You Will Not Be A Bestseller

🔥 You Will Not Be a Bestseller — and that’s not shade, that’s strategy.

In this episode, I’m calling out the fantasy and breaking down the facts. 

Most authors won’t hit a bestseller list—but that doesn’t mean you can’t build a profitable, powerful, and purpose-driven brand around your book.

I’m talking real talk: marketing, mindset, and making money beyond the title of “bestseller.”

This episode will wake you up, challenge your excuses, and shift the way you think about success as an author.

Because chasing lists won’t change your life. Strategy will.

Chapters

• 0:00 You Will Not Be a Bestseller
• 1:10 Stop Designing Your Own Covers
• 2:15 Bestsellers Are Built in the Backend
• 3:40 What to Do If You're Serious
• 5:00 Final Thoughts and Resources

Transcript

Speaker 0: 0:00

Welcome to Published in Black Podcast, where we don't just talk books, we build legacies. I'm your host, tiffany A Greenhood, and today's episode oh, it's going to ruffle some feathers and I don't care. Let's go ahead and title this what it really is you will not be a bestseller. Yes, you heard me right. Let's stop sugarcoating this publishing thing like it's a vision board. Come to life. Just because you claimed it on January 1st, baby faith without strategy is delusion. And I said what I said. Everybody wants to be a bestseller. Everybody wants to hit that chart, go viral, slap that number one on their book cover like it's a badge of honor. But let me be real with you. Hope is not a marketing plan badge of honor. But let me be real with you. Hope is not a marketing plan. Just because you feel it in your spirit, don't mean Amazon does. Just because your mama said it's good, don't mean the people gonna buy it.

Speaker 0: 0:53

And can we talk about this fake strategy some of y'all using Talking about? I dropped my link in three Facebook groups. I posted a reel. I prayed, honey listen. Groups I posted a reel. I prayed, honey, listen. That ain't strategy. That's wishful thinking dressed in Canva fonts. Here's the part where I know some of y'all gonna click off. But if you're still here, you might just be ready for the real work. Stop designing your own covers, period. If you are not a graphic designer, if you are not trained in visual communication, if you don't know what DPI stands for or how color contrast impacts click-throughs, then stop playing yourself. That cover is the first impression, that's the handshake, that's the billboard, that's the bait. If it's pixelated, thrown together in an app, or if it looks like clip art from 1982, I promise you you will not be a bestseller. Readers don't owe you support just because you're passionate. Presentation is power. And don't tell me you couldn't afford it, because if you can afford Starbucks, lace fronts or flights to Atlanta for networking, you can afford a quality book cover Budget accordingly.

Speaker 0: 2:12

Bestsellers are built in the back end. You don't become one. You position yourself to earn it. Let me break it down. You need a target market, not just everybody. You need a launch strategy, not just a post on Instagram. You need pre-orders, media coverage, email marketing and sometimes a campaign team. You need reviews, seo and distribution plans. Nah, that's the intro. The real work starts after the book is uploaded.

Speaker 0: 2:57

Here is what no one is telling you. I know your church workshop didn't tell you this, but some of y'all are so obsessed with being called an author that you forgot to become a business. You're writing for applause instead of impact. You want bestseller status, but don't want bestseller effort. Let me ask you this Would you buy your own book if you didn't know you Seriously look at your cover, read your blurb. Look at your Amazon page. Would you click add to cart? If the answer is no, then neither will your reader. Now let me give you some game, because I'm not just here to talk crazy to you. I'm here to level you up for real.

Speaker 0: 3:42

Here's what to do if you're serious about becoming a bestseller. Invest in your cover and formatting. Your book should look like it belongs in a Barnes and Noble window. Build your list before you launch Email text, dm, whatever it takes. Own your traffic.

Speaker 0: 3:59

Pre-plan your marketing campaign, not just posts. Campaigns with CTAs, strategy and urgency. Get media ready. Have your press kit headshots author bio ready. Have your press kit headshots author bio one sheet. Be ready to pitch. Track your metrics. Know what works when to post what converts, stop guessing and, most of all, stop winging it. You're not just a writer, you're a brand. I'll leave you with this. If nobody told you today, let me be the one. You have a message that matters, a voice that matters, and it's time to learn the right way to sell it. But your message won't move if your mindset is messy, refuse to let go of broke thinking and not open to learning creative strategies that bring sales. So either treat this like the mission it is or keep playing in the maybe one day lane. Just don't say I didn't warn you when that Amazon sales rank stays in the thousands and nobody knows your book exists. You will not be a bestseller by accident. You become a bestseller by execution.

Speaker 0: 5:14

This is Published in Black podcast and over here we publish with power and show up like we know who we are. Catch y'all next episode. Be sure to subscribe to this podcast on all podcast platforms. You can join our email list at publishedwithtiffanycom, subscribe to our YouTube channel, tiktok, instagram and threads at my handle, black Writer's Face. Also check out our magazine for Black Authors Published and blackmagazinecom. Shop digital products at bougiegirlsdocom and our new blog for Black authors, dearblackauthorcom. If you'd like to work with me and ready to invest in your book project or need coaching, you can book a session with me at bookwithtiffanynowcom.