Our proven 3-stage process that transforms books into business development and marketing tools

Most business authors get this backwards: they think the hard work ends when they finish writing.

Here's the reality—that's when the real work begins.

A comprehensive industry study revealed something eye-opening. Authors who invested in professional book launch PR generated median revenues of $104,000. Those who skipped the marketing? The results were significantly less impressive.

Yet most authors still allocate 80-90% of their budget to writing and publishing, leaving just 10-20% for marketing—or forgetting about it altogether. This approach is completely backwards. Hollywood figured this out decades ago—marketing budgets typically match or exceed production costs for maximum ROI. The same principle applies to business books.

Why? Because brilliant insights trapped in an unknown book won't grow your personal brand, position you as the go-to expert, or generate the consulting opportunities that could change everything.

This is exactly why Co*Author exists. Founded by experienced marketers, our mission is helping clients transform their business by developing their personal brand around their book. While others focus solely on writing, we build complete marketing systems that generate measurable results.

We don't just help you write a book. We help you become the person who wrote that book—the one that opens doors and transforms you from another consultant into the consultant people want to hire.

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The ROI Reality: Why Timing Matters

Before diving into our process, let's address the elephant in the room: when should you expect returns on your book investment?

The truth is, nonfiction business books rarely make money from direct sales. The median self-published book sells 700 copies, hybrid books around 1,600, and traditionally published books about 4,600. Even at premium pricing, that's not covering your investment.

The real ROI comes indirectly—and takes time to materialize. We're talking 12-18 months post-publication for the full impact. That's when speaking opportunities convert into paid engagements, when your enhanced credibility translates into higher consulting fees, and when media coverage compounds into sustained thought leadership.

This timeline isn't a bug—it's a feature. Building genuine authority and personal brand recognition doesn't happen overnight. But when it does happen, the returns can be transformational.

Our 3-Stage Marketing Foundation System

Stage 1: Pre-Launch Foundation

(During Book Writing)

While you're crafting your chapters, we're building your platform. Most authors wait until their manuscript is complete—by then, they've lost six crucial months of relationship building and brand development.

Marketing Strategy Sessions We start with three strategic sessions that align everything with your business goals. Our Brand Strategy & Audience Mapping session defines your unique positioning and identifies your highest-value prospects. Marketing & ROI Planning connects your book directly to revenue goals—the Business Book ROI Study shows authors with a clear revenue strategy achieve 4x better returns. Finally, Launch Strategy & System Handover Training sets you up for long-term success.

Brand and Website Development Your professional author website becomes your central brand hub—complete with lead capture and conversion optimization. We also handle LinkedIn profile optimization and create consistent professional imagery that works across all platforms.

Content, Social Media and PR Foundation We develop a social media plan with 20 LinkedIn posts repurposed from your book content, craft thought leadership messaging with media talking points, and create comprehensive media kits for journalists and podcast hosts.

Outreach Campaign Setup This includes media platform registration (HARO, podcast databases), email and LinkedIn outreach infrastructure setup, and most importantly—training you to run these systems yourself.

Stage 2: Launch Campaign

(2 Weeks Before to 1 Month After Publication)

Launch timing is everything. Miss this concentrated window when attention is highest, and you'll spend months trying to recreate the momentum.

We coordinate your Amazon launch (multi-format publishing, promotional pricing, review campaigns), activate your LinkedIn content calendar, and execute comprehensive outreach campaigns reaching 2K leads monthly through both PR channels (media, podcasts) and business development (potential clients, partners).

The goal isn't just getting your book noticed—it's converting that attention into speaking opportunities, consulting inquiries, and media relationships that will serve you for years.

Stage 3: Post Launch Brand Growth & Business Development

(3 Months Post-Launch)

This is where we empower you to take control of your marketing success.

We analyze campaign performance—which activities generated speaking inquiries, what content resonated most, which outreach delivered quality leads. Then comes complete system transfer: you get access to all platforms, templates, campaigns, and tracking systems we've built.

Our 12-month roadmap shows you exactly how to maintain momentum, while monthly coaching calls ensure you're optimizing what works. You're not dependent on us forever—you're equipped with professional systems and the skills to generate ongoing ROI.

Note: We also offer ongoing "bespoke marketing" services if you prefer us to continue managing your campaigns, but our foundation approach gives you the choice.

Your Marketing Timeline: What to Expect

Months 1-6: Foundation building during book development

• Strategic planning and positioning

• Website, LinkedIn optimization, content creation

• Media platform setup and outreach system training

Months 6-7: Launch campaign execution

• Amazon optimization and promotional campaigns

• LinkedIn content activation and outreach campaigns

• PR and media relationship building

Months 7-9: System handoff and optimization

• Performance analysis and strategy refinement

• Complete training on all systems and platforms

• Transition to independent campaign management

Months 9-18: ROI materialization period

• Speaking opportunities and fee increases

• Consulting inquiries and client premium positioning

• Media coverage and sustained thought leadership

Beyond 18 months: Compound authority benefits

• Established expert status in your industry

• Premium pricing power across all services

• Sustainable competitive advantages

Why Our Marketing Foundation Approach Works

Professional Setup: We build systems designed for long-term success, not quick fixes that require ongoing dependence.

Skills Transfer: You learn to manage your marketing platform rather than outsourcing forever—though we're here if you want continued support.

ROI Focus: We optimize for speaking fees, consulting opportunities, and personal brand premium positioning—not vanity metrics.

Proven Process: Refined through dozens of successful launches, our 3-stage system coordinates every element for maximum impact.

Ready to transform your expertise into a complete marketing and business development system?

Explore our Marketing Foundation package and discover how we can build your authority platform.