Navigating the Confusing Road After Publishing Your Book

By Jeffrey Mangus, CEO, Mangus Media Group

I’ve spent over two decades helping leaders and authors transform their ideas into impactful books that don’t just sit on shelves—they drive real results. If you’ve ever published a book, you know the thrill of holding that finished product in your hands.

I’ve seen it too many times. And it’s a shame. The author, after their book is done, asks... What now? It is all confusing. Marketing? Distribution? Press Releases? So, in asking the question, how do you push a book to generate speaking gigs, boost sales, and deliver a high ROI?

The reality? It’s a road littered with pitfalls, from marketing mishaps to missed opportunities, and I’ve seen too many talented authors get lost along the way. In this article, I’ll walk you through the challenges of that post-publishing journey, share how building a content ecosystem around your book can supercharge your success, and explain why at Mangus Media Group, we assign a 2:1 coach to every author—not just to get your book out there, but to ensure it thrives long after launch.

Let’s start with a reality check. Publishing a book is a massive achievement, but it’s only the beginning. The confusing road after? It’s all about promotion and leverage. Many authors believe the book will sell itself—upload it to Amazon, share it on social media, and wait for the royalties to roll in. Spoiler: It doesn’t work that way. Without a strategic push, your book fades into the oblivion of the millions published each year. I’ve talked to countless leaders who poured their hearts into writing, only to see lackluster sales and zero speaking invitations. Why? They didn’t build a content ecosystem—a network of blogs, podcasts, videos, emails, and events that amplifies the book’s message and creates multiple revenue streams. Instead, they pursue quick wins, such as random ads or one-off posts, which often lead to burnout and low ROI.

The key is pushing your book intentionally to generate speaking gigs, sales, and that elusive high ROI. Speaking gigs? They’re gold—paid keynotes can range from $5,000 to $50,000 per event, positioning you as an expert. Sales come from direct book revenue, as well as upsells like courses or consulting. High ROI means your book investment (time, editing, design) pays back tenfold through leads and opportunities. But navigating this isn’t very clear because it requires skills outside writing: SEO, email marketing, networking, and analytics. Miss one, and your book collects dust.

That’s where a structured approach changes everything. At Mangus Media Group, we don’t just help you write and publish; we guide you through the entire process with a unique 2:1 coaching model. What does that mean? For every author, we assign two dedicated coaches to one of you. One coach focuses on content and strategy—helping refine your insights into compelling chapters and building that content ecosystem. The other handles logistics and marketing—cover design, distribution, and post-launch tactics. They work in tandem, providing personalized guidance from ideation to launch.

But here’s the game-changer: Our coaches don’t disappear after publication. They stay with you for months post-launch, monitoring performance, tweaking strategies, and ensuring your book drives those speaking gigs, sales, and ROI. We track key metrics, including website traffic from book links, conversion rates on sales pages, and inquiries for speaking engagements. This ongoing support turns a confusing road into a clear path.

I’d like to share a case story to bring this to life. Take Stephanie, a cybersecurity expert and former CISO at a Fortune 500 company. She came to us with a manuscript on digital threats, but no clue how to launch it effectively. Our 2:1 coaches jumped in: Coach A helped her expand chapters into a content ecosystem—blog series on her site, podcast episodes breaking down key concepts, and video teasers for YouTube. Coach B managed the publishing logistics, secured endorsements, and optimized for Amazon algorithms. Post-launch, they didn’t bail. They analyzed sales data, noting that her book was gaining traction in tech circles but not translating into gigs.

So, they coached her on pitching: crafting speaker one-sheets tied to book themes, targeting conferences like Black Hat, and leveraging LinkedIn for outreach. Within six months, Sarah landed her first paid speaking gig at $10,000, followed by a string of others totaling over $100,000 in the first year. Book sales hit 20,000 copies, and her consulting pipeline exploded. ROI? She recouped her investment five times over. Without the ongoing coaching, she’d have been lost in the post-publication haze.

Another inspiring example is Dr. Marcus, a healthcare innovator who wrote about AI in medicine. The road after publishing was overwhelming—he had the book but no ecosystem to push it. Our team assigned the 2:1 coaches: one refined his content for repurposing, turning chapters into webinars and newsletters that drove email sign-ups. The other handled launch events and PR, getting him featured in industry mags. After launch, they stayed engaged, reviewing analytics and suggesting adjustments. They noticed low engagement on social, so they guided him to create short-form videos from book excerpts, which went viral and led to TEDx invitations. Speaking gigs poured in—healthcare summits paying $15,000 each—and sales surged through bundled offers with online courses. Marcus’s ROI was massive: From a $20,000 investment, he generated $250,000 in combined revenue in year one. He credits the coaches’ persistence: “They turned confusion into clarity, ensuring my book wasn’t a one-and-done.”

Why does this 2:1 model work so well? It’s about balance and accountability. With two coaches, you get diverse expertise without overwhelm. They collaborate on your behalf, anticipating roadblocks like algorithm changes or market shifts. During writing and publishing, they ensure your book is ecosystem-ready—embedded with calls-to-action for gigs and sales. Post-launch, it’s all about execution: weekly check-ins, strategy sessions, and data-driven tweaks. We’ve helped over 500 authors this way, with an average ROI of 300% within the first year.

But don’t just take my word—think about your own journey. If you’re a leader with a book idea or one already out, ask: Am I ready for the confusing road ahead? Without guidance, it’s easy to stall. With our approach, you build momentum that lasts.
In my time leading Mangus Media Group, I’ve seen books transform careers, but only when pushed in the right direction. We’ve refined this process to make it foolproof, focusing on that content ecosystem as the engine for speaking, sales, and ROI.

So, if you’re tired of the post-publication confusion and ready to maximize your book’s potential, reach out to our elite team at Mangus Media Group today. We’ll assign your 2:1 coaches and guide you every step—from writing to winning. Your high-ROI future starts now—let’s make it happen. Please speak with our team by clicking here.