10 Critical Things Every Author Must Do After Publishing Their Book | Book Writing Venture

Publishing a book is an achievement worth celebrating—yet it’s only the beginning of an author’s journey. Many beautifully written books disappear into the digital crowd, not because they lack quality, but because the author failed to take the right after-publishing actions. Without post-launch effort, even strong manuscripts remain unread, unreviewed, and unsupported.

Whether you self-publish on Amazon KDP, Barnes & Noble, IngramSpark, or multiple platforms, these 10 essential steps determine whether your book thrives or becomes invisible. As one of the strategies recommended by Book Writing Venture, the best publishing firm in Florida, these actions ensure your book reaches its intended audience and builds organic traction.

1. Establish Your Author Presence

Readers want to trust the person behind the book. An author with no digital footprint appears inexperienced, even if their writing is exceptional.

What You Must Do

• Create your Amazon Author Central profile
• Build a simple author website
• Maintain at least one active social media account

Reference Case: A debut author who had no online presence saw zero organic reviews for months. After creating a basic author page and posting once a week, their book began receiving consistent reviews.

2. Secure Your First 10–15 Reviews Fast

Industry standards show that books with fewer than 10 reviews remain algorithmically invisible on major platforms. Early reviews are your book’s lifeline.

How to Get Them

• Provide ARC copies
• Ask your inner circle
• Contact BookTok and Bookstagram reviewers
• Submit your book to genre-specific review groups

Reference Case: A self-help author secured 22 reviews in ten days, resulting in their book entering Amazon’s Top 100 in its category.

3. Join & Promote in Niche Communities

General promotion rarely works. Targeted promotion does.

Ideal Platforms

• Parenting and educational Facebook groups
• Reddit communities
• Genre-based forums
• Literacy and reading groups

Reference Example:
A STEM children’s book author joined five homeschooling communities and offered free worksheets. Their book’s visibility jumped by 500% in two weeks.

4. Create a Lead Magnet or Email Funnel

Building an audience is not optional. It’s a long-term investment.

Ideas That Work

• Free sample chapter
• Coloring pages for children’s books
• Resource sheets, templates, or checklists

Reference Example: A children’s author created a free “20-Page Activity Pack,” which drove thousands of parents to join their email list.

5. Run Launch Promotions & Discounts

Smart promotions create momentum that attracts reviews, readers, and visibility.

Promotional Options

• $0.99 Kindle launch
• 24–48 hour free promo
• Limited-time bonus content

Reference Case:
A bedtime story book ran a 48-hour $0.99 promo and received 18 verified reviews within one week.

6. Share Content Inspired by Your Book, Not Just Purchase Links

Promotional fatigue is real. People follow authors who share value, not sales posts.

Create Engaging Content

• Behind-the-scenes writing stories
• Character introductions
• Short read-aloud videos (especially for children’s books)
• Tips and insights related to your genre

Reference Example:
A toddler ABC book author shared 30-second TikTok read-aloud videos. One video gained over 40,000 views and boosted sales significantly.

7. Collaborate With Micro Influencers

Small creators often outperform large influencers in audience trust.

Where to Find Them

• TikTok
• Instagram
• Parenting pages
• Book bloggers & niche reviewers

Reference Example:
A parenting influencer with 9,000 followers featured a children’s book, generating over 200 sales in two days.

8. Expand Your Distribution Beyond Amazon

Some authors limit their sales by publishing only on one platform.

Expand To

• IngramSpark (libraries & bookstores)
• Kobo
• Google Books
• Barnes & Noble Press

Reference Example:
A poetry book sold only 10 copies on Amazon but sold 1,800 copies to libraries through expanded distribution.

9. Engage With Your Readers Regularly

Authors who interact build loyal audiences.

Engagement Ideas

• Respond to comments
• Ask readers for feedback
• Host Q&A sessions
• Share user-generated content

Reference Example:
A children’s illustrator participated actively in parent groups, eventually getting invited to school reading events that boosted book visibility.

10. Continuously Optimize Your Book Listing

Amazon and other stores reward books with ongoing updates.

You Should Update

• Keywords
• Categories
• Description
• Author bio
• A+ content
• Look Inside preview

Reference Example:
After updating their book cover and categories, a children’s author went from one sale per month to over sixty.

Conclusion

The biggest mistake authors make is assuming their work ends after publishing. In reality, this is when the real work begins. With strategic post-launch actions—like building presence, collecting reviews, and optimizing your listings—your book can reach the audience it deserves.

For authors looking for professional support, many of these strategies are core services offered by Book Writing Venture, the best publishing firm in Florida, helping writers transform published manuscripts into high-visibility, high-impact books.