#PublishingReinvented The 80:20 Rule & Maximizing Your Marketing - An Introduction
The 80/20 Rule - What Does It Mean?
Why do some books sell and others don’t?
The 80/20 Rule—also known as the Pareto Principle—states that roughly 80% of results come from just 20% of efforts. In book marketing, this principle is a game-changer. It reveals that not all tasks are equal—and most don’t move the needle.
For authors, this means that a few key actions drive the majority of book sales. Maybe it’s one high-performing Amazon ad, a single compelling reader magnet, a new book description or cover or a viral TikTok video.
Conversely, the majority of time-consuming efforts—like posting on every platform or constantly tweaking your website—might contribute very little to actual sales.
So how do you apply the 80/20 rule to your book marketing?
Start by identifying your most effective sales channels. Look at your data: where are sales coming from? Which ad campaign, blog post, or email campaign got the most clicks or conversions? Focus your time, money, and creativity on those proven winners.
Then, cut or delegate the rest. If you’re spending hours on Instagram with no returns, shift that energy elsewhere.
Remember: marketing isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things well—and letting the rest go.
By applying the 80/20 rule, you stop spinning your wheels and start building momentum. You create space to scale what’s working, test smarter, and ultimately, sell more books with less stress.
Work less. Sell more. That’s the 80/20 mindset.
We’ll be featuring more on this topic in future posts.
Stay tuned!
This is the book marketing Substack you have been waiting, waiting, waiting for.
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