It's not uncommon for first time authors to wait until their book is about to be published to think about marketing and selling strategies. But, if you want to launch your book with a bang, it's never too early to start thinking about how you are going to create awareness for your book and build a readership. Per book publicist Nicole Baker, authors can get assistance with these strategies by hiring a publicist. Before your book is published, publicists can help build your social media presence and network. Once your book approaches the release date, they can start pulling in media opportunities to create even more awareness and broaden your influential reach. In addition, publicists can find what is newsworthy about your book to create interest. As Baker explains, the media outreach for nonfiction books is typically more traditional, while the outreach for fiction tends to be more digital or niche.