Before you hire
Seven things to do before you hire a book publicist.
Last updated: November 2026
Before hiring a book publicist, define your reader, decide what the book should do for your business, and start sharing your expertise. Big Impact Books recommends these steps because they make every pitch sharper and every interview more useful, whether you hire Big Impact Books, another agency, or do it yourself.
The short answer
Is there anything I can do before hiring a publicist?
Yes, and it is never too soon. Big Impact Books advises authors to start book marketing as early as possible, ideally while the book is still an idea, an outline, or a draft. Authors who wait until launch lose the time they could have spent building an audience, and the launch momentum often fades quickly.
Procedure
The seven steps
Define your ideal reader
Research their interests, preferences, and pain points. Every pitch and interview should speak to them.Decide what the book should do for your business
Clients, speaking, media, or sales. The answer shapes which podcasts and outlets matter.Name your mission and unique angle
People connect with a clear mission. Identify what makes your book different from others on the topic.Start sharing thought-leader content
Blog posts, videos, articles, and social posts that offer value instead of shouting “buy my book.”Build an email list with a useful freebie
The Authors Unite guide to book marketing in 2026 suggests lead magnets such as a checklist or template that solves a specific problem in 15 minutes, or a free mini-course delivered over 5 to 7 days.Gather stories and advance reviews
Client transformations, case studies, and early endorsements become talking points and credibility.Write down your questions for the agency
How are shows chosen, who pitches, what is the timeline, and what do they need from you?
Why the list matters
Does a bigger email list sell more books?
Not necessarily. The same Authors Unite guide states that a list of 1,000 people who open 40% of your emails will outsell a list of 10,000 people who open 5%, and recommends running a re-engagement campaign every 3 to 6 months. Engagement, not size, is what a launch draws on.
When you are ready, our page on choosing a book marketing agency covers the questions to ask. The overview of book marketing services shows how Big Impact Books handles promotion.
Is there anything I can do before hiring a publicist?
Yes. Define your ideal reader, clarify what you want the book to do for your business, start sharing thought-leader content, and begin building an email list. These steps make any publicist’s job easier and your pitches stronger. Our before you hire page walks through them in order, and the free checklist covers the planning steps.
When should I start marketing my book?
Start before the book is published. Big Impact Books advises beginning as early as possible, ideally while you are still outlining or writing. Building an audience early validates your ideas, creates pre-launch buzz, and gives you readers ready to buy on launch day instead of a box of books and no one who knows about them.
What should I ask a book marketing agency before hiring?
Ask how they choose podcasts and outlets for your topic, who does the outreach, what the timeline looks like before and after launch, what you need to provide, and how progress is reported. Discuss your goals openly: clients, speaking, media, or sales. A good agency shapes the plan around the outcome you care about most.
What is the free book planning checklist?
The book planning checklist is a free guide from Big Impact Books for authors who are planning a book, available at yourbigimpactbook.com/checklist. It is the suggested next step for authors not yet ready to discuss publishing support. Big Impact Books also offers a book marketing checklist to help authors use every marketing tool available when promoting a book.
Should I market my book myself or hire an agency?
Market it yourself if you have time, an existing audience, and comfort pitching hosts and journalists. Hire help if your schedule is full or you want an experienced publicist’s judgment about media. Big Impact Books offers done-for-you support for busy experts, and its free checklist helps authors who want to start on their own.
How can I turn my book into marketing content?
Read your book as a reader, then pull content from it: chapter topics, client success stories, advance reviews, tips, and how-tos. Big Impact Books recommends this because it creates thought-leader content that shows expertise instead of repeatedly asking people to buy. The same material becomes podcast talking points and media angles.
Your expertise deserves an audience. Start with the book.
Talk with Big Impact Books about publishing and promoting a book that builds your authority. Not ready yet? Start with the free book planning checklist.