Maybe you’ve led a transformation, built something remarkable, or developed a way of thinking that others could learn from.
But between your day job and your other responsibilities, the idea of carving out time to write, much less get the attention of a publisher or market yourself, can feel impossible.
You might be surprised to learn that you can do a lot on LinkedIn to not just make progress on the book but also line up a publisher and build buzz for your launch.
When publishers like Wiley or Harvard Business Review Press evaluate new authors, they’re not just looking for an interesting idea. They’re looking for proof that the author has a clear point of view and an audience that wants to hear it.
That’s exactly what LinkedIn can demonstrate, even if you only spend a few minutes a week on the platform.
Here’s how to use LinkedIn to build credibility, refine your ideas, and quietly position yourself for a book deal, without quitting your day job.
1. Make your authority visible
Publishers can’t know what you know unless you show it.
Your headline and About section should clearly communicate your niche: what you do and why it matters. For example, “CEO focused on scaling AI adoption in mid-market SaaS companies” tells an editor exactly where your expertise lies.
In your Featured section, include media appearances, interviews, or articles that demonstrate credibility.
In your About section, add two or three sentences that reflect your perspective – the worldview your book would expand on. For example: “I believe AI leadership isn’t about technology adoption. It’s about organizational empathy.”
That’s the kind of voice that makes people realize: this person has a point of view.
2. Let people see your ideas evolve
You don’t have to post every day, or even every week. A short, thoughtful post every couple of weeks is enough.
Focus on patterns you see in your work, not announcements. Share an observation, a lesson, or a counterintuitive insight. For example: “We discovered that employees adopted new AI tools faster when we stopped calling it a ‘tech rollout.’”
Over time, these small posts form a visible trail of insight and provide proof that you can sustain a big idea over many pages.
Time commitment: 20–30 minutes twice a month.
3. Engage like a thought leader, not a promoter
You don’t need to chase engagement. You just need to be part of the right conversations.
Comment on peers’ or media posts related to your future book topic. Use a consistent lens: the same perspective your book will carry. You’ll start showing up in the feeds of people who care about those themes.
Often, a well-written comment reaches more people than a post, and it takes less time.
Time commitment: Five minutes a day.
4. Build relationships with the right people
Editors, agents, and journalists often scout on LinkedIn. And they do it quietly.
Follow editors at Wiley, McGraw Hill, or Harvard Business Review Press. Engage thoughtfully with their posts or those of well-known business authors. Connect with journalists and podcast hosts in your industry.
You’re not pitching; you’re creating awareness. If your name and ideas start showing up in their feeds, you’re already on their radar.
5. Show that you can finish big projects
Publishers need to believe you’ll deliver a manuscript.
Highlight career milestones that demonstrate follow-through: leading a transformation, building a division, taking a company public. If you’ve produced white papers, op-eds, or internal playbooks, include them in your Publications section.
These are signals that you can take a big idea from concept to completion, which is exactly what writing a book requires.
6. Use your visibility to refine your ideas and build anticipation
This is one of the most underappreciated benefits of posting on LinkedIn.
When you share ideas about complex topics, you start to see which parts people understand easily – and where they get lost. Their comments and questions show you which ideas resonate, and which need to be explained differently.
That feedback helps you write a stronger book. You’ll identify the metaphors that land, the examples that stick, and the areas that need more clarity.
And as you post, you’re not just testing ideas. You’re building your audience. The people who engage with your early thinking will be the ones who pre-order your book, quote it, and help create the buzz when it launches. By the time you’re ready to announce it, you’ll already have a warm, engaged community.
7. Keep it sustainable
This doesn’t need to take over your life. Try two short sessions a week:
- Tuesday (15 minutes): Comment on three posts.
- Friday (30 minutes): Draft or schedule one short post.
If you have a communications team or ghostwriter, they can help repurpose meeting notes, speeches, or internal memos into posts that sound like you.
Your LinkedIn presence is your proposal in motion
When an editor or agent looks you up – and they will – they’re not just checking your credentials. They’re looking to see whether your ideas are clear, original, and relevant. A consistent, credible presence on LinkedIn tells them yes.
You don’t need to become a content creator. You just need to make your thinking visible.
When you do, you’re already halfway to the book deal.