“Writing a book is like sliding down a rainbow!
Marketing it is like trudging through a field of chewed bubblegum on a hot, sticky day.”
― Betty Dravis
Are you similarly “stuck in chewed bubblegum” when it comes to book marketing? Here’s the antidote: Marketing is just a daily habit. The mindset that “marketing is a dreadful chore,” may be holding you back. Just like writing a book (a little bit at a time), do one thing every day that pertains to marketing your book. Take 10 minutes at the most, every day, to create the routine needed to make significant progress. Set an egg-timer and stop in 10 minutes. Start with easy things; here are 9 ideas.
- Search Amazon books in your genre for similar titles or topics. Scout the competition: the best sellers/most reviews/most appealing book covers.
- Search Facebook for an author or a writers’ group. Join. Post. Follow group. Interact online. Repeat.
- Tell 10 of your friends and relatives about your book, ask if you can put them on your mailing list for updates.
- Update your social media banner(s): the top portion that visually tells the viewer about you. Make it relevant, interesting, and attractive to your audience.
- Write down everything that you believe defines the “target audience” for your book. Include age, sex, area of residence, experiences, interests, likes, dislikes, technology preferences. Are you writing for a demographic that is just like you? That’s OK; just write it down.
- Spend time writing your next blog.
- Spend time jotting ideas about topics to blog about. Opinions are fine. React to something interesting, funny, outrageous, or familiar to you.
- Make a list of marketing to-do’s that are discrete and easy to finish. Take an action towards completing one of them, e.g. you need a good headshot photo that’s up to date. Set up an appointment to get this done.
- Practice your “author speech” in front of a mirror. Answer the question, “So, you’re a writer?” Describe briefly what your book is about and what compelled you to write it.
Remember, don’t try to finish something if it needs more time. Just do it for 10 minutes, then take it up again tomorrow.
So, to start up your good habit, take your first action step:
What specific thing, in no more than 10 minutes, will you do today to help you market your book? Write it down, then do it!
(I am one-half of the Book Marketing Mentor team. Partner Judy Baker and I have created a Marketing Road Map to help author-publishers stay on course. Our services include planning, problem-solving, coaching, and mentoring authors to help them sell their books. I am also developing a “MailChimp for Authors” online tutorial program. For more, contact me at [email protected].)
