Your Book Should Give Readers Something to Do

Aloha Reader,

Recently, two very different book campaigns offered the same lesson.

​MrBeast launched his book with hidden clues, weekly eliminations, and a competition worth $1 million. Meanwhile, Oprah’s Book Club celebrated its 30th anniversary with a month-long experience that includes a reading challenge, achievement badges, curated recommendations, and a podcast reunion.

Most authors don’t have MrBeast’s budget or Oprah’s platform. But the most important part of these campaigns doesn’t require either.

Both give readers something to do . . . besides read a book, that is.

They remind us that a book can become a starting point for an experience readers can join, a challenge they can compete in, or a conversation they can enter.

Your book launch might invite readers to:

• Take an assessment that helps them understand where they are now.
• Complete a seven-day challenge based on one of your central ideas.
• Download and use a worksheet, checklist, or planning tool.
• Attend a workshop or speaking event that helps them apply what they learned.
• Discuss a meaningful question with their team or family.
• Share their progress or results with an online community of fellow readers.

All of these ideas transform reading from a passive activity into a participatory one. (Without needing a MrBeast or Oprah sized wallet—although that would be nice!)

When readers practice an idea, talk about it, or experience its impact for themselves, the book (and you as the author) becomes more memorable and more likely to travel through recommendations and continued conversations.

So, whether you’re developing a new book or thinking about how to reinvigorate one you’ve already published, ask yourself: What experience could readers participate in because this book exists?

Your answer may be the beginning of your strongest marketing idea yet.

Aloha,
Beth