Using Your God-Given Influence to Reach New Readers

Have you ever wondered “is my book done once it's launched or is there still space to talk about it?”

You are going to love today’s conversation with my special guest, Jessica Hurlbut, author of Unlimited Motherhood and co-host of “The Full Spectrum Parent” podcast.

When Jessica reached out to pitch me as a guest, we hadn’t connected at all before, but she was very genuine and as a fellow special needs mom, I was excited to see she had released a book for moms not only like me, but you too if you’re a mom!

This interview is Jessica's first to talk specifically about book marketing. That's why I love my show so much! She's here for a heart-to-heart on the realities of book marketing as a first-time author.

I couldn’t wait to dig into her book marketing journey and be ready to take notes when she says “Ads don't necessarily sell books, Influence does.” Jessica also talks about how she connected with target readers one by one to invite them personally to join her launch team.

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Jessica's book seeks to offer vulnerable encouragement, reminding mothers that it's okay for motherhood to be hard. While she writes from the unique angle of being an autism mom like me, she wrote her book to encompass every mother’s struggles, including those dealing with multiple toddlers or older children with behavioral challenges.

For Jessica, motherhood is both a beautiful gift and a challenging journey. AMEN to that!

What Works and What Doesn’t When Marketing Your Book

Jessica highlights the surprises and challenges faced in her marketing journey. Her publisher ran ads for her book but she soon learned that:

“Ads don't sell books, influence does.”

Instead of spending money on ads, build influence through social media, email lists, and speaking engagements. Those have proven far more effective for Jessica. She learned that meaningful connections, rather than mere exposure through ads, drive book sales. Through building relationships, she has a personal network to turn to to help amplify her reach for Unlimited Motherhood.

Talking about the early stages of marketing, Jessica admitted that having her book listed on Amazon six months before launch (through a traditional publisher) was initially daunting. However, she turned potential anxiety into opportunity by running targeted giveaways and pre-order campaigns. These activities not only generated buzz but also incentivized early purchases, creating solid pre-launch momentum.

Building Your Launch Team

Jessica graciously shared her own experience on forming an effective launch team. Rather than relying solely on broad announcements, she found that personal asks yielded better results. With hard work, she amassed a launch team of over 500 people by individually reaching out and asking them to join. This personal touch not only increased her pre-orders but also transformed her team into enthusiastic advocates to share her book's message within their own circles of influence.

The key takeaway was to not shy away from asking for help. People are often willing to support worthy causes, especially if they share a personal connection with the author or the book’s message. Jessica’s approach—start with those who care about your story—underscores the power of genuine relationships in book promotion.

Leveraging Her Podcast to Market Her Book

A significant strategic move Jessica implemented was cross-pollination—leveraging her podcast, “Full Spectrum Parent,” to promote her book. On the show, she shared episodes closely tied to her book’s themes, thus naturally transitioning listeners’ interest from the podcast to her book.

Jessica shared how starting “Full Spectrum Parent” with her husband became a therapeutic and bonding experience. Their podcast provided Christian families with autism support—a niche desperately needed (which I can attest to). This authenticity and focus attracted a dedicated audience, many of whom became curious about her book.

This reciprocity worked in both directions; people discovering her podcast would become interested in her book and vice versa.

Conclusion

This conversation with Jessica highlights that building trust, fostering genuine connections, and engaging with your community are invaluable. Whether through podcasts, personal outreach, or understanding your audience, these strategies build a foundation for a successful author journey. 

Thank you, Jessica, for serving us so well! 💛

Unlimited Motherhood book
Jessica's website
Jessica's podcast

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