I know not everyone will agree with what I’m about to say, but I find marketing fascinating. I sort of think of it like playing a game of Angry Birds–it’s a challenge and I love to adjust my angles to see where I’m going to aim my efforts. Just like playing Angry Birds, marketing your book takes some skill, hard work, practice and luck. And if you do even some of it right, you have a chance to knock down some serious stuff–pigs AND the barriers that keep you from literary success.
As my book launch gets closer, I’ve been thinking about marketing a lot more and I’ve come to realize that I’ve developed my own marketing truths. Here are some of the things that currently resonate with me…
*Be genuine. It’s much better to make 10 real friends on line than to spam a hundred. I know what I’m willing to do to support the people in my life that I care about–most people feel the same way. Genuine time and effort can’t be faked.
*Pretend that you don’t have a publisher. My publisher is doing a zillion amazing things to help market and sell my book. Duh! It’s their book too, but it’s easier for me to pretend (from a marketing perspective) that I’m self-published. This way I push myself to do my best and whenever something unexpected and exciting happens, it’s a ginormous, wonderful bonus!!!
TOUCHING THE SURFACE at the Bologna Book Fair!!!! I had no idea my book was there until my editor sent me this picture. BONUS!
*Try to enjoy the type of marketing you do. I’ll be honest, when two openings came available to join the YA Rebels (a weekly vlogging collective) I thought about auditioning. It would have been a fabulous opportunity. I also realized it would likely cause my premature death. The expectation to create weekly vlogs, that were interesting and funny AND get the tech thing down would have applied enough pressure to squish my head like a melon. Stick to the stuff that doesn’t take years off of your life.
*JOIN A MARKETING COLLECTIVE!!!! I am a proud member of the APOCALYPSIES and the CLASS OF 2k12 and I can say with absolute certainty that these two groups have been the best. They are so much more than a bunch of debut authors banding together–these are my friends. I could not have done it without them. I wouldn’t want to. We SQUEE over each other’s good news and we commiserate when we’re knee deep in suckage–personal or professional. We help each other be better writers–and marketers. And the best part is that they make me laugh. Have you seen this video?
So when you get that opportunity to join an amazing group like this… raise both hands, jump up and down and shout pick me, pick me!
*Lastly, you should have a secret weapon. Here’s mine…
This is my mom–aka my secret weapon. She carries a stack of signed bookmarks in her pocketbook and every place she goes, she tells people about my book. She also shares how proud she is of her daughter and she means it–I can see it in her eyes. THIS is the best kind of marketing. It is also the BEST way to live your life. It’s better than word of mouth–it’s word of heart. What we all really want is for someone to love us, to love our writing and to want to tell the world about it.
PS–I’m a very lucky girl because I’m surrounded word of heart–in my home and in my life. There will never be enough ways to adequately say I love you back.
Who is your secret weapon? Who shares their love of you through word of heart? I know just thinking about them makes you warm and fuzzy right now–so ‘fess up.
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My secret weapon is my husband–he’s not only supportive, but apparently very talkative when it comes to my book. *grin*
Shhhh my husband and my boys are my ultra super secret weapon!!!!!
My sons! My kids have gotten a TON of friends to read SEND and even do school reports on it! Chris handed out bookmarks to the entire marching band and pit orchestra recently 🙂
That is too stinkin’ sweet. <3
Aww! Love getting to “meet” your mom! 😉 My hubby does the same thing…I’m sure he’s given out more bookmarks than I have – LOL! And our boys, yeah…they’re pretty proud of their mama. 🙂
Great article – both uplifting and grounding. Thanks for sharing!!! <3
John and Larry are our nuclear weapons! And we must love the team of boys LOL!
.” Stick to the stuff that doesn’t take years off of your life.”
So true! Great post which I’m sharing now.
Awwww thank you so much. (((hugs)))
Kim, you speak the truth! Be genuine and honest. Quality is more important than quantity. And your secret weapon is as powerful as an atomic bomb! AND YOUR HUSBAND! Throwing a launch party for you, super! Do you rent him out? : )
Ha! Nope I hog him–he’s fabulous. <3
Marketing is definitely not my strong point. At all. I did the laugh-nod thing when you said joining YA Rebels would cause your premature death because I would seriously have a nervous breakdown if I tried to do a vlog. My mom is my biggest supporter, but she’s super introverted like me. It’s actually my aunt (her sister) who is always bragging about me, and she’s actually gotten me a few amazing opportunities I never would have gotten otherwise because she’s fearless
Woo hoo!!! A big shout out to your mom and your aunt!!!! <3
Hah. My mom also tells everyone about my book. Everyone. Mailmen. Cashiers. Homeless people. She’s a trip 🙂 I absolutely need to give her some bookmarks.
What really resonated for me was the part about being genuine and doing something that you like. I like twitter more than FB or blogging and it shows in my number of followers. If you can make marketing feel like fun then the results will be more enjoyable for others.
When I started blogging, I had a set number of posts I felt like I needed to do per month. Now I take my lead from bloggers like Molly O’Neill (who I see is attending your launch you lucky duck, and Libba Bray too!) who only posts when she has something she really wants to share.
Congrats to you, my Apocalypsies launch-day sister 🙂
Awww thanks so much–moms are the best! Get that lady some bookmarks. And I agree, the best marketing feels like you’re just hanging out with friend!