Why Smart Authors Build/
enhance Their Brand atleast 6 Months
Before Book Launch
Introduction
Welcome back to Satesh
Khubchandani s
Author Success Newsletter!
As the founder of The Level UpPers and bestselling author of
"Brand Building Habits,"
Satesh has guided hundreds of authors from concept to bestseller.
This week, we're diving into a crucial yet often overlooked
strategy—why building your author brand
months before your book launch isn't just smart, it's essential for
publishing success in today's
competitive market.
Section 1: Branding Tip of the Week
The Pre-Launch Authority Building Strategy
Think of your author brand as a garden—it needs time to grow
before harvest. Starting your branding
journey 6-12 months before launch allows you to establish authority, build
trust, and create genuine anticipation.
Consider successful authors who began sharing their writing journey, expertise, and personality
long before their books hit shelves. They
cultivated relationships, not just followers. This pre-launch period
lets you test messaging, understand your
audience, and refine your voice without the pressure of immediate sales. When launch day arrives, you're not
introducing yourself to strangers—you're sharing exciting news with friends who've been
eagerly waiting.
Actionable
Step
Create a "Brand Building Calendar" starting today. Plan
one piece of valuable content
weekly—writing tips, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or industry insights.
Share consistently across your chosen
platform to build recognition before your book announcement.
Section 2: Kindle Publishing Insights
Building
Your Email List Before You Need It
Smart Kindle authors know that email marketing drives 40% more
book sales than social media alone.
Start collecting emails months before launch through valuable lead magnets—free chapters, writing guides, or
exclusive author interviews. Use Amazon Author
Central early to establish your presence and start building
relationships with readers in your
genre. The key is providing genuine value first, sales pitches later. Authors
who build email lists of 1,000+
subscribers before launch typically see 3x higher first-week sales than those who start marketing after publication.
Pro Tip
Set up a simple landing page with ConvertKit or Mailchimp offering
a free resource related to your book's
theme. Drive traffic through social media, guest posts, and networking—aim for 50 new subscribers monthly.
Section 3: Paperback Publishing Strategies
Physical Presence in a Digital World
While digital dominates, physical books still account for 75% of
book sales in many markets. Starting
your paperback strategy early means securing review copies, building relationships with bookstores, and creating
photography assets for marketing. Early
branding also helps you design cohesive covers that work across
formats—what looks great on Kindle might
not translate to paperback shelves. Plan for book events, library partnerships, and local media opportunities
that require physical books months in
advance .
Resource Recommendation
Consider IngramSpark for global print-on-demand distribution.
Their early setup allows you to create
marketing materials with actual ISBNs and shipping timeframes, making your pre
launch campaigns more credible.
Section 4: Satesh's Author Spotlight
My journey with "Brand Building Habits" did not 18
months before publication. This gave me
a lot of challenges in marketing the book. It also showed me that which I had
never thought of. Enhancing my personal
brand before launch.
I saw the challenges new authors faced so I was determined to make
a difference. This led me to author
coaching, ghost writing helping authors build 5heir social profiles.
Inspite of this, I resold the books to my friends and family. This pre-launch branding resulted in Amazon bestseller status within weeks of release—proof that network is your net worth. This pays dividends in publishing success.
Call to Action
Don't wait until publication day to start building your author
brand! Visit www.theleveluppers.com for
your complimentary "Pre-Launch Brand Strategy Session" and download our free "Author Brand
Building Timeline" guide.
Do contact me for any assistance in your
author journey.
Thank
you
Satesh Khubchandani
Thanks for investing in your author journey with us! Your feedback
drives our content—reply and tell us
which pre-launch strategies you're implementing or what challenges you're facing. Next month: Suggest topics
Remember: Your brand story begins before your book story ends.
Start building the relationships that will celebrate your success.
