How to get someone to endorse your book.
Hooray, you’ve written a book! You actually did it and that’s awesome!
Now, how do you get someone to endorse it? How do you get someone else to lend their name to your project? Follow these steps:
1. Ask the most famous person you have a personal relationship with.
Someone in your circle of connections has at least a little bit of fame. Start there. It’s easier to get a second famous person once you can say, “So and so already endorsed it.”
2. Make a list of your dream endorsements.
Focus on people who would add value to your book. If you wrote about sports, get an athlete. If you wrote about finances, get a financial guru.
3. Create a short, kind email request with examples of what an endorsement could say.
For instance, if I was sending someone an endorsement request, I would say, “One of the things people have remarked about the book is that it’s brave. Your endorsement could say something like, ‘I was encouraged by the invitation to bravery that this book provided.’” Famous people are busy. Your job is to make this as easy as possible for them.
4. If they say no, immediately thank them for their time.
Sometimes, when I say no, people try to shame me into changing my mind. That’s a great way to burn a bridge.
5. If you can’t get a single endorsement, make another list called “My silver medal endorsements.”
It’s important to dream big, but there’s a good chance Michael Jordan isn’t going to endorse this book. Notice I said “this” one. It gets easier with each book you write.
Endorsements matter more than you think. There are lots of people who immediately flip a book over to see who has vetted it. Start small and work your way up.
Most importantly, don’t get discouraged when someone says no. I was told no twice for my book, “Do Over.” It’s just part of the process.
If you want more ideas about writing and selling books, make sure you sign up for my free once a week writer’s list.
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