Special Post for Aspiring Authors: How to Make Your Book a Bestseller with Zero Reviews and No Ad Spend

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Independent Insights from a Seasoned Book Author for Aspiring Writers

Medium readers can read this story at this link.

Photo by Angela Chacón from Pexels

Until 2019, I had only experienced traditional publishing. I would write a draft, send it by the deadline, and let the publisher handle the rest — beta readers, editing, marketing, distribution, and sales. The income? Even with bestsellers, it was like pocket money.

While planning my retirement in 2019, my financial advisor reviewed my assets and recommended I take control of my intellectual property, especially my books.

He connected me with an indie publishing consultant — a multi-million dollar businesswoman who had helped many authors go independent. That $150 consultation changed everything. For the first time, I saw a path to building and owning my audience directly.

In traditional publishing, my readers were faceless numbers. I rarely knew who they were unless they happened to find my author profile on Google and reach out via my website or social media.

Although I had a mailing list for my professional activities, between 1983 and 2019, I never had an author mailing list of my readers. But since then, I have built a list of over 100,000 subscribers through multiple channels and landing pages. Now, I don’t just publish — I connect, engage, and own my audience.

My first real marketing and sales engagement attempt happened in 2021. I created a plan and sold over 1000 copies of a simple book I wrote for freelance writers. I documented my process in a story titled Here’s How I Sold 1,000+ Books in a Month with Minimal Investment First Time.

As I mentioned in the 2021 story, my sales skills are basic at best. I am the last person you would expect to teach about selling — and I mean it. But if I can make a sale, so can anyone. However, I am good at marketing, especially digital marketing, as a content marketing strategist for decades.

Like many freelancers or content entrepreneurs, I am no sales ninja, and that is perfectly fine for me for serving and thriving as an indie book author. Most creators aren’t in sales for a reason; we’re passionate about creating, not selling.

Yet, in today’s economic climate, basic selling is essential for our independence and growth, and marketing skills are crucial. Financial freedom can empower us to create with joy. Marketing and selling our work—especially books—doesn’t require flashy techniques. Some may scoff at that idea, but I shall show you why it is true.

Marketing and selling are distinct skills: marketing opens the door, but sales require us to close it. Selling is hard because it is outside our comfort zone. It demands a different mindset and mental effort—one the brain resists because it takes more energy. It’s no wonder creators dislike it! We need to work in our stretch and risk zones.

However, our brains are versatile. We can bridge the gap between creativity and sales with practice and an open mind. Once we learn the basics of marketing, selling becomes not just possible but surprisingly achievable. Our creativity isn’t an obstacle; it’s a unique advantage.

How I Made My Recent Book a Best Seller with $0 Ads and No Reviews

In this section, I will give you a brief overview of awareness based on my experience and observations independently to make this piece a valuable resource for your planning and customization. Some points may resonate more than others, so feel free to take what works best for you and set aside the rest.

In 2021, I tried Facebook and Twitter ads to promote my book, but by September 2024, I had stopped using ads altogether.

So, how did I manage to get my book to bestseller status?