You wrote the book. Great. Now, who the hell is going to buy it?
In this episode of Write Effing Now!, Hilary Jastram tackles the part of publishing many authors would rather avoid: marketing. More specifically, she breaks down four positioning questions every author should answer before trying to sell a single copy.
From identifying your audience to figuring out what makes your book different, Hilary shows you how to tighten your message, understand your reader, and create marketing that actually has a purpose. Because your book is a product—and “everybody” is not your target audience.
What You'll Learn
How demographics and psychographics help define your audience.
Why your book needs a clear unique selling proposition.
How to explain your book quickly without rambling.
The difference between internal and external calls to action.
How your book can become part of a larger client journey.
Why identifying the problems your book solves makes marketing easier.
How the five pillars of book marketing work together.
Why marketing needs to start before your book launches.
Episode Summary
Hilary walks through four questions: Who is your audience? Why is your book different? What do you want readers to do after reading it? What problems does your book solve?
Answer those clearly, and suddenly your content, messaging, calls to action, and overall marketing strategy have direction.
She also gets into the reality of putting yourself out there. Authors write from a place of expertise, creativity, or passion, but marketing requires visibility—and visibility opens the door to criticism. Hilary’s message? Don’t let somebody sitting in the comments decide whether your voice deserves to be heard. You still have to show up, market the damn book, and give people a reason to care.
Favorite Quote
“You’re not toilet paper. You’re not selling toilet paper.”
- Hilary Jastram
Other Topics Discussed
Book Marketing • Target Audiences • Psychographics • Demographics • Unique Selling Propositions • Calls to Action • Reader Pain Points • Author Branding • Marketing Strategy • Book Launches
Connect With Hilary
Follow Hilary for weekly insights on writing, editing, publishing, storytelling, and building a successful author career.
Write Effing Now! is the podcast for writers who want to write smarter, publish confidently, and share stories that make an impact.
Whether you're just beginning your writing journey or preparing to publish your next book, you'll find actionable strategies, professional insight, and honest conversations designed to help you cross the finish line.
What You’ll LearnEpisode SummaryFavorite QuoteOther Topics Covered
