Being an author today means you are not only a writer but a small business owner.
In this case, I want to impart some guidance on how to establish and improve your executive skill functions, meaning your ability to get things done in a timely and efficient manner, to strategically plan and follow-up consistently, and to go from having an idea to taking an action step to making it a reality.
It is easy to forget a good idea, get distracted by others, or have an inner conflict over something that you need or should want. The key is to remain focused on what is important to the marketing of your book.
Set some goals and standards for yourself. Be driven by your values — define who you are; know what it is that you want or need — and be ready to execute the necessary steps to achieve what you are pursuing. You don’t have to own permanent answers right now, but begin to think about the qualities and passions that you possess and become aware of what seems to fuel your writing journey.
Being organized, focused, analytical, action-oriented, and open to receiving help are the key pieces here. You are fully capable of living the fullest life that you envision for yourself. You just need a little boost here and there, which is true for all of us.
Here is a strategic structure by which you can filter your book marketing world through:
1. Make To-Do Lists.
Put it on your phone, your laptop, on paper, or anywhere that you can store a list of things that you want to pursue, things that have to get done, or things that need some research and follow-up. Nothing gets done unless you first identify what is that needs to get done and record it so you don’t forget or ignore it. Write up your list and check it often. It is a living and breathing document, as it will change often.
2. Set Daily, Short-Term, Long-Term
Priorities.
Most things on your to-do list are immediate: today, tomorrow, this week, or soon. Some things have real deadlines. Most things require you to assign a deadline to get them done.
Prioritize what needs to be done by when and give weight to the thing that is more important and that has a real deadline. Set deadlines for yourself and remain vigilant in knowing if there are concrete deadlines dictated by others or circumstances.
You can work on multiple tasks simultaneously, moving each one along. In fact, the bigger the task, the better off you are if you attack it early—at least to start it.
3. Break Tasks Into Smaller Ones.
Some things look taxing or burdensome so we
put them off, but often, once we zero in on them and get a better understanding
of what is needed, the task seems less monumental and more achievable.
Make a list of smaller tasks or steps in order to break up a big task. Take
a step towards getting what you want.
This all takes a focused and dedicated initiation on your part.
4. Take On Boring, Annoying, or Time-Consuming
Tasks.
There will always be things that we want or prefer to do — and things that we despise but know that we need to do. There are chores, errands, and forms to fill out. There are emails to send and call-backs to people who ignore us. Whatever it is, don’t let these things get in the way of achieving what is needed. Keep your eye on the prize, focused on whatever it is you seek to achieve.
5. Balance What You React To vs Initiate.
Many things get reacted to, right? Someone says or does something, good or bad, and we react. Or we get an assignment from a class, we react and do it. We get a bill and react by checking its accuracy and paying it. But plenty of things can be done, not because you reacted to something or were asked to do things. You can also initiate and follow-up on an idea, a passion, or an interest. Remember to initiate and create your journey, rather than merely react to the requests, needs, and demands of others. Lead sometimes; don’t always follow.
6. Be ready to assert yourself. Just because others say this is the price or rules does not mean there can’t be a negotiation. Remember, it is just another person behind something, and nothing more. That person can change his mind. You never know what his needs, fears, desires, or problems are. You know what your needs or fears are, but don’t forget that everything flows two ways. You can demand something as much as the other can. Be prepared to walk away if you can’t get what you want.
7. Take some time to think, brainstorm, research. Never underestimate the value of practicing some solo thinking. Listen to your inner voice. Then brainstorm with others, take in people’s opinions, and research the facts to anything you are thinking of undertaking. This can be true about bigger things like internships, volunteering, studying abroad, rushing a sorority, selecting a major, etc. or smaller things that still have some importance or appeal to you.
8. Stop making the same mistakes, bad choices,
or wrong assumptions.
We all get to make mistakes, but we must learn from them. If you change some of your habits, way of thinking, or who you listen to, you can avoid the negative results that happened previously. Recognize when something could have yielded a better result. Analyze what you could have done differently. Contemplate changes to correct or mitigate a negative situation or circumstance. Operate out of a strong belief in yourself, know that you deserve more, and then make the sacrifices and efforts to position yourself for success.
9. Every situation has a SWOT. Identify it. If an opportunity comes up, identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to it. For instance, let’s say I have an opportunity to get an author to hire me as a marketer, I must think of how I can win this person over.
What are my strengths? I have decades of experience of helping authors and have a good track record. I can show them my blog’s high readership, they can talk to me and hear my thinking and friendliness, and they can see good client testimonials.
We all have weaknesses or shortcomings. Maybe my pricing is not as low as that of a competitor whom they are talking to. Maybe they do an online search and find something negative about me. Perhaps the client is in a rush to start and I lack the ability to work that fast.
Opportunities? If I win this client, maybe they have other books to promote or know authors to refer to me. Maybe it will be fun and stimulating to work with them. So the opportunity is something beyond the thing you initially seek. I initially seek them as a paying client but there could be an opportunity for more business or benefits.
I have threats, meaning I have challenges to winning this campaign. Maybe their book sucks and they will decide it is not worth promoting. Perhaps they have a misconception of what a marketer does and I need to explain my value and they simply fail to understand my offering. Maybe the potential client mistakenly believes he or she can do their own marketing without me and I need to make the case of why that is not so.
10. Be SMART. Take this approach to a bigger goal or
project:
- Specific: Clearly identify what you want to do. Use
plain and simple language to make note of what you are looking to
accomplish.
- Measurable: Develop a way to count or track your progress. Use numbers or amounts or find a metric to rate or total your efforts and results.
- Achievable: identify what is needed to actually achieve
your goal with the resources, skills, knowledge, and experience in your
possession.
- Relevant: Check if the goal matters and fits your main
plans.
- Time-bound: Set a final date or deadline for what you seek to accomplish.
11. Neither demand perfection nor do the minimum to just get by. Never be so hard on yourself as to set an unreachable standard, but don’t be a lazy, checked-out piece of dung either. Do your best, and work hard and smart. When a situation bores you or causes you to not want to give it your all, think of what could be changed or consider moving on from whatever you find yourself mired in.
12. Anticipate and identify potential challenges, opposition, delays, errors. By thinking ahead and seeing possible pitfalls or roadblocks you can prepare for them and have a contingency plan should something arise.
13. Know what you want to do and why you should do it — then figure out how and with who’s help. You can make plans and periodically reevaluate them. You can get help or find alternate paths to achieve the same goal. The harder part is knowing what you want to accomplish and why you want to do it in the first place.
14. Know your USP — Unique Selling Position. Your strengths, your perspectives, your values — whatever it is that gives you an edge and that makes up your intellectual or emotional DNA — your essence. Your brand.
15. Always ask questions. They may lead to even more questions. The answers will come. Be ever curious and pursue your passions. Question, in your mind why others say and do what they say and do. Imagine one person, thing, or situation being different — how would that change what you would or could do?
My concluding advice is this: Own it. Seize
control of your book marketing, take responsibility for it, and dedicate your
mind, body, and resources to it.
Book World Loses Dolly Parton
Many people mourned the death
of Dolly Parton this week. Multiple generations know her for being a country
singer, movie actress, and an amusement park owner. The woman once featured on
the cover of Playboy was a philanthropist and an icon. You never heard a bad
word about her despite 60+ years of fame. She also launched a literacy program
three decades ago that has distributed over 300 million free books around the
world.
Marketing Help?
Brian
Feinblum can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors like you to promote
your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of
experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him
be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!
About Brian Feinblum
This award-winning blog has generated over
8,600,000 page views. With nearly 5,700+ posts over the past 15 years, it was
named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2026, 2021
and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” Copyright 2026.
For
the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He
formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the
head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the
director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many
first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with
best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen,
Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard,
Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C.
Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.
His
writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s
The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully) and (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/10-things-my-dog-taught-me-about-marketing-books). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs
He
hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and
has spoken at ASJA, three times at BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers
Association, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod
Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, five
times at Morgan James Publishing Red Carpet, and Connecticut Authors and
Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.
His
letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal,
USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester)
and The Washington Post. His first published book was The
Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook. It
was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.
Born
and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids,
and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.
You
can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum
