bestseller, Nicole breaks down what it really means to treat a book as a business asset rather than a standalone product.

In this episode

We get into why the “wrong book” can quietly limit your growth, how different publishing strategies like signature, pep talk, and niche books each serve a specific role, and why most people approach writing from the past instead of where they want to go. Nicole shares how books should connect to your offers, brand, and long term business model, not just book sales, along with how to think in terms of frameworks, client conversion, and positioning yourself in the top tier of your niche. We also touch on what it looks like to fix a misaligned book, why owning your publishing rights matters, and how the right strategy can turn a book into a consistent source of opportunities.

Tune in to hear how to turn a book into something that actually builds your business instead of just sitting on a shelf.

Check out www.nicheleaders.com to learn more or take the assessment. 

Take a second to follow, review, or share this with someone who might find it useful. Your support helps more people discover the show.

Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here: https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/

Head to our new website for more content and updates: www.getshelflife.com

If you’re interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at Alex@getshelflife.com

Alex Strathdee
BeforeTheBestseller | AdvancedAmazonAds

Recent PoDCASTS

3 secrets, 2 links, 1 book

Reader,every year a group of friends gets together on Garbage Beach (the locals call it that to keep people away) in San Diego to play a day-long version of the TV show Survivor. Garbage Beach, San Diego If you don’t know the show, feel free to skip to the secrets. Well, 28 people started at 11 on Saturday morning. 12 hours of puzzles, physical endeavors, and complex social schemes later, I had, for the first time ever, made it to the final 3. For those who know the show, it all comes down to…

LISTEN NOW

3 secrets, 2 links, 1 book

Reader,It’s summertime! Let’s make this quick so we can all go hit the beach 🙂 3 Secrets1. Bestselling non-fiction authors read more fiction What makes people keep reading is a good story. Fiction writers are the best storytellers in the world. They know how to start a scene you can’t stop reading and keep you excited all the way to the end. When you read their books, you learn their tricks. Then you can use those same tricks to make your true stories just as fun to read. Now more important…

LISTEN NOW

Subscribe for a copy of Before the Bestseller and level up your book marketing today!

Fill out the form below, and you’ll receive your copy shortly.