Cathy Fyock, CSP, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is The Business Book Strategist and works with professionals and thought leaders who want to write a nonfiction book about their expertise as a business development strategy. She is the author of 12 books, including—On Your Mark: From First Word to First Draft in Six Weeks, Blog2Book: Repurposing Content to Discover the Book You’ve Already Written, My New Book, and with coauthor Lois Creamer, The Speaker Author: Sell More Books and Book More Speeches. Her book, Authority, is an anthology about the power of authorship and was a Wall Street Journal bestseller. Her newest book is Writer Crisis Hotline, coauthored with full-time author Allie Pleiter.
Since beginning her business in 2014, she has helped over 250 professionals become published authors. She believes that we all have a purpose, and that our stories are the way in which we share our truth with others. She is certain that authors can and do change the world, one word at a time.
Three interesting facts:
Diane Sawyer's mother was my 3rd grade teacher
I love retail therapy
I'm an active member of the National Speakers Association and I've been the referral champ for three years
Whether you’ve just started writing, you’re racing toward the finish line, or your book’s been out for a while, there’s one truth that always holds: it’s never too early—or too late—to start promoting your book.
Here are 10 simple, strategic things you can do right now to build buzz and boost visibility:
Design a Cover-in-Progress. Even if it’s a draft, create a mock-up of your book cover using tools like Canva or PowerPoint. Post it to build excitement, keep yourself motivated, and start gathering feedback. Bonus: when you reveal the final cover later, you’ve got another marketing moment!
Update Your Email Signature. Add a tagline like “Author of the upcoming book…” or “Check out my new book!”—and include the cover image. Let every email you send be a subtle ad for your book.
Collect Advance Praise. Reach out to 10+ influencers, colleagues, clients, or fans and ask for short, impactful testimonials. Use them in your book, on your website, in your launch campaign, or even on the back cover.
Write Your Book Summary—Then Use It. Craft a compelling summary (with a little help from AI if needed), and turn it into a Speaker One-Sheet. Don’t wait for publication—use this summary now to book speaking gigs months in advance.
Audit Your Online Presence. Review your website, bios, social media profiles, speaker intro, and newsletter. Make sure your book is mentioned everywhere your name appears.
Build Your Media List. Gather contact info for your local newspaper, alumni magazine, and professional organizations. Then brainstorm niche outlets that would love to hear about your topic.
Mine Your Manuscript for Content. As you write, highlight stand-alone sections that could become blog posts or articles. Include a note: “Excerpted from my upcoming book…” It builds credibility and anticipation.
Tap into Timely Topics. Use “newsjacking” by connecting your book’s topic to trending headlines. A timely blog or LinkedIn post can attract fresh eyeballs and media attention.
Start Teasing on Social Media. Share quotes, stories, stats, or sneak peeks related to your book’s theme. Use visuals—including your evolving cover art—for extra impact.
Turn Your Book into a Talk. Create a presentation based on your book's content. It could be a keynote, webinar, workshop, or book club session. Market it now—even before the book is finished.
Your book is more than a product—it’s a platform. And the sooner you start treating it that way, the faster you’ll grow your impact and visibility.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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