How To Create A Marketing Plan That's Right For You
No writer can say, “Promoting my work is my favorite part of publishing!” He never spoke. You probably heard him say no. But you may have heard the author say, "I wrote a book, but I'm not very good at marketing it."
Marketing issues are a common complaint among freelance writers, and for good reason. Logging into your social media accounts and asking old school friends and extended family to buy your book is boring. But if you don't mind spreading the word that your book is no longer for sale, you can't complain when no one buys it.
Fortunately, embarrassing Facebook posts are not a good marketing strategy. When you present your book in a way that makes the most sense to you, you'll be happy with the "marketing gimmick" and help get your book across to readers who love it.
One size does not fit all
If you're one of those writers who says they hate marketing, think of an author you know who loves it. Their social media is full of pre-order requests for their next book, and their website is so perfect it's a shame you haven't even gotten your domain name yet.
But just because this approach works for some writers doesn't mean it will work for you. While there are some obvious things like having a website and yes, a very basic social media presence, you may need a completely different approach.
Think about your book and your audience. Where are your readers? If your book is a reminder of your journey on the Appalachian Trail, you might consider contacting local hiking clubs or buying outdoor gear ads in magazines. If you're writing epic fantasy novels, your target is the conventions of science fiction and fantasy. Focus on your audience and try to make it easier for other authors to find your book, not yours.
If you're still stuck, think about how you came up with the book recommendations. Have you read the reviews? Are you listening to the podcast interview? Looking for a social media post that compares a new book to an old favorite? Get creative and find an option that suits your target audience.
Ask for help
A freelance writer requires more work, making it harder to find and invest in a marketer.
This does not mean that you should give all your money to the best Hollywood professional and hope for the best. It also doesn't mean you have to give your child a few extra dollars to transfer your book to their TikTok account.
Just as independent publishers make money from independent authors, there are independent book marketing consultants. You can hire a copywriter to write professional and polished copy for your website. When you use an agency or a website like Fiverr , it's easy to pay a good marketing copywriter for regular blog posts, social media copies, and email newsletters to alert readers to your upcoming work.
Another profitable option is to spend time on marketing courses. Check out online SEO and marketing courses for freelance writers. It will take a little more time and effort at first, but it will be worth it as your book orders will increase.
Those you know may find that you can multiply your income streams by offering your newfound marketing skills to other writers.
Develop your strengths
When writers complain about marketing, they usually talk about how much they hate social media. Since you can sometimes send a tweet from your couch with just one finger, this resistance is sometimes a little overwhelming. But it's a good idea to focus more on your strengths, and if the Internet isn't your thing, you'd better find something good.
How about talking to people in real life instead? Contact the book clubs you want the authors to talk to. Attend conferences as a speaker or panelist, not just as a networking opportunity. Just show yourself the best you can. Even if this event is not for your book, remember to say "I published a book" every time you go out into the world to talk and meet. To those who are glad to draw attention to you again.
If you're smart and like the screen more, go to your social media profile pages. Post a nice and clear photo of your face for your profile and use a high quality book cover as your banner photo. Make your website look great and link to your book as much as possible.
When in doubt, think about how you enjoy interacting with others.
Do your best to move forward
Often the real problem behind marketing problems has nothing to do with real marketing methods. Rather, it's another way of saying, "No one likes my book, so I'm afraid to tell people to read it."
This is a rare author whose work is sure to please everyone. And it's natural to feel intense anxiety that you'll finally reveal all your hard work to a wild audience.
But don't forget about the amount of work you've put into your book. All the hours of writing, the stress of editing, how many times have you thought you made it to the final cut only to realize you need three more.
You deserve to scream your hard work from the rooftops. Not everyone will like what you have to say, but some will and deserve to know how to find their next favorite book. Instead of being afraid of marketing, find what works for you. Thank you fans in advance!
Chelsea Enin is a writer living in Brooklyn with her husband and dog. She is a textile artist who sews, sews, sews, sews, sews and sews when she is not writing or reading.
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