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Updated February 22, 2024
Subtitle
Following these five simple steps will help you to find the best person for the job
Synopsis
Asking someone to write your foreword is generally a simple process. The tricky part is finding the best person for the job and convincing them to write it for you. Here are the basic steps to finding the right person to write your book’s foreword.
What You Will Learn
1. You will learn the basic steps to finding the best person to write your book’s foreword.
2. You will learn what personal and professional characteristics they should possess before you ask for their help.
3. You will learn how to explain how they will benefit by writing your book’s foreword.
Introduction
It is not difficult to get someone to write your book’s foreword. The tricky part is finding the best person for the job. They need a proven track record, like being a published author, a successful person in their industry, or having a substantial social media following.
Plus, they need to understand what a foreword is about, why a book has a foreword, and what role it plays in the success of your book.
Here Are the Basic Steps in Finding the Right Person to Write Your Book’s Foreword:
1. Make a List of Names
This list should be a straightforward task for you to accomplish. You must have encountered all the “big names” while researching your book. Also, searching Amazon will help you find the names of authors whose books are selling well.
And an Amazon search will help you find the authors of newly published books. Also, look at their websites. Ideally, you want a person to write your foreword with a large social media following or substantial coverage in the press.
2. Start Making Contact
Many authors will provide their email address somewhere in their books. Find their email address online – typically at their website or job. You can also email their publisher directly if you can’t find their website.
Making first contact is a two-step process:
(1) Find their email address online – typically at their website or job. You can email their publisher directly if you can’t find their website.
(2) Send them a second email asking them to write your book’s foreword within a few weeks.
3. Make It Easy For Them
Making it easy for them to say yes in three easy steps:
(1) Attach a PDF of the book to that second email.
(2) Make sure your book is very polished, without typos or spelling errors. You must include a very professional-looking book cover in your pdf. All of this will help you look like a professional. Like someone they can trust and won’t mind attaching their name to.
(3) And finally, keep your request simple and short. Your request must be very honest and sincere. If there is any hint of dishonesty or lack of sincerity in your request, they will never deal with you again.
4. Explain The Benefits
Explain the benefits of writing your foreword in three easy steps:
(1) The main benefit they will get from writing your book’s foreword is exposure or publicity. Tell them that you will include their name on your book’s cover. Celebrities, industry “big shots,” and “big name” authors are just as interested in publicity as the rest of us. We all want to attach our name to someone we believe has a good chance of getting us that exposure.
(2) Explain to them that you value their opinion and that it is very important to you to include them in your book.
(3) A PDF of your book will show them how well-designed and professional your book’s cover looks, how well-written it is, and how great the testimonials you have already received are.
Also, your website, blog, and LinkedIn page must look amazing. Your website and blog must have great content and look very professional. All of this will show that you are serious about your subject.
5. Follow Up
Wait about a week. Send them a third email asking if they received your last email requesting they consider writing your book’s foreword. Tell them to email you anytime if they have questions or need more information about you or your book.
Keep it short and straightforward. They will usually let you know if they are interested within a week. If they don’t contact you, then move on to the next choice on your list.
Conclusion
Asking someone to write your foreword is a simple process. Be nice to them, show them you are serious about your subject, and then ask them. But remember, you must first have everything on your end complete and looking great. And never forget, you need them more than they need you – so don’t be a pest, and don’t sound desperate. The worst that can happen is that they say no.
Questions to Think About
1. Share how you were able to convince a “big name” to write your book’s foreword?
2. Why did you choose to pursue this person to write the foreword?
