Staying focused and inspired throughout an academic book campaign is often a challenge for busy professors balancing research, teaching, and writing. Luckily, one asset available to authors is a partnership with a publicist who can work with you to promote your writing. Coriolis acts as a dedicated ally to each author we represent: we shoulder much of the campaign’s weight and allow you to avoid burnout and continue to meet your core responsibilities with enthusiasm. However, a campaign that aims to increase academic book sales—even with a publicity team—can be a demanding journey for busy academics juggling multiple responsibilities. We’ve prepared some useful tips and tricks to help you keep your momentum throughout this hectic process.

Of course, you need relationships with readers as well as fellow writers. This is one reason why social media is such an asset. By engaging with readers over social media, you can share insights from your writing process, discuss your book’s core topics, and interact with past and possible readers. A good way to bring on this type of author-audience interaction is through webinars, virtual book launches, and Q&A sessions. These events not only allow you to build your author platform, but authentic reflections on your experience can captivate readers and inspire a chain of interest in your work.

It can also be helpful to remind yourself that your book team is a community in and of itself: you can brainstorm solutions to any challenges that arise and adapt an effective book publicity strategy together. This also gives you the opportunity to share the story of your professional partnerships with your audience. Highlighting how working with a team has brought more visibility to your work centers collaboration in your values, which invites a wider range of readers to relate to you.

You should try to maintain realistic expectations about your academic book sales. After all, different types of publishers typically achieve different sales figures. Big 5 publishers often yield higher sales due to greater marketing capabilities (yet, even then, success isn’t guaranteed), small trade presses offer a middle ground, and university presses typically have a more limited reach. Understanding your print runs is also crucial, since no one can sell copies they don’t have. Some publishers offer a print run of as few as 250 copies, and some only offer a print-on-demand model, which typically results in limited distribution and a lower profit margin. Keep in mind that setting realistic goals and deadlines can be a team effort, crafted in collaboration with a publicist. Breaking the publicity process down into an organized, manageable task list with specific deadlines can make the process less daunting. We feel it’s helpful to use the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) framework to set goals. For example, “Gain 20 reviews on Amazon within the first three months” is a reasonable and measurable goal.

Here are some digital tools we recommend for productivity and goal-tracking.

Productivity Trackers:

Todoist

• Simple and intuitive task manager with cross-platform support

• Allows you to organize tasks into projects, set due dates, and create recurring tasks

• Features include priority levels, labels, and productivity trends

Trello

• Visual project management tool based on boards, lists, and cards

• Ideal for organizing tasks, projects, and workflows in a flexible and collaborative manner

• Integrates with other apps and offers various customization options

Asana

• Powerful task and project management tool suitable for teams and individuals

• Allows you to create tasks, set due dates, assign tasks to team members, and track progress

• Offers features like project timelines, calendars, and task dependencies

Goal Trackers:

Strides

• Versatile goal and habit tracker with a clean and intuitive interface

• Helps you set and track goals, habits, and milestones

• Provides visual progress reports, reminders, and goal streaks

Habitica

• Gamified habit and productivity app that turns your tasks into a role-playing game

• Earn rewards, level up your character, and battle monsters by completing tasks

• Encourages accountability and consistency in achieving daily goals

Goals on Track

• Comprehensive goal-setting software with a focus on SMART goals

• Allows you to break down goals into smaller tasks, set deadlines, and track progress

• Features include goal templates, vision boards, and habit tracking

Time Tracking Tools:

Toggl

• Simple and user-friendly time tracking app for individuals and teams

• Helps you track time spent on tasks, projects, and clients

• Generates detailed reports, integrates with various tools, and offers browser extensions

Clockify

• Free time tracking software with a wide range of features

• Tracks time by project, client, or task, and offers detailed reports

• Suitable for freelancers, small businesses, and individuals looking to improve time management

RescueTime

• Automatic time tracking software that runs in the background

• Analyzes your computer and app usage to provide insights into productivity habits

• Helps identify time-wasting activities and encourages better time management

Even if you are strapped for time, it’s worthwhile to let yourself celebrate significant milestones. Securing media coverage, reaching a sales target, or receiving positive reader feedback is all a testament to your hard work, and, as you reach significant milestones in your book campaign, try rewarding yourself. Consider sharing a small treat, a day off, or a special outing with someone you love. Not only does this give you a break, but it also reconnects you with the people most eager to support you. Another great strategy to create positive feelings around your book campaign is to share all favorable reviews or testimonials you receive. Positive feedback can both heighten your credibility and give you a mood-boosting sense of achievement.

An effective book publicity campaign can secure significant academic book sales, but it requires determination, creativity, and resilience. However, with the right strategies and partnerships, this can become a shared experience of inspiration and achievement. Collaborating with a dedicated publicist, in particular, can lighten the load and infuse the campaign with expertise. You’ve achieved something fantastic—let’s get it to the readers who will benefit from it the most.