You’ve signed with your dream publisher and submitted your manuscript to production. As release day draws closer, you wonder what you can do as author to help sales and publicity. The following are a few tips that involve leveraging your network to drive sales as soon as your book is available for preorder.

> Ask to appear on their podcast—Discuss your expertise and plug your book. You don’t have to sound like a salesperson, but you must understand that you are your book’s biggest cheerleader. It’s even better if the podcast centers on your area of focus because you know that you are in front of the right audience.

> Send an advance copy of the book to your media and industry contacts—Invite them to leave a review, talk about it to their followers, and purchase a copy for their teams.

> Continue establishing yourself as a leader in the space—Book consulting and professional learning on the subject. Create future keynote presentations or online offerings on the book’s topic. Remember that while writing for well-known publications like The Atlantic, NPR, or Edutopia will often put you in front of a larger audience, do not dismiss the benefits of posting to popular sites like LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok. You should have a modern, easy-to-navigate professional website and social media account.