What Authors Should Do After Publishing Their Book

Quick Answer: What Should an Author Do Right After Publishing?

Within the first 48 hours of publishing, an author should: (1) claim and optimize their Amazon Author Central page, (2) send review requests to ARC readers, (3) launch a social media announcement campaign, and (4) email their list. Over the following 90 days, the focus shifts to collecting reviews, pitching podcasts and blogs, building an author website, and expanding the book into multiple formats such as audiobooks and translations. Authors who follow a structured post-publication plan sell significantly more copies than those who don’t.

Who This Guide Is For

This playbook was written for:

• First-time authors who just hit “publish” and aren’t sure what comes next
• Self-published authors on Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, or Draft2Digital looking to maximize visibility
• Traditionally published authors whose publisher isn’t providing enough marketing support
• Ghostwriting clients of Hillshire Media who want to understand how to promote their finished manuscript

We have spent over a decade helping authors navigate exactly this phase. The strategies below come directly from the post-publication campaigns we’ve run for our 700+ published clients, not from theory.

Why Most Authors Fail After Publishing (And How to Be Different)

Here’s an uncomfortable truth: 90% of self-published books sell fewer than 100 copies in their lifetime. Not because the books are bad, but because the authors treated publishing as the destination rather than the launchpad.

The authors who break through share a common pattern:

• They treated their book like a business product, not a creative project
• They invested in visibility, reviews, media, and social proof before expecting sales
• They built systems (email lists, websites, content) that compound over time
• They sought expert guidance rather than figuring everything out alone

This guide gives you that system. Let’s build it together.

The Complete Post-Publication Playbook: 10 Steps That Actually Work

Step 1: Claim and Fully Optimize Your Amazon Author Central Page

Do this within 24 hours of publishing. This is non-negotiable.

Amazon Author Central is completely free, takes 20 minutes to set up, and has a direct impact on your book’s discoverability inside the world’s largest book marketplace.

What Amazon Author Central lets you do:

• Write a detailed, keyword-rich author biography
• Upload a professional headshot
• Consolidate all your titles under one author profile
• Add your blog RSS feed so content is syndicated automatically
• Display editorial reviews and press coverage directly on your book’s product page

Why this directly affects your Amazon search rankings:

Amazon’s internal search algorithm (A9/A10) rewards author page completeness. A fully built-out author profile increases your chances of appearing in “Customers Also Bought,” “More from This Author,” and category-level recommendation feeds, all without spending a dollar on ads.

Exact action steps:

1. Visit authorcentral.amazon.com and sign in with your KDP account
2. Claim your author profile and verify ownership of your titles
3. Write a 300–500-word bio that naturally includes your genre, credentials, and the problem your books solve
4. Upload a high-resolution professional photo (minimum 300 DPI, square crop)
5. Link your website URL and social profiles
6. Add the “Editorial Reviews” section with blurbs, early reader feedback, or media coverage

Hillshire Media Insight: We’ve seen author profile completion alone lift organic Amazon traffic by 18–30% in the first 60 days post-launch for our clients. It’s the single highest-ROI action you can take in hour one.

Step 2: Execute a 90-Day Post-Launch Marketing Campaign

Publishing without a marketing plan is like printing flyers and locking them in a drawer.

Here is the exact 90-day framework we use at Hillshire Media for our post-publication clients:

Days 1–30: Ignition Phase, Build Social Proof Fast

The first 30 days are the most algorithmically important on Amazon. More reviews in less time = stronger ranking signals.

• ARC Outreach: Send your book to 20–50 Advanced Reader Copies (ARC) readers and request honest reviews within 2 weeks
• Email Blast: Announce the book to your existing list with a personal note, not a marketing email. People buy from people.
• Daily Social Content: Post every day across Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X. Mix formats: photos of the book, behind-the-scenes writing clips, reader quotes, and your story
• Kindle Countdown Deal or Free Promo: Run a promotional price window (e.g., $0.99 for 5 days) to spike downloads and trigger Amazon’s “Hot New Releases” algorithm
• Personal Outreach: DM or email 50 people individually, colleagues, past clients, readers you’ve connected with online, and ask for support

Days 31–60: Amplification Phase, Earn External Authority

• Pitch to 10–15 book review blogs in your exact genre (use a short, personalized email, not a template blast)
• Apply to guest on 5–10 podcasts whose audiences overlap with your book’s readers
• Submit to literary award competitions: IPPY Awards, BookLife Prize (Publishers Weekly), IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, and genre-specific awards
• Build your media press kit: author bio (short + long version), book synopsis, high-res cover art (minimum 2400px), headshot, key talking points, and a media inquiry email
• Pitch a bylined article to an industry publication related to your book’s topic (Psychology Today, Forbes, Entrepreneur, etc.) with a link back to your book

Days 61–90: Consolidation Phase, Convert Momentum to Systems

• Analyze Amazon KDP and Google Analytics data, identify which content, platforms, and audiences drove the most sales
• Contact 5–10 independent bookstores in your region about stocking your book or hosting an author event
• Pitch your book to local libraries for inclusion in their collection (use the ALA’s library outreach guidelines)
• Begin planning your next content piece, whether a second book, a podcast, or a course built from your existing material

Step 3: Build a Professional Author Website That Ranks and Converts

Your Amazon page rents you space on someone else’s platform. Your author website is real estate you own, and it builds compounding SEO authority that Amazon can never give you.

What every author’s website must include:

Page	Purpose	SEO Goal
Home	Immediately communicate who you are and who you serve	Rank for your name + “author”
Books	All titles, covers, descriptions, buy links, reviews	Rank for book title keywords
About	Full credential story, credibility builders, photo	Build E-E-A-T trust signals
Blog	Ongoing content on topics related to your book	Rank for long-tail keywords in your niche
Contact	Media, speaking, and reader inquiries	Conversion and accessibility
Email Signup	Lead magnet to capture the audience	Own your audience off-platform

Step 4: Build Your Review Foundation Aggressively and Ethically

Reviews are currency in the book marketplace. A book with 50 genuine 4-star reviews consistently outperforms a book with 5 five-star reviews in both algorithm ranking and reader conversion.

Target platforms in priority order:

1. Amazon: Aim for 25 reviews in 30 days. This threshold activates several Amazon promotional eligibility features.
2. Goodreads: 150+ million active members use Goodreads to discover their next read. Even 10 Goodreads reviews move the needle significantly.
3. BookBub: Harder to get listed, but a BookBub Featured Deal can generate thousands of downloads in 48 hours.
4. Google Business / Google Search: Google is now surfacing book reviews directly in search results for book-related queries. Ask readers to leave a Google review.
5. NetGalley: Pre-launch or early post-launch, NetGalley puts your book in front of professional reviewers, librarians, and educators who write credible, detailed reviews.

How to request reviews without violating Amazon’s Terms of Service:

Amazon prohibits incentivized reviews (no gifts, discounts, or “I’ll review yours if you review mine”). What IS allowed:

• A polite review request in your book’s back matter (“If you enjoyed this book, an honest review on Amazon helps more readers find it”)
• A post-launch email to readers asking for honest feedback
• Personal, one-on-one outreach to readers who have engaged with your content organically

Never use review farms, paid review services, or review exchange groups. Amazon’s fraud detection has become extremely sophisticated. A review manipulation flag can result in your book being suppressed or delisted entirely.

Step 5: Expand Into Multiple Formats and Revenue Streams

One book. Multiple income streams. This is how professional authors think.

Format Expansion Roadmap:

Audiobook (Highest Priority) The audiobook market exceeded $2 billion in revenue in 2023 and continues growing at 20–25% annually. Readers who prefer audio are an entirely separate audience from print/ebook readers, meaning an audiobook version doesn’t cannibalize sales; it adds them.

Options: Amazon ACX (pairs you with a narrator), Findaway Voices (wider distribution), or a professional studio recording.

Hillshire Media offers complete audiobook production services, from script preparation to narration, editing, mastering, and multi-platform distribution (Audible, Apple Books, Spotify, libraries).

Ebook / Kindle Version: If you published in print only, a Kindle version should be live within 30 days of your print launch. Ebooks at $4.99–$9.99 generate passive revenue indefinitely and are indexed separately in Amazon search.

Large Print Edition: Readers over 60 are one of the highest book-purchasing demographics in the United States, and many specifically search for large-print editions. A large-print version can be created through IngramSpark with minimal additional investment.

Foreign Language Translations: Spanish, French, Arabic, Portuguese, German, and Mandarin are the highest-demand translation markets for English-language books. A translated edition opens you to an entirely new geographic market.

Hillshire Media provides certified, human-translated book editions for all major languages, not machine translation. Your content, tone, and nuance preserved.

Online Course, Masterclass, or Workshop Non-fiction and self-help books convert particularly well into structured courses. Your book is already the curriculum; it just needs to be reorganized into a learning experience. Platforms like Teachable, Kajabi, and Thinkific make this accessible without technical expertise.

Step 6: Build a Genre-Specific Social Media Strategy

Not all social media platforms serve all authors equally. A children’s book author and a business leadership author need completely different strategies.

Platform Guide by Book Genre:

Platform	Best Genre Fit	What Performs Best
Instagram	Fiction, Memoir, Children’s, Poetry	Aesthetic book photography, cover reveals, short reels, reader quotes
LinkedIn	Business, Leadership, Self-Help, Non-Fiction	Long-form articles, speaking announcements, and client transformation stories
TikTok / BookTok	Romance, Fantasy, Young Adult, Thriller	Author personality, reading reactions, “books like mine” recommendations
Facebook	All genres, especially 35–65 audience	Author pages, reader groups, paid ad campaigns, event announcements
X (Twitter)	Literary Fiction, Political Non-Fiction, Journalism	Industry commentary, writing process, pitch events (#PitMad, #MSWL)
YouTube	All genres	Author interviews, book trailers, “how I wrote this book” documentaries
Pinterest	Cookbooks, Wellness, Self-Help, Historical Fiction	Book-themed boards, quotes, thematic imagery with book links

Step 7: Pursue Earned Media, Podcasts, Press, and Speaking

Paid ads buy you temporary visibility. Earned media builds permanent authority.

Podcast Strategy:

There are over 4 million active podcasts as of 2026. Thousands of them need expert guests who match your book’s topic. A single podcast appearance can generate 50–500 book sales from a warm, trusting audience, often better ROI than $500 in Amazon ads.

How to find the right podcasts: Search your book’s core topic on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. The shows that come up are already serving your exact readers.

Pitch template framework: Subject line: “Author of [Book Title], [One-Sentence Hook].” Body: who you are, what your book is about, 3 specific episode topics you can cover, your credentials, and a buy link. Keep it under 150 words.

Press and Media Outreach:

Write a genuine press release, not marketing copy, that frames your book as newsworthy. Tie it to a current trend, cultural moment, or underserved audience. Submit to:

• Book review publications: Kirkus Reviews, BookLife (Publishers Weekly), Foreword Reviews, BlueInk Review
• Genre-specific media: trade publications, niche blogs, enthusiast communities
• Local media: your city’s newspaper, regional magazines, local TV morning shows (they love local authors)

Speaking Engagements:

A published book is the single most powerful tool for landing speaking engagements. Start local:

• Public libraries (consistently seeking local authors for programming)
• Independent bookstores (author events drive foot traffic; they want you)
• Industry conferences related to your book’s subject matter
• Corporate learning and development teams (non-fiction authors especially)
• Virtual summit hosts in your niche

Every speaking engagement generates reviews, social proof, book sales, and often additional speaking invitations.

Step 8: Build and Protect Your Email List

Here is a fact that experienced authors learn the hard way: you don’t own your Amazon audience, your Instagram followers, or your Facebook page.

Platforms can change algorithms overnight. Accounts get suspended. Policies shift. Your email list is the only direct, platform-independent connection you have to your readers, and it compounds over time.

How to build your author email list from day one:

• In-Book Lead Magnet: At the back of your book, offer a valuable free resource in exchange for an email address. This could be: a bonus chapter, a companion workbook, a resource list, a quiz, or a continuation of your story. Direct readers to a simple URL: yourname.com/gift
• Website Email Capture: Every page of your author website should have an email signup with a clear value proposition. “Join 3,000 readers getting weekly [your topic] insights” outperforms a generic “Subscribe to my newsletter”
• Goodreads Giveaway: Run a book giveaway on Goodreads and capture emails from entrants via an integrated tool like BookFunnel
• Author Newsletter Swaps: Find 3–5 authors in your genre with similar audience sizes. Recommend each other’s books in your newsletters. Everyone grows.

What to send your email list:

Monthly at a minimum. Include: a personal story or update, a reading recommendation, a behind-the-scenes look at your next project, and occasionally, a direct book offer. The ratio should be 80% value, 20% promotion.

Step 9: Measure What Matters, Author Business Analytics

Successful authors run their careers with data, not guesswork.

Core metrics to track weekly for the first 90 days:

Metric	Tool	Why It Matters
Amazon Sales Rank	KDSpy, Publisher Rocket	Tracks the relative category performance
KDP/ACX Royalties	KDP Dashboard	Direct revenue signal
Kindle Unlimited Page Reads	KDP Dashboard	A major revenue stream if KU enrolled
Amazon Review Count	Manual check	Social proof and algorithm signal
Goodreads Rating & Reviews	Goodreads	Fiction discovery signal
Website Sessions & Conversions	Google Analytics 4	Identifies which content drives buyers
Email Open & Click Rate	Mailchimp, ConvertKit	Measures audience engagement
Social Engagement Rate	Native platform analytics	Shares/saves > follower count

Review this data every Monday morning. In 4 weeks, you will know exactly which channels are working, which audiences are buying, and where to invest more of your time and budget.

Step 10: Start Planning Your Second Book, Now

Here is the single most counterintuitive piece of advice we give every new author: start thinking about your second book before your first one is fully launched.

The math is simple: authors with 2+ books dramatically outperform single-title authors on Amazon because:

• Cross-promotion loops activate in Amazon’s algorithm; readers who buy Book 1 get algorithmically shown Book 2
• Series momentum means every new launch re-energizes your backlist. Book 3’s launch sells more copies of Book 1.
• Author credibility compounds, “bestselling author of three books,” carries far more weight in podcast pitches, speaking applications, and media coverage than “author of one book”
• Content production systems you build for Book 1 (email list, social channels, press contacts) make Book 2’s launch dramatically less expensive

At Hillshire Media, we work with authors on multi-book publishing strategies, not just one-time projects. Our ghostwriting, editing, and publishing team can support your full catalog vision from the start, building a sustainable author career rather than a single product.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What should an author do the day their book is published?

On publication day: announce to your email list, post across all social media channels, personally thank early readers and ARC reviewers, update your Amazon Author Central page if not already done, and send follow-up messages to 20–30 individual contacts asking for support.

Q2: How long does it take to start selling books consistently?

Most authors with a serious marketing strategy begin seeing consistent organic sales between 60 and 90 days post-launch, once their review count reaches 15–25 and their Amazon ranking has stabilized. Authors with pre-existing audiences (email lists, social followings) often see results faster.

Q3: Do I need to spend money on Amazon Ads to sell books?

Not immediately. Organic methods, review building, Author Central optimization, social media, and podcast appearances should come first. Amazon Ads become more effective (and cost-efficient) once your book has 20+ reviews and an optimized product page. Starting ads before reviews are established typically yields poor ROI.

Q4: Is a publicist worth the investment?

For most self-published authors, a publicist is not necessary in the first year. A focused self-marketing strategy using the steps above can generate strong results. Publicists become valuable when you are targeting national media (Today Show, major newspapers, NPR) and have a platform large enough for those outlets to find relevant.

Q5: Can Hillshire Media help with post-publication marketing strategy?

Yes, this is one of our core service areas. We offer book marketing consultations, author website development, audiobook production, book translation services, and full post-publication campaign management. Contact us for a free consultation at hillshiremedia.co.

Q6: What is the most common mistake authors make after publishing?

Waiting. Authors who launch passively, posting once on Instagram and hoping Amazon does the work, almost always see disappointing sales. The books that succeed have authors who treat the first 90 days as a full campaign, not a passive announcement.

Conclusion: Your Book Is a Business. Build It Like One.

A published book is not the destination. It is the most powerful business card you will ever hold, a credibility asset that opens doors to speaking engagements, media coverage, consulting opportunities, new clients, and a readership that compounds over time.

The authors we have worked with over the past decade who built lasting careers share one trait: they committed to the work after publishing with the same dedication they brought to writing.

Every step in this guide, Amazon Author Central optimization, review building, social media strategy, email list growth, format expansion, and earned media, is one layer in an author platform that grows stronger every month.

You wrote the book. Now let’s build a career around it.

Ready to take your post-publication results to the next level?

Hillshire Media has helped 700+ authors go from published to recognized. Whether you need an author website, audiobook production, book translation, or a full post-publication marketing strategy, we are here.

Free Consultation: hillshiremedia.co/contact-us
Email: [email protected]