You poured your heart, soul, and possibly an unreasonable amount of caffeine into writing your nonfiction book. It’s full of insights, wisdom, and value—but here’s the kicker: if nobody knows it exists, it might as well be an unpublished Word document languishing in a forgotten folder.

If you’re a business expert, consultant, or speaker, your book isn’t just a book—it’s a lead magnet, credibility booster, and client-attracting powerhouse.

But too many nonfiction authors leave opportunities (and revenue) on the table because of these common book marketing myths.

You all know I'm not OK with BS, so let’s bust them.

Myth #1: “My book is out, my job is done.”

The Reality:
Ah, the old “publish and prosper” fantasy. Lovely in theory, utterly ineffective in reality.

Your book isn’t a one-off project—it’s a marketing asset. If you treat it like a tick-box exercise, it will sink into obscurity faster than a government report. But if you treat it like a business tool, it can bring in leads, sales, and speaking gigs for years.

What to do instead:

• Build an evergreen content plan that keeps your book in front of fresh audiences.

• Make sure your book links seamlessly to your business, services, or programmes—don’t just sell a book, sell transformation.

• Keep looking for visibility opportunities (guest articles, podcasts, industry events).

Your book isn’t the finish line. It’s the starting gun.

Myth #2: “If my book is good, my audience will find it.”

The Reality:
This is like saying, “If my café serves good coffee, people will just turn up.” No. They won’t. Not unless they know you exist.

The average nonfiction book sells fewer than 100 copies in the author's lifetime—not because it isn’t valuable, but because nobody knows it’s there.

What to do instead:

• Position your book where your ideal readers already hang out—LinkedIn, niche groups, industry conferences, podcasts.

• Build an email list and create a follow-up strategy to turn readers into clients.

• Repurpose your book into social media posts, videos, blog content, and lead magnets—because one book equals months of marketing content.

• Make your Amazon book page sexy and SEO'd so it gets in-front of the right eyeballs.

If you want your book to sell, you have to introduce it to the right people. Preferably with enthusiasm, not a whisper.

Myth #3: “Marketing means selling, and I don’t want to sound pushy.”

The Reality:
Nobody wants to sound like a desperate double-glazing salesman, but marketing doesn’t have to feel like flogging snake oil.

If your book can help people, then hiding it is actually doing them a disservice.

What to do instead:

• Shift your mindset: Marketing isn’t selling, it’s serving.

• Lead with value—share insights, educate, and show how your book changes things.

• Use storytelling—your book exists for a reason, so talk about why it matters.

Marketing is just making sure the right people know your book exists. That’s it. No trickery required.

Myth #4: “A big audience is necessary for book success.”

The Reality:
A small, engaged audience beats a big, indifferent one every time. You don’t need millions of followers—you just need the right people who actually care about your message.

What to do instead:

• Focus on depth, not width—engage meaningfully with the right people, not just anyone with a pulse.

• Leverage targeted visibility strategies (guest podcasting, LinkedIn thought leadership, speaking engagements).

• Turn readers into superfans—people who share, recommend, and advocate for your book without being bribed with biscuits.

You don’t need a crowd. You need a community.

Myth #5: “The book should speak for itself—I don’t need a strategy.”

The Reality:
Even the best book will get lost in the noise without a clear marketing strategy. If you want your book to work for you—driving leads, sales, and authority-building opportunities—you need a plan.

What to do instead:

• Treat your book like a business product, not just a creative project.

• Create a long-term marketing ecosystem that connects your book to your services, speaking, and consulting.

• Optimise your Amazon, website, and social media presence so people actually find you.

A book with a strategy makes money. A book without one gathers dust.

The Bottom Line:

Marketing your book isn’t about pestering people—it’s about making it easy for them to find, love, and benefit from it.

Start turning your book into 90 days of powerful content.

Grab my free download: 10 Powerful Ways to Transform Your Nonfiction Book into 90 Days of Compelling Social Media Posts >>> mushroom-souffle.co.uk/transformbook