Marketing is just another term for sharing your work in a deliberate way with the goal of gaining a fanbase and generating sales. The phrase, It Takes A Village... very much applies to starting a writing career from scratch. My marketing knowledge took a quantum leap from a single forty-five minute call with the very successful author and motivational speaker, Grace Daly.
What Grace taught me was, as indie authors with small budgets, we must take the time to think about who our natural collaborators are. Often they are companies or individuals who offer a product or service that mesh with your book in some way, the larger the organization the better. These large companies already have a huge promotional outreach and great marketing expertise. Collaborations such as this can launch your writing career more quickly than you would ever be able to do on your own.
For instance, I wore a pair of Moscot Lemtosh glasses in some of my promotional headshots for my first novel. I purchased these eyeglass frames only because I liked them but shortly after my call with Grace I decided to email the Moscot company to see if there was an opportunity to collaborate. They informed me that there was a segment on their social media pages called, “Eye Spy” where they post pictures of people wearing their frames. Not only did they agree to post my headshot but they also included a link to my novel. This one email got the book a significant amount of international publicity as well as many new followers from all over the world on my social media pages (in the days before Steemit.) The best part? It didn’t cost me a penny.
“People who ask confidently get more than those who are hesitant and uncertain. When you've figured out what you want to ask for, do it with certainty, boldness and confidence. Don't be shy or feel intimidated by the experience. You may face some unexpected criticism, but be prepared for it with confidence.” - Jack Canfield
This same strategy is appropriate with your own works as well. Think of promotional campaigns in which you can bundle multiple projects of your own together and offer them as a package deals and market your work in different ways that generate multiple revenue streams. For example, I have published a few books of my poetry and got a favorable response. I decided to start offering individual autographed prints of poems that were published in those collections for sale online. This was incredibly easy to do and very little work because I print them only as they’re ordered. To be successful as an indie writer it’s important to apply the same creativity that makes you a great writer to the marketing side of your business. Outside of the box thinking will garner great rewards.
“A decent boldness ever meets with friends.” - Homer
Three months ago I interviewed Leon Logothetis for a Q&A piece on Steemit. About that same time I was finishing a manuscript for my soon-to-be-published book on meditation, The Perfect Pause. Leon’s series on Netflix, The Kindness Diaries seemed to mesh well with the subject matter of my book so I asked him if he’d be willing to write a cover blurb for me. Guess what? He said yes! As a writer, you must never be afraid to ask for a favor. You may get a lot of no’s but there’s always a chance you’ll get a YES that will make a huge impact.
Grassroots, local marketing is very useful as well. Look for ways to get your book into the hands of the people in your own community. In the city I live in they have a program called, “Little Libraries.” These are small weatherproof bookcases that people can install in their front yards and people can borrow or donate any books they wish. I’ve donated several copies of my books to these Little Libraries.
Another great way to branch out is to write freelance articles for publications that are in alignment with the subject matter of your writing. Many online publications will allow you to post a short biography and a few links of your choosing along with your articles. The two links I always post are to my Steemit page and my website. Even if you don’t get paid to write these pieces, the exposure can be invaluable.
Once you change your way of thinking to the collaborative mentality you begin to discover countless untapped opportunities that were there all along. Even if you self publish, remember, you don’t have to do it alone. Your odds of success in the publishing business are much greater if you have an army of allies willing to assist you along the way. I’ve discovered that people actually want to help, it’s only a matter of finding an organic business relationship that makes sense for all parties involved.
I'll always be very grateful for those individuals who've taken the time out of their business schedules to help when I ask. Remember, there isn't a writer on this planet who has ever found success on their own. We all need someone to open the door for us, this person might be a benefactor, an editor, or even another author. Chances are, if you're persistent, studious, and strategically bold, someday you'll be the one who has the chance to hold the door open for someone else. This is a feeling beyond compare.
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*I am an American novelist, poet, traveler, and crypto-enthusiast. If you’ve enjoyed my work please sign up for my author newsletter at my website. Newsletter subscribers will receive exclusive updates and special offers and your information will never be sold or shared.
Eric Vance Walton - Media
