Authors
are tested every day to find the creativity, time, energy, and focus needed to write books and market themselves. It’s
similar to what a 300-pound person confronts daily – he or she has to summon
the will, courage, time, and energy to both watch which foods are consumed and
how much to exercise.
Like the overweight individual, the author confronts a daily battle that’s fought in the mind as much as in the physical world. So what can help authors overcome roadblocks, needs, fears, and bad habits when it comes to promoting a book?
Like the overweight individual, the author confronts a daily battle that’s fought in the mind as much as in the physical world. So what can help authors overcome roadblocks, needs, fears, and bad habits when it comes to promoting a book?
1.
Pause -- Sometimes the
best thing to do when we feel overwhelmed or burdened is to take a break, step
back, and take a breather. Take a walk or do something that clears your mind
and relaxes you. Then give yourself a pep talk and see where you can implement
some modifications to how you have been approaching things. You may just need a
fresh start.
2.
Therapy – Sure, most people
think of seeing a therapist when they have a major problem to confront, perhaps
an addiction, relationship struggles, parenting issues, or career
conflicts. They could be depressed or on
the edge. But one can see a therapist as
a coach and seek out professional guidance on how to overcome whatever stands
in their way. Sure, it may sound a little funny to tell a therapist you are
there because you want to market a book and can’t jumpstart the process, but
it’s really no different than any other barrier that people seek the help of a
therapist to break, from losing weight, switching jobs, or opting out of a bad marriage.
3.
Education – Some fears come because there is a legitimate reason
to feel insecure, unsure, or directionless.
You simply may lack the necessary information and understanding of what
to do. Start by reading up on book
publicity strategy or general marketing tips. Learn about the media,
traditional and social. Study up on
advertising trends. Once you have current information you can work from a position of knowledge.
4.
Buddy Up – Whenever you
enter a new situation you get paired up with a mentor or someone in the same
boat as you. In school you get paired
with another student. At a new job,
someone shows you the ropes. On a sports
team, someone works out with you. It is the same
with books and authors. Join a group of
authors and share information and ideas, and be there to support each
other. They know exactly what you’re
going through, while most others do not.
5.
Plan – You have more
chances of success by putting a plan together.
Outline your goals and a timeline to achieve them. Identify the micro-steps needed to fulfill
each level of the process. List your
resources and note what you need to complete the job. By planning ahead you give yourself time and
power to succeed.
6.
Help – You may feel stopped in your tracks simply because
some tasks are beyond your area of expertise and skill set. Or there’s something you really don’t want to
do but know it needs to get done. In
such a case, outsource it and employ a hired gun.
7.
Success – Nothing helps you do more and perform your best like
success. Start small and build up your
stamina. Find things you are good at and
like to do, whatever the task, and once you get some wins under your belt it
becomes easier to replicate success.
8.
Rewards – This can work two ways. You can give yourself an incentive to achieve
– a reward if you hit certain benchmarks along the way of your book marketing
journey. But you can also pre-reward
yourself and celebrate on Day 1, like a kick-off or launch party to wish you
success as you embark on your pursuit of book marketing victory.
Many
authors will slip and fall along the way.
They find new stumbling blocks and unanticipated struggles. They get up and move forward. Then they try hard, do all that they believe
is needed, and still fail. But they don’t give up. They move forward. Soon they learn the ropes and get some small
wins. Now they reach higher, further,
and beyond what’s in their field of vision.
They extend themselves out of their comfort zone. Most will falter, but some can and will break
through.
Don’t
give up or deny yourself the chance at success.
No one said this is easy or that one gets what they want right
away. But writing a book can be
fulfilling and marketing a book successfully can open up doors that will lead
to more books, greater pay-offs, and the deep satisfaction of knowing that by
believing in yourself and your words that you matter – and that the world is
better off for it.
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Brian Feinblum’s insightful views, provocative
opinions, and interesting ideas expressed in this terrific blog are his alone
and not that of his employer or anyone else. You can – and should -- follow him
on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels
much more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by
BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2018. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in
Westchester. His writings are often featured in The Writer and
IBPA’s Independent. This was named one of the best book
marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the
top book marketing blogs. Also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best
resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America.
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