Before you ask a stranger to buy your book...

A little P.S.A.

I love books. One of my earliest memories is sitting on the floor at my friend Merry’s house, learning to read with her. This was just before we started kindergarten.

I also love discovering new books. So when an author reaches out to share theirs via email or here on Linkedin, I get excited—until they disappoint me.

Too often, they tell me how long it took to write or how hard they worked—but not what the book is about, who it’s for, or why it matters. Instead, the focus is on making sales, hitting bestseller lists, or getting reviews—not sharing their passion.

This makes the request feel impersonal as if I’m just another number in their sales target.

A Missed Opportunity

Instead of leading with a request to buy, why not:

1. Share your passion—Why did you write this book?
2. Tell me who it’s for—Who will it help or entertain?
3. Explain the impact—What problem does it solve?
4. Find common ground—Connect over shared interests.
5. Inspire me—Make me care about your story.
6. Share your mission—Is it about helping entrepreneurs, curing cancer, or empowering others?
7. Start a relationship—Engagement builds community, not just sales.

When an author shares their excitement, I want to know more. I might even recommend the book to someone who needs it. But when the pitch is purely transactional, the connection is lost.

Would I Buy the Book?

Almost never. I always take the time to congratulate the author and wish them well—but that’s it.

BTW… The last two people who asked me to buy their books were the author of a YA novel, and the other was the author of a children’s math primer. Neither of these are genres I read, and I had no one to gift them to.

Another thing I've learned is that unless your book is priced at $0.99 or $1.99, asking a stranger to spend $10–$26 is a bigger ask than you might realize. Even friends hesitate at those prices. Trust me—I’ve helped over 300 authors launch their books, so I've seen this happen.

Excitement melts price resistance. If you make people genuinely want your book, they’ll buy it. But if you ask for a favor without showing what’s in it for them, you’ll hit resistance every time.

So, I’m curious… Would you buy a book from a stranger on LinkedIn? What about from a new connection who inspired or intrigued you?