2 To Ramble Scummy Ways to Market Books | 2 To Ramble #255
Aug 11, 2025
Delve into the murky waters of book marketing tactics, where honesty battles deception. Discover how emotionally manipulative strategies can backfire, alongside a heartwarming story of an author who found unexpected success. Explore the shady side of achieving bestseller status and the problem of fake reviews that compromise integrity in the literary world. Finally, enjoy a playful twist with the idea of adding nutritional labels to books, helping readers navigate their literary diets with a touch of humor.
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Viral Real-Author Signing
- A TikTok of Jonathan Stanley at a lonely Barnes & Noble led to empathy-driven sales.
- The clip pushed Purposeful Performance to #1 and sold over 10,000 copies.
Staged Book Signing Scam
- TikTok creators allegedly staged an empty book signing for 'Just Because' to trigger pity and sales.
- Investigators reported they rented the store on a closed day and faked attendance to prompt empathy.
Deflecting Criticism With Trolls
- Creators often spotlight hateful or trivial comments to deflect substantive criticism.
- Richard says this tactic frames creators as victims and obscures real feedback about their work.
