Marketing Your Book Before It's Finished: Why It Matters
Sharing early looks at your book and the progress builds momentum for your book before publication
Many writers wait until their book is polished, formatted, and published before thinking about marketing.
But if you want your book to have real momentum at launch, you need to build awareness long before it’s available to buy. Pre-launch marketing not only helps you sell more copies, but it also helps you connect with the readers who will champion your work.
Here’s why early marketing matters — and how to do it without feeling like you’re shouting into the void.
Build Anticipation and Awareness
Readers can’t buy your book if they don’t know it exists. Starting early gives you time to introduce your book idea, share the journey, and create curiosity. It gives your audience something to look forward to.
How to do it:
Share sneak peeks of your writing process, setting, or characters.
Post early quotes or aesthetic boards.
Tease the title, genre, or concept to draw interest.
Share your writing process.
If you have any, share research insights you’ve done without giving anything crucial away about your book.
Grow Your Email List and Social Media Following
Use your book-in-progress as a way to attract new followers who love your genre. As you talk about your book and its themes, you’ll start to attract the kind of readers most likely to buy it.
How to do it:
Offer a lead magnet (like a sample chapter or short story).
Run polls or quizzes related to your book’s world.
Start a newsletter series sharing behind-the-scenes progress.
Get Feedback and Shape Your Final Product
Early engagement gives you valuable insight. You can test cover concepts, blurbs, and even plot directions based on reader reactions. You’re marketing and validating at the same time.
How to do it:
Share multiple cover options and let readers vote.
Ask for opinions on title choices.
Pose character or plot questions to generate conversation.
Involve Readers in the Journey
Readers who feel like they’ve been on the ride with you are more likely to become advocates. By the time you launch, they will feel invested in your success.
How to do it:
Use hashtags like #amwriting or #WIP to connect with other writers and readers.
Talk about your writing struggles and breakthroughs.
Share milestones (“hit 50k words today!” or “just finished the first draft!”).
Build a Launch Team Before You Need One
Instead of scrambling for ARC readers and reviewers at the last minute, start assembling your launch team as you write. These readers can be your biggest cheerleaders when release day comes.
How to do it:
Let followers know you’re forming a launch team early.
Offer incentives (early copies, name in acknowledgments, exclusive content).
Use email and social posts to build a list of interested readers.
Marketing doesn’t have to wait until your book is done.
In fact, it shouldn’t. Think of pre-launch marketing as laying the foundation for your book’s success. Every post, update, or email builds awareness, connection, and excitement.
Start where you are. Share what you’re learning. Invite people in. Your future readers are out there — they just need to know you’re coming.