For my first blog, I’m going to get right to the point.
Like so many authors, I love writing books – I’m just not good at the marketing part. There! I laid my weakness out there before you. Chew me up…spit me out…but remember, you can read my books and chew at the same time.
There are various reasons I’m not good at marketing (and the reason I’m starting with this is that I know so many other writers have the same hang ups with it. If you see yourself in any of my excuses, then it will probably be helpful for you to read later about how I plan to improve on those and become better at marketing.)
Here’s a taste of my excuses for my lack of marketing:
1. I’m cheap …errr, I mean, I’m thrifty.
A. I want the return on investment to be worthwhile, so if I’m going to pay for marketing, I want it to pay off by reaching new readers.
B. I want readers to find me through osmosis so it doesn’t cost anything and I don’t have to work at it. (Yeah, good luck with that one, chickie!) When you’re starting out, you have to go TO the readers, and eventually, if you’ve done it all right, the readers will come to you.
2. The business side of writing is daunting.
A. Do you know how many other writers are trying to sell books, too? (Well, okay, I don’t actually know the number, either, but I can tell you it’s probably somewhere between five and ten million. This
photo shows just a few of the books that my writer friends (and I) are hoping people will buy…and this isn’t even ALL of my writer friends who have books available. And you thought I was being dramatic with my numbers…)
B. It’s hard to decide what kind of marketing will be most effective.
a. If I can get a newspaper article written, great! (I’ve had newspaper and television news stories done about Finding Atticus and my co-author, Scott, has had multiple appearances on television where he has been able to mention our bookwww.RUinDanger.net) For niche books, like I write, those avenues are a little more open, but I still have to look for the interesting angle that will catch a reporter’s interest.
b. For the most part, book signing events aren’t effective for me. Until my name gets as big as J. K. Rowling or whoever wrote the Hunger Games series (selective blocking of the author’s name out of jealousy!), anyway, until I’m well-known, I’ll probably make very few sales at book signings. I can more wisely use that time working on the next book. (Notice I said, “until I’m well-known”…I’m an eternal optimist.)
3. Marketing takes me away from creating. (Well, yeah, so does making dinner, watching a movie, riding my horses, gardening, working a full-time job… okay, you get the picture. They’re all just excuses for avoiding something that takes concerted effort.)
4. I spend too much time looking at others’ posts on social media. (Self-explanatory.)
Now, that part of the post wasn’t helpful at all, was it? We all have excuses for why we’re not marketing more. Don’t give up on this post yet, though.
With the pity party behind me, it’s time to take action. I’m going to start by taking these baby steps, and if you’re also in a marketing slump, maybe this will help spur you on, too.
1. Make sure my website is current and dynamic.
A. Does it reflect who I am and the image I want to project as a writer and as a likable person? (Let’s face it, sometimes an author can turn readers off so they’re not even interested in taking a chance on the book.) You can check out my “work in progress” website here: www.nicka39.sg-host.com
2. Make sure I post more on Twitter, but not just post, but make them meaningful posts. But, more than that, make sure the hashtags work for me. (I credit my son, Nick Adams from Revault Media for the marketing tips with Twitter.) You can follow me at Laurie G Adams
3. Experiment with a sponsored post on Facebook, but make sure my target audience is carefully selected.
4. Make this blog relevant to other writers who are in the same boat as I am. It’s always good to get grounded and realize we’re all in this together. (Oh, and post a blog more than once a month!)
Bottom line – writing is fun, marketing what you’ve written is not, but if you want to sell books, you have to do it.
With that last thought in mind, if you are so inclined to read about my books (and buy them if they interest you), please visit my website: www.nicka39.sg-host.com
Next blog: Suggestions for ways to kick-start your muse when she’s gone AWOL