14/08/2025
✍🏾 Before You Publish 1,000 Copies of That Book, Read This First
Anna came to our office in Jahi, Abuja, to discuss the final steps of publishing her book; editing, financing, timelines, and delivery.
Before her visit, I did my usual homework: I checked her social media platforms, hoping to get some sense of her digital footprint and target audience. I even tried to search for a faceless brand that might be pushing her ideas, but I found little to nothing.
When we finally sat down, I asked:
- How strong is your social media presence?
- Are you part of any professional networks?
- What’s your social life like, and how do you engage your audience?
Her answers worried me, especially because she wanted to print 1,000 copies to reduce her unit cost. From a business standpoint, that makes sense me, but from a strategic standpoint? I had to be honest.
"Aunty Anna," I said (that’s how I address clients when I need them to take my counsel seriously),
"I don’t mean to offend you, but you’re not ready. I see your passion. And yes, I’m in business to make money. But I don’t want to take your money, meet my target, and leave you stuck with over 900 copies of books you can’t distribute."
I said a lot more. So much that my colleague quietly walked out, probably wondering what kind of businessman I was. 😅
But here’s the reality: We are in a digital age.
We all feel the urge to share our stories, especially when we’ve invested years into writing but passion alone doesn’t move books.
I’ve seen clients print 5,000, 1,000 or even 500 copies, only to stash them in a storeroom, hoping somehow they’ll sell themselves.
📚 Please try to build your audience before printing your book.
Nurture them. Engage them. Let them anticipate your work. That’s how you start getting pre-orders before the first page even goes to print.
Recently, I remember how we had to queue to get just a few copies of Chimamanda’s 'DREAM COUNT'
You may think, “But I’m not Chimamanda.”
True. But you don’t have to be.
I'll share real examples of lesser-known authors who built their community and sold out, in my next post.
Follow me to see it.
In the meantime, I’m based in Abuja, Nigeria and if you’re thinking of writing, publishing, or printing your book, I’m your best plug and I work with Publishers and Services
📩 Let’s talk
✉️ [email protected]
✉️ [email protected]
📞 08033615992
Shalom.