Can Authors Rebound From A Bad Start?

 

 

With book marketing, an author may have a marketing plan but as they start to make their way through it they find they have to stop or slow down, perhaps make some alterations or even need to start over with a fresh plan. How do you go about getting back on track?

First, figure out what isn’t working — and what is. Do less of the former, more of the latter. Don’t necessarily change everything, unless nothing seems to be going as planned.

Second, for what is not working, do you know why? Do you know what needs to be done? Can you change, add or delete something to get what you want out of it? It is important to know if the solution is tinker (play around until you diagnose and secure a feasible solution) tune-up (make adjustments, provide maintenance, or bring on the reinforcements that are needed) or trash (just dump it and walk away if it is not salvageable).

Third, find a way to recharge your batteries. You may feel fatigue, defeat, or disillusionment. This is only natural. Take a break, reflect, regroup, and energize yourself.

Fourth, refocus your energies on what needs to be done and is achievable. Commit to a new game plan.

Fifth, restart your engine. Giving up is not an option. A timeout is fine, but it has an expiration date. Then it is time to fire yourself up and start fresh.

There is no room for wishing things were different. Only you can make it so — or at least find a way to operate within the confines of your situation. Dreaming of what can’t be, damning what never was, or cursing what is are all useless activities.

Most authors do not really try hard or intelligently when it comes to book marketing. They accept their against-the-odds victim frame of mind. That gets you nowhere.

Instead, think optimistically, opportunistically, and flexibly. Just because your plans need to change does not mean you can’t achieve your goals. You can rebound from a bad start. It is never too late to make a run at success.

Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their 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!

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2023. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.3 million pageviews. With 4,400+ posts over the past dozen 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 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and two jobs 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. He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. 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. He has been featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult: www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.