Give Away Books Strategically

This Week’s Tip: Give Away Books Strategically—And Watch Sales Multiply!

Most authors hesitate to give away books because it feels like a loss. But when you put your book in the right hands, it can create a ripple effect that leads to even more sales.

???? Here's What to Do This Week

1. Choose 5-10 key people who can amplify your book’s reach.

Look for:

Influencers—pastors, ministry leaders, business owners, podcast hosts.
Connectors—avid readers, book club hosts, small group leaders.
Supporters—friends, family, or past customers who love sharing good books

2. Send them a copy with a personal note — (hand-written if possible).

Example: "Dear [Name], I wanted to gift you a copy of my book, [Book Title], because I know it aligns with your heart and the work you do. If it blesses you, I’d be honored if you’d share it with someone who might need it..."

3. Let word-of-mouth do the work.

When people love something, they talk about it. A gifted book often turns into multiple recommendations, future sales, and even bulk orders.

???? Why This Works:

People trust recommendations: A personal endorsement drives more sales.
A free book can cause a ripple effect: One gifted book can lead to dozens (or even hundreds) of sales when placed in the right person’s hands.
It sparks conversations. A well-placed book gets people talking and sharing.
It builds momentum. Purposeful giving leads to long-term exposure and sales.

Try this today! A well-placed book can open doors, create conversations, and lead to unexpected opportunities.

Comment below and tell us—who are the top few people on your list that you'll be sending your book to?

P.S. This strategy is just one of the simple ways we help authors sell more books inside our Book Marketing Pro Academy. If you want more hands-on help and fresh ideas, you’re always welcome to check it out at Book Marketing Pro Academy (BMA).

You can catch our LIVE training this week for FREE on our YouTube channel and boy howdy, we have A LOT going on this coming week that you can watch live, or catch the replay.

Here's this week's schedule and direct links to watch on our YouTube Channel:

TUESDAY (03/18) 1 PM PT | WRITING WISE: Ideas for a Gift Book (YouTube LIVE) - with Janet McHenry: Click here to join us on TUESDAY

THURSDAY (03/20) 1 PM PT | LAUNCH YOUR BOOK YOUR WAY | PART SEVEN: Creating Community to Maximize Live Launch Efforts with Carol Tetzlaff: Click here to join us on THURSDAY

THURSDAY (03/20) 4 PM PT | LIVE INDUSTRY UPDATE with Athena and Carol: Click here to join us on THURSDAY

FRIDAY (03/21) 1:00 PM PT | THE COACHING TABLE | Observe and learn from a 1:1 LIVE coaching session with one of our authors - Creating Community to Maximize Live Launch Efforts, with Carol Tetzlaff - Click here to join us on FRIDAY