Marketing Action Plan (MAP)

A guided 6-month action plan to build unstoppable momentum for your book.

What PublishU Has Learned About What Sells Books

Our sales data is clear: authors who successfully apply one or more of these three marketing strategies sell the most books.

A. Public Speaking

Authors who build a speaking programme — keynote talks, guest interviews, panel discussions, event tours — sell the highest volume of books.
This works best when the book’s message and the presentation topic are aligned.

B. Strategic Collaborations

High-performing authors partner with networks, professional bodies, membership organisations and events that resonate with their book’s subject.
These partnerships often lead to bulk sales.

C. Significant Media Coverage

Authors who secure a single strong piece of media coverage early frequently see a domino effect of additional opportunities.
They often become recognised subject-matter experts for media outlets.

The Marketing My Book programme incorporates all three strategies, but your results will grow with ongoing focus and deeper investment in them.

The Programme Structure

PublishU studies what successful authors consistently do.
This programme distils that knowledge into three core resources:

✅ 1. Marketing Action Plan (MAP)

A clear, one-hour weekly marketing task for six months that builds global momentum for your book.

✅ 2. Marketing Community

A cohort of fellow authors travelling the same journey.
Weekly check-ins create accountability, motivation and inspiration.

✅ 3. Marketing Mastermind

A monthly online session with Matt Bird — author, book coach, publisher and marketing expert — to spark ideas, troubleshoot challenges and energise your progress.

The Marketing Action Plan (MAP)

Each week includes simple, clear tasks plus a WhatsApp accountability action.

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Week 1: Your Motivation

Reconnect with why you wrote this book and define your measure of success.

• Why did you decide to write a book?
• How will you measure the success of your book?

WhatsApp: Share your why and success measure.

Week 2: Your Launch Event(s)

Your launch event gets you in front of your core audience. Plan around author copies arriving approx. two weeks after publication.

• Who will you invite?
• Where will it be held?
• When will it be?
• What needs organising?
• Who will take photos for social media?

WhatsApp: Share your answers.

Week 3: Public Speaking

Speaking is the #1 way to sell books.

• Who is your niche audience?
• What is your niche message?
• Who could invite you to speak? Reach out to them (Relationology can help).
• Update your public profile and social media to reflect that you are a speaker.

WhatsApp: Share your answers.

Week 4: Strategic Collaborations

The #2 way to sell books is through partnerships.

• What is the core subject of your book?
• Which organisations, events and networks are focused on this subject?
• How can you begin conversations with them?

WhatsApp: Share your answers.

Week 5: Marketing Review

Catch up on any incomplete tasks.

WhatsApp: Share an update.

Week 6: Your Primary Social Media Platform

Social media and news are the #3 way to sell books.

• Choose your primary platform.
• Update your profile:
  • Photo
  • Bio (specialism, role, organisation)
  • "Author of <Book Title>"
  • Link to PublishU book page (use www.publishu.com/books until your page is live)

WhatsApp: Send the link to your updated profile.

Week 7: Additional Social Media Platforms

Apply your updated profile across your other platforms.

WhatsApp: Send links to each updated profile.

Week 8: Write a Local Media News Release

Lead with you as a local resident — make the book the “icing on the cake.”
(Ask ChatGPT to draft it if needed.)

WhatsApp: Share your draft press release.

Week 9: Research Local Media Contacts

Collect name, email and phone for local:

• Radio
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Websites

WhatsApp: Share your list.

Week 10: Engage Local Media

Send your news release and follow up by phone within 48 hours.

WhatsApp: Share dates and times of follow-ups.

Week 11: Marketing Review

Focus especially on public speaking, collaborations and media.

WhatsApp: Share an update.

Week 12: Global Publication Day

Key tasks:

• Order your book on Amazon and check for any imperfections before ordering author copies.
• Create your Amazon Author Page. PublishU will need to authorise the link.
• Send your local media release.
• Announce your book on social media using your PublishU marketing resources (3D cover, YouTube interview, Apple/Spotify podcasts).

WhatsApp: Share your Amazon Author Page link + launch post.

Week 13: Order Author Copies

Email team@publishu.com

• Frequency: Monthly (last two working days) + Publication Day
• Cost: ~40% of cover price (includes 15% PublishU Agency Fee)
• Payment: 24 hours
• Minimum: 50 copies
• Delivery: ~2 weeks
• Remember to film/photograph unboxing for social media.

WhatsApp: Confirm your order.

Week 14: Host Your Launch Event(s)

Big or small — capture the moment.

• Enjoy the event!
• Take photos and videos.
• Post on your primary platform.

WhatsApp: Share photos + your post link.

Week 15: Research Podcast Contacts

Find podcasters covering your book’s topic.
Don’t self-reject — always ask.

WhatsApp: Share your list.

Week 16: Write Your Podcast Pitch

Template:

Dear <Name>, I love your podcast. I particularly enjoyed episode <number> because <reason>.
I am <your role> and have recently written a book on <topic>. Would you be open to me joining you as a guest?
Yours, <Your Name>

WhatsApp: Share your draft pitch.

Week 17: Send Your Podcast Pitch

Email your personalised pitch.

WhatsApp: Confirm you’ve sent them.

Week 18: Follow Up

Phone if possible; if not, email follow-up.

WhatsApp: Share confirmations + results.

Week 19: Marketing Review

Focus on your “big three”:

• Speaking
• Collaborations
• Media

WhatsApp: Share your update.

Week 20: Specialist Media Release

Draft a press release for specialist/niche media relating to your book’s subject.

WhatsApp: Share your draft.

Week 21: Research Specialist Media Contacts

Gather names, emails and phone numbers.

WhatsApp: Share your list.

Week 22: Engage Specialist Media

Email your release and follow up within 48 hours.

WhatsApp: Share dates and times.

Week 23: Marketing Review

Consolidate everything so far.

WhatsApp: Share update.

Week 24: Draft Your Next 6-Month Marketing Plan

Create your next MAP — one hour per week, focusing especially on:

• Speaking
• Collaborations
• Media

WhatsApp: Share draft for feedback.

Week 25: Finalise Your 6-Month Marketing Plan

Update based on feedback so you have a strong 6-month commitment.

WhatsApp: Share your final plan.

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