A foundational question authors ask is, How do I get my book into the hands of more readers?

The answer rarely lies in a single marketing tactic. Successful book promotion is usually the result of multiple strategies working together. Interviews, book reviews, podcasts, and social media engagement all help build awareness. But one avenue many authors—particularly nonfiction authors—overlook is corporate book sales.

Some organizations purchase books in bulk for employee development, client gifts, conferences, onboarding programs, or other internal initiatives. While corporate sales aren’t the right fit for every title, a well-targeted partnership can introduce your book to an entirely new audience beyond traditional retail channels.

The idea of selling to companies may seem intimidating, but the process is often more thorough than complicated. At its core, successful corporate outreach comes down to thoughtful research, personalization, and persistence. Because it’s a different market than consumer book sales, it also requires a different approach. Here are three strategies to help you get started.

1. Connect Your Book to a Company’s Current Priorities

The most effective corporate pitches aren’t centered on the book. Rather, they’re tailored to the company.

Before reaching out, take time to research the organization’s current initiatives. Are they investing in leadership development? Employee wellness? Financial literacy? Sales training? Customer experience? Your pitch should make it easy for the company to see how your book aligns with its current priorities, instead of leaving them to connect the dots.

For example, a leadership book might fit into a management training program, while a wellness title could complement an employee well-being initiative. The more naturally your book aligns with an existing priority, the easier it becomes for a company to see its value.

This level of personalization takes more time than sending a generic pitch, but reducing friction and adding clarity makes a difference. You need to be able to explain why the company and your book pair well.

2. Focus on Starting an Ongoing Conversation

Corporate book sales rarely happen from a single email.

Instead of expecting an immediate “Yes,” make your first objective getting a response. Even a simple “Thank you for your email” opens the door to further communication. A conversation allows you to learn about the company’s needs, answer questions, and explore whether there’s a good fit.

It’s also important to reach the right person. Generic inboxes and contact forms often make it difficult to connect with decision-makers. Depending on your book, that contact could be someone in human resources, learning and development, employee engagement, marketing, sales enablement, or corporate gifting.

Again, finding the right contact takes time and research. Professional networking platforms like LinkedIn can also be helpful for identifying the appropriate contact and making an initial introduction before sending a formal proposal.

Persistence matters, too. An initial introductory email, paired with two to three polite follow-ups that reinforce your initial pitch, is often more effective than a one-time outreach effort.

3. Make Your Outreach Memorable

While email will likely be your first point of contact, don’t overlook the impact of a well-crafted physical mailer. 

If you identify a handful of highly targeted companies with initiatives your book complements, you might consider creating a simple sales kit that includes:

• One or two copies of your book
• A personalized cover letter
• A short overview explaining how your book supports the company’s goals or initiatives
• A page of testimonials, endorsements, or notable reviews
• Your contact information and a clear next step (e.g., schedule a call, request bulk pricing, or discuss a customized program)

The key isn’t simply sending a free book—it’s demonstrating that you’ve done your homework and created a proposal for that specific company. A customized package helps communicate professionalism and makes it easier for the recipient to envision how your book could fit within their business.

Which Books Tend to Perform Best?

Books focused on business, leadership, personal finance, self-improvement, health and wellness, and even cooking can translate well into employee programs, client appreciation efforts, or professional development initiatives because they provide practical, actionable value.

Memoirs are more challenging to position for corporate sales unless they offer clear lessons that connect to leadership, resilience, innovation, or another workplace topic.

The Bottom Line

Successful corporate book sales aren’t about sending your book to as many companies as possible, they’re about finding organizations whose goals align with your message and opening the door to thoughtful conversations. 

By researching each company, reaching the right decision-maker, personalizing your outreach, and focusing on building relationships rather than making an immediate sale, there’s an opportunity to access a market that extends beyond traditional retail channels.

For nonfiction authors looking to diversify their marketing strategy, corporate sales can be a valuable way to increase book sales, expand visibility, and create lasting partnerships with organizations that share their mission.

Looking for other unique strategies to support book sales? Check out some of our previous blog posts, and contact us today to learn how we can help you build a personalized publicity strategy that delivers results.

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