Julia Cook, a former teacher and school counselor, has been in the publishing game for nearly two decades, cranking out close to 100 titles. She’s definitely not a newbie.
Some of her fan-favorite books include:
And get this, she's sold millions of copies!
Curious to see how she markets her books, I went down the rabbit hole and wow, did I find some gems.
I learned a ton.
So, here are 7 marketing strategies I discovered:
Marketing Strategy 1: Podcasts
Julia is no stranger to the power of a well-placed podcast appearance.
She's not just hopping onto any show that will have her, she's strategic.
When Julia promotes a new book, she finds podcasts that align perfectly with the book's theme, ensuring her message reaches the right audience.
Take, for instance, her appearance on the Next Level Income podcast. She joined the show to discuss her book I Am Money, which she co-authored with financial advisor Garrett Gunderson.
The book encourages financial literacy in kids, making the Next Level Income podcast, focused on financial growth and investment, a perfect platform.
By targeting listeners already interested in finance, Julia ensures her book is not just heard about but remembered and sought out.
And she doesn’t stop there. Julia is always sure to link back to where you can find her books, making it easy for listeners to go from hearing about her work to owning it.
You can check out her Next Level Income podcast episode here and see how she does it.
Marketing Strategy 2: Problem-Agitate-Solution (PAS) Approach
What particularly caught my eye, was how Julia has mastered the art of making her audience feel seen, understood, and supported through the Problem-Agitate-Solution (PAS) approach.
She doesn’t just announce a new book and ask people to buy it, she speaks directly to the issues her audience is grappling with, stirs up those feelings, and then presents her book as the remedy they’ve been searching for.
Take, for example, her book I'm Stretched, which addresses stress.
Instead of simply saying, "I’ve got a new book to help kids manage stress, check it out," Julia digs into the problem of stress in children's lives, amplifies the pressure kids feel, and then offers her book as a resource to help manage those overwhelming emotions.
In the image I shared, you can see how Julia frames the issue (the problem), highlights how it impacts her audience (the agitation), and finally, presents her book and its accompanying resources as the perfect way to tackle that problem (the solution).
The beauty of this strategy?
It feels as if Julia is speaking directly to you, understanding your struggles and offering real help.
And it’s working!
Just take a look at the comments. The engagement speaks volumes, with readers resonating deeply with the issues she raises and finding real value in the solutions her books provide.
Marketing Strategy 3: Cause Marketing
Julia is not just about writing great books, she’s also all about making a difference.
She connects with her audience on a deeper level by aligning her books with meaningful initiatives.
One standout example is her Kids Helping Kids Campaign, which raised an impressive $50,000 for victims of the Nebraska flood.
You can read all about it here.
Julia used her influence to rally support.
And she not only offered a complimentary school visit as part of the campaign but also donated her book on dealing with disasters to help the kids affected learn how to handle the tough situation.
A perfect fit if you ask me.
This strategy is a great example of how to use your platform to support important causes while building a stronger connection with your audience.
Marketing Strategy 4: Pinterest
If you’ve always thought of Pinterest as just a place to find DIY crafts or recipe ideas, think again. Julia has turned Pinterest into a powerful marketing tool for her books.
For those new to Pinterest, think of it as a digital bulletin board where you can gather and organize all your ideas and inspiration from across the web.
And we’ve got pins and boards.
Pins are like digital bookmarks. Found something cool online? Pin it to save it for later.
Each pin comes with an image, a little description, and a link back to where it came from.
Boards are collections of pins. Picture them as folders where you group your pins by theme or topic.
With 1.9k followers and 2.7k monthly views, she’s built a solid presence on this visually-driven platform.
But it’s not just about the numbers, it’s about how she’s using Pinterest to connect with parents, educators, and readers in a way that feels both helpful and engaging.
Julia uses Pinterest to create eye-catching boards that match the themes of her books.
Each pin takes people from Pinterest straight to her website, where they can dive deeper into her content and check out her books.
What’s smart about this approach is how it makes the most of Pinterest’s search and recommendation features.
Plus, unlike other social media platforms where content fades away over time, content on Pinterest keeps going strong.
For instance, in her “Back-To-School Book Collection” board, she has a pin titled “Bullying Behavior” that recommends her book Bully Beans, which explains why bullying happens and how to stop it.
She then guides people to her website, where she goes into more detail about the book's benefits and includes a link to purchase it.
By consistently posting pins her audience loves, Julia ensures her books reach a broader audience looking for similar topics.
And it's not just Julia sharing her pins, others are spreading the word too, helping her reach even more people. Just check out this pin that links to one of her books!
Marketing Strategy 5: Etsy
Julia isn’t just selling books, she’s creating an entire ecosystem around her stories.
One of the ways she does this is through her Etsy shop, where she offers a range of learning resources that complement her books.
This strategy not only provides additional value to her audience but also serves as a smart marketing tool.
On her Etsy shop, Julia sells printable activities, educational materials, and other resources related to the themes of her books.
These items are perfect for teachers, parents, and homeschoolers looking for ways to reinforce the lessons in her stories.
By offering these resources, she creates a more immersive experience for her readers, making her books more than just a one-time read.
It’s a win-win: customers get valuable tools to help children learn, and Julia deepens her connection with her audience.
What’s particularly clever about this approach is how it expands her reach.
People browsing Etsy for specific educational topics might stumble upon her resources and, in turn, discover her books.
It’s cross-promotion at its finest, building brand recognition and driving traffic back to her books in a way that feels organic and helpful.
Marketing Strategy 6: Her Patreon (Cookie Bytes)
Want to get more bang for your buck? Julia’s got you covered with her Patreon, cleverly named Cookie Bytes.
Patreon is a platform where creators offer exclusive content through a subscription.
Julia uses it to give her readers extra value beyond her books.
For a small monthly fee, subscribers get access to a bunch of cool resources that complement her books.
And she’s not just collecting subscriptions, she keeps her Patreon fresh and exciting by updating it every month.
Let’s be real, nobody likes paying for a subscription if there’s no new content.
By keeping things updated, Julia makes sure her subscribers feel like they’re getting their money’s worth.
This not only keeps her audience engaged but also helps sustain her creative work long-term.
What's even cooler is that her fans love the idea. Just check out the engagement on this Facebook post when she shared about it.
Here’s why this approach rocks:
It keeps her books interesting for a longer time
It keeps her fans excited
It provides a steady way for her to make money from her work
Marketing Strategy 7: Social Media Giveaway
One of Julia’s standout strategies is teaming up with other authors for awesome social media giveaways.
A great example is when she joined forces with 14 other authors who write Social Emotional Learning books for a huge giveaway event.
This strategy is a fantastic way to:
-Boost engagement
-Build brand awareness
-Reach a bigger audience.
Here’s how it works: Julia and her co-authors ask people to follow all the participating authors, like the giveaway post, and tag their friends to enter.
This way, the giveaway reaches not just Julia’s followers, but also the followers of all the other authors. It’s a win for everyone involved.
But it’s not just about numbers. Giveaways build excitement around the books and help create a community of readers who are interested in Social Emotional Learning.
It’s a great way to introduce Julia’s books to new readers who might not have discovered them otherwise.
Plus, including her book as a prize ensures it gets into the hands of people who are genuinely interested, which can lead to more buzz and future sales.
Key Takeaways
1/ Find podcasts that align with your book's theme to reach the right audience.
2/ Highlight urgent issues, amplify them, and then offer your book as the practical solution.
3/ Tie your promotions to important initiatives to build deeper connections and support with your audience.
4/ Use Pinterest to create visually appealing pins that direct users to your website or store, making it easy for them to discover and engage with your content.
5/ Provide additional resources related to your book to enhance the reader's experience and expand your reach.
6/ Offer exclusive, regularly updated content to maintain subscriber interest and ensure they feel they’re getting their money’s worth.
7/ Team up with others for giveaways to boost engagement, increase visibility, and introduce your work to new audiences.
And that’s it for this week.
If you’re new here, welcome! This is part of my weekly newsletter where I share how top authors market their children’s books—giving you marketing ideas without the 40+ hours of research. Subscribe here!
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Alex Safari
Co-founder, Zuri Book Pros
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