This Course Offers

  • 45 Video Lessons

    I'll teach you how to do a marketing campaign for your book step by step, with everything you need to do before, during and after your launch.

  • Quizzes and PDFs

    Test your knowledge with quizzes, and use the resources in the PDFs to accelerate your book's sales.

  • Community

    Join the Bookfox community of other writers marketing their book, exclusively for writers who buy this course. Ask questions, get advice.

My Book Marketing Past

For the last ten years, authors have emailed me telling me they're disappointed with their book sales. They published a book only to discover only their friends and family purchased it. So in addition to working as an editor at Bookfox, I started dishing out marketing advice over email.

Course Creation

This course was born because of all that advice (there's only so much emailing one man can do). This course encapsulates in 45 videos the most essential and practical information on book marketing -- everything I know from fifteen years of being in the book trenches: attending marketing conferences, hobnobbing with publicists, and launching marketing strategies with authors.

After This Course

After taking this course, you're going to have a book marketing campaign which will get the word out about your book and sell more copies. You'll also be equipped with the knowledge of how to sell future books. It's advice I've given to authors before and it works. I'm excited for it to work for you.

FAQ

  • Do I have to take the course right now?

    No, you can take this course whenever you want. You have access for one full year.

  • Should I buy this course if my book won't be published for another year?

    Yes, yes, yes, absolutely. Ideally, book marketing should start 6 months BEFORE you publish your book.

  • Is this course for fiction or nonfiction?

    Both! And when marketing strategies differ, I spend time talking about how you would market for each of them.

  • Is this for indie authors or for traditionally published authors?

    I created the course with both in mind. And when marketing strategies differ, I talk about what each type of author should do.

  • Is this useful if my book came out a while ago?

    Yes, I include lots of ways to promote your book after it's published.

Bookfox has appeared in:

Tackle the 10 Chapters at your own pace

The 45-video course is broken up into 10 chapters.

  • Learn how to accomplish the 4 pillars of book marketing

  • Check off accomplished book marketing tasks on your master calendar

  • What to do before publication, during your launch week, and after your book is published

  • Learn how to create a website, a book trailer, and a book cover that SELLS BOOKS.

  • How to maximize the three types of reviews: pre-pub, media, and reader reviews

  • How to troubleshoot your book if it's not selling (yes, you can reverse the trend).

  • Learn what NOT to do -- I'll help you avoid the common mistakes so many beginning authors make.

Testimonials

What early reviewers of the course have said:

“This course helped me immensely with strategies to promote my newly released book, 'The Legacy of Leadership.' John has a talent for simplifying difficult concepts into easy-to-act-on steps. I give the course five stars, and would recommend you buy it now.”

Drew D.

“One month after taking this course, my sales tripled. I got so many ideas on how to market my novel from this course. The PDFs are top notch, and I had a lot of fun taking the quizzes. For anyone serious about selling their book, this is a must.”

Wilson W.

“I didn't know much about book marketing before this course, but John has made me feel like an expert. Now I feel like I'm in control of my book, and it's finding readers for the first time. Thank you for all your help, John -- I'm going to use all these ideas for my next book, too!”

Linda P.

Course curriculum

  • 01

    Chapter #1: Welcome to the Course!

    • 1. Getting Pumped for Book Promotion

    • 1. Got the Basics Down?

    • 1. Brief survey before we begin...

  • 02

    Chapter #2: The 4 Pillars of Book Marketing

    • 2. Find Your Audience

    • 2. Audience Quiz

    • 2. Book Questionnaire PDF

    • 2. Ideal Reader PDF

    • 3. Craft Your Elevator Pitch

    • 3. Elevator Pitch Quiz

    • 3. Elevator Pitch PDF

    • 4. Your Master Checklist of Book Marketing Tasks

    • 4. Checklists & Calendars Quiz

    • 4. Checklist PDF

    • 4. Calendar PDF

    • 5. Generate Your Literary Comrades List

    • 5. Literary Comrades Quiz

    • 5. Literary Comrades PDF

  • 03

    Chapter #3: Quick Wins

    • 6. Five Quick Tips to Start Promoting Your Book

    • 6. Quick Promo Quiz

    • 6. Twitter Headers PDF

    • 7. Never Make These 5 Book Marketing Mistakes

    • 7. Marketing Mistakes Quiz

    • 8. How to Score Great Blurbs

    • 8. Blurbs Quiz

    • 8. Blurb Request PDF

    • 9. Create Your Author Persona

    • 9. Author Persona Quiz

  • 04

    Chapter #4: Building a Publicity Engine

    • 10. Master Your Book Cover in Twelve Steps

    • 10. Test your Book Cover Knowledge, My Apprentice

    • 10. Book Cover Designers PDF

    • 11. Create a Dynamite Website

    • 11. Answer these Three Website Questions to Become a Website Master

    • 12. Twelve Items on a Great Author Website

    • 12. Can you pass this website quiz?

    • 12. Author Website PDF

    • 13. Getting Reviews

    • 13. Review Quiz

    • 13. Pre-Pub Review PDF

    • 14. Earn Those Media Reviews

    • 14. Media Reviews Quiz

    • 14. Media Review PDF

    • 15. Five Ways to Get Reader Reviews

    • 15. Reader Reviews Quiz

    • 16. Designing Author Swag and Merchandise

    • 16. Swag Quiz

  • 05

    Chapter #5: Social Media Mastery

    • 17. Elevate Your Twitter Game

    • 17. Twitter Quiz

    • 17. Twitter PDF

    • 18. Getting Pumped about Emails

    • 18. Email Quiz

    • 19. Quora, the best kept secret in book marketing

    • 19. Quora Quiz

    • 20. Supercharge Your Goodreads Presence

    • 20. Goodreads Quiz

    • 21. Do You Even Facebook, Bro?

    • 21.Facebook Quiz

    • 21. Facebook Promo Timeline PDF

    • 22. Three Steps to Dominate Instagram

    • 22. Instagram Quiz

    • 22. Instagram Hashtags PDF

  • 06

    Chapter #6: Expand and Conquer

    • 23. Get Thyself an Intern, Pronto!

    • 23. Intern Quiz

    • 23. Intern Projects PDF

    • 24. Becoming Book Club Friendly

    • 24. Book Club Quiz

    • 25. Getting Pre-Orders - 3 Case Studies

    • 25. Do you know how to get Pre-Orders?

    • 26. Make Amazon Work For You

    • 26. Do you know how to make Amazon work for you?

    • 27. Should you hire a publicist?

    • 27. Publicist Quiz

    • 27. Marketability Score PDF

    • 27. Freelance Publicists PDF

    • 28. Book Trailer

    • 28. Get Your Book Trailer ON ...

    • 29. How to Successfully do 3 Types of Book Giveaways

    • 29. Book Giveaway Quiz

    • 29 Post Giveaway Message PDF

    • 30. Marketing 30 Metrics- Are you selling books?

    • 30. Metrics Quiz

  • 07

    Chapter #7: Planning Events

    • 31. How to Create a Book Event (with 8 examples)

    • 31. Events, Events, Events!

    • 32. Making Bookstores Beg for Your Book

    • 32. Bookstore Event Quiz

    • 32. Email to Bookstores PDF

    • 33. Brilliant Readings - What to do Before, During and After

    • 33. Bookstore Reading Quiz

    • 34. How to do a Paid Party

    • 34. Paid Party Quiz

    • 35. Seven Steps for an Unforgettable Virtual Book Tour

    • 35. Virtual book tour Quiz

    • 35. Blog Tour Companies PDF

    • 35. Email to Blogs & Podcasts PDF

    • 36. Libraries: the most Overlooked Tool in Book Promo

    • 36. Library Quiz

  • 08

    Chapter #8: Launch Week

    • 37. Fifteen Things to Do on Your Launch Day

    • 37. Four Questions for Your Publication Day

    • 38. Advertising- What works, what doesn't

    • 38. Advertising Quiz

    • 38. Ebook promo companies PDF

    • 39. Your Ultimate Guide to Landing Spots on Radio & Podcasts

    • 39. Radio/Podcast Quiz

  • 09

    Chapter #9: Long Tail Marketing

    • 40. Win an Award, Sell More Books

    • 40. Ready to win awards?

    • 40. List of Book Awards PDF

    • 41. Use Blogging to Sell Books

    • 41. Blogging Quiz

    • 42. Marketing to Bow Ties and Classrooms

    • 42. Academia quiz

  • 10

    Chapter #10: Next steps

    • 43. Troubleshooting Your Campaign

    • 43. Troubleshooting Questions

    • 44. Marketing Beyond the Book

    • 45. Three Tips as We Say Goodbye

    • Survey: What did you think of the course?

More Reviews of the Course

Michelle Cornish

5 star rating

“Even though I've taken other book marketing courses, there is plenty of information in this course I hadn't learned anywhere else. In fact, this may be the only book marketing course you'll need - it's that comprehensive! John is an excellent ...”

Read More

“Even though I've taken other book marketing courses, there is plenty of information in this course I hadn't learned anywhere else. In fact, this may be the only book marketing course you'll need - it's that comprehensive! John is an excellent teacher, incorporating humour and clear explanations to bring you book marketing strategies for all levels of authors from the beginner, launching their first book, to the seasoned author launching their fiftieth. I will definitely be revisiting this course!”

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Ruth Pedley

5 star rating

“This course has been a joy to complete. John's clear and encouraging teaching style (he's a natural, with a lot of professional experience) has helped me see the big picture of what I have to do - starting right now! - to launch my book in the spr...”

Read More

“This course has been a joy to complete. John's clear and encouraging teaching style (he's a natural, with a lot of professional experience) has helped me see the big picture of what I have to do - starting right now! - to launch my book in the spring of 2020. John has packed the content with practical tips (I have over 200 actionable points on my list!) and reinforced it with attractive, informative handouts. The modules are arranged in a logical sequence and broken down into short consecutive videos reinforced by amusing but pertinent Q&As, so that even for people who work full time, you can pick the course up for short periods to fit around your own schedule. I have learnt a ton and had my mind expanded to new possibilities in every direction. Inspiring, John - thanks!”

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Jim Roberts

5 star rating

“One of the best courses I've ever taken, on any topic. Specific, concrete information and examples you can act on. No fluff or vague generalities. This course will save you hours of researching various aspects of book marketing, such as book cover...”

Read More

“One of the best courses I've ever taken, on any topic. Specific, concrete information and examples you can act on. No fluff or vague generalities. This course will save you hours of researching various aspects of book marketing, such as book cover design, obtaining reviews, timing of steps, etc. If you're serious about getting out there and selling your book, then the return on investment of taking this course is huge.”

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Joni Marie Iraci

5 star rating

“John is so down to earth and unassuming; it's like an experienced friend came to lend a book marketing hand. My book has been out for almost a year. I wish I'd had listened to this last year. I will certainly take his advice as I begin to market m...”

Read More

“John is so down to earth and unassuming; it's like an experienced friend came to lend a book marketing hand. My book has been out for almost a year. I wish I'd had listened to this last year. I will certainly take his advice as I begin to market my next book which I just completed. I've taken other courses including during my MFA at Columbia University and this is far superior to all of them. Using the course's advice, I put my book, "Reinventing Jenna Rose," up for a Goodreads giveaway. I was really nervous doing so. There is one week left and 1709 people have it on their-"to-read shelf." And 1728 people have signed up. It's more of a response than I've gotten from any other form of marketing -- Kirkus, book club talks, bookstore talks or New York Review Ads, and private events. Kudos on this course.”

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Cathy Beitelman

5 star rating

“I like that there are different options on how you want to market books. The PDF's are priceless so I have been saving them on my desktop for quick reference. ”

“I like that there are different options on how you want to market books. The PDF's are priceless so I have been saving them on my desktop for quick reference. ”

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Kimberly Catanzarite

5 star rating

“I am learning so much from this course. I was so afraid I would just be overwhelmed with all that needs to be done, but John breaks it down into doable steps that I'm eager to tackle. I'm really enjoying the course. ”

“I am learning so much from this course. I was so afraid I would just be overwhelmed with all that needs to be done, but John breaks it down into doable steps that I'm eager to tackle. I'm really enjoying the course. ”

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Andrea Barros

5 star rating

“I really appreciate the amount of precious information and personal opinion shared by John. This course is a valuable resource for aspiring and new authors. Best of all, you can watch the classes again before your next book!”

“I really appreciate the amount of precious information and personal opinion shared by John. This course is a valuable resource for aspiring and new authors. Best of all, you can watch the classes again before your next book!”

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Jonnathan Strawthorne

5 star rating

“Excellent presentation and information!”

“Excellent presentation and information!”

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Evelyn Lee

5 star rating

“In a detailed, well-organized, and fully-thought-out presentation, John Fox, creator of BookFox, gives an invaluable course on book marketing in Your First Bestseller. From A to Z, soup to nuts, he covers it all with ease and humor. It is a "must ...”

Read More

“In a detailed, well-organized, and fully-thought-out presentation, John Fox, creator of BookFox, gives an invaluable course on book marketing in Your First Bestseller. From A to Z, soup to nuts, he covers it all with ease and humor. It is a "must read" for anyone looking to publish. I might not feel totally confident in tackling the marketing of my indie novel, but I certainly feel equipped to give it my best shot! Thank you John Fox!”

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Mary Payne

5 star rating

“This marketing course is a bestseller to make bestsellers! I loved it and can't wait to begin putting what John taught us into practice. Thank you!”

“This marketing course is a bestseller to make bestsellers! I loved it and can't wait to begin putting what John taught us into practice. Thank you!”

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Marc Alderdice

5 star rating

“I'm a new author and this course was perfect for what I needed at this time. It provided an overview of literally every way possible to market and promote a book, which made me think outside the box with many new ideas evolving. Whether a novice o...”

Read More

“I'm a new author and this course was perfect for what I needed at this time. It provided an overview of literally every way possible to market and promote a book, which made me think outside the box with many new ideas evolving. Whether a novice or experienced author, it also provided specific and practical suggestions for what to do with each of the ideas.”

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Keisha Jackson

5 star rating

“WHEW... WOW... OMG... AMAZING!!!!! I LOVED THE ENTIRE COURSE! I took this course to become more familiar with book marketing because I am co-writing a book with someone who has already had several books published. This will help me lay out a gre...”

Read More

“WHEW... WOW... OMG... AMAZING!!!!! I LOVED THE ENTIRE COURSE! I took this course to become more familiar with book marketing because I am co-writing a book with someone who has already had several books published. This will help me lay out a great marketing plan/strategy. I loved the depth of information, the challenge, and the humor. Although I went through the videos with minimal breaks, the plan is for me to take this course over (a few times) before I publish my first solo book. So much to take in. Thank you for providing such a great course. Your heart to help authors beats throughout each lesson!!! ”

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Instructor

I started Bookfox, which provides resources to authors, back in 2006 (the blogging world was just getting started!). My book, "I Will Shout Your Name" is published by Press 53, and I've written for the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, and won fiction contests by Third Coast Magazine and Shenandoah. I have graduate degrees in creative writing from New York University (MA) and the University of Southern California (MFA).

John Matthew Fox

Pricing options

"Your First Bestseller" will earn your satisfaction

I'm confident that this course will help you sell books and connect with your audience. I'm so confident that I offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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