Want to Become a New York Times Bestseller? Here’s How PR Fits Into the Strategy

It’s one of the most common questions in the publishing world:

“How do I become a New York Times bestselling author?”

The truth is, there’s no single path — but there is a formula that increases your chances significantly. And PR plays a key role in that equation. So if you’re wondering how to become a New York Times bestseller, here’s what needs to be in place — and how PR amplifies your launch.

Before PR can do its job, you need a strong foundation. That means having at least one — ideally more — of the following in place:

Do you have a community of people who know, like, and trust you — and who want your content the moment it launches? A highly engaged list is one of the strongest assets when it comes to hitting bestseller status.

Don’t have a large list yourself? Partners can help. If you have connections with organizations, influencers, or collaborators who do have large, engaged lists — and who are willing to share your launch — you can expand your reach exponentially.

An active and aligned social platform can also be a powerful driver. Not just in terms of reach, but in terms of social proof and engagement around your message.

Each of these contributes to the early momentum that bestseller lists measure — especially during those crucial first days of launch.

Once the foundation is in place, PR becomes the amplifier.

A strategic PR campaign helps you:

PR on its own won’t create bestseller status — but when layered on top of a strong launch foundation, it can be the push that takes you from great launch to bestseller list.

It’s easy to look at publicity as the silver bullet, but the most successful campaigns are the ones where PR is used to drive attention to a solid launch strategy — not replace one.

In other words:

PR gets people to the front door. Your platform and audience get them to take action.

When both are working together, you dramatically increase the chance of your book making a real impact — both in the marketplace and on the charts.

So, if your goal is to become a New York Times bestseller, make sure you have the pieces in place:

That’s the combination that works. That’s what gets results. And that’s how PR fits into the big picture — not as the strategy, but as the amplifier of a strategy that’s already built to succeed.

Ready to amplify your bestseller strategy and get noticed by the media?

Schedule a free strategy call to learn how we can help you join the conversations that matter most.