What’s An Author’s First Step To Marketing A Book?

The hardest thing about doing anything is getting started. The bigger the task or goal, the more we procrastinate. You know what I am talking author, dear author. Yes, you do. 

Have you started marketing your book?

Are you doing a least one thing every day?

Will you stick with it? 

Marketing a book is akin to going on a diet – no one likes to, but we know it is necessary – and it feels great when we succeed. 

It is easy to get psyched out about book marketing. “What should I do and when?” you may ask. “Who can help me? is another likely question, followed by “How much time or money do I need to market my book?” 

You must answer all of those questions, map out a timeline to execute a marketing plan, and identify the resources of people, things, services, and funds that you can call upon for assistance. 

To get started in marketing your book, simply list what your mission is: Why did you write the book and what do you hope to accomplish with it? What are different levels of goals, from wish-list to realistically achievable? 

Next, list the steps you can take to achieve these goals, to go from a dream to reality. 

Third, determine what tasks you will perform, which ones you will outsource, and which ones you just won’t be able to get to – and dismiss them. 

Most authors get distracted by daily life, feel the call o write and not market, and have to contend with obligations/chores being balanced with desires/dreams. But almost every author, beyond extraordinary circumstances, can do something every day to market their book. authors must keep moving, always. 

Here, for example, could be your tasks for a week: 

·         Day One: Write a blog post and share it on social media.

·         Day Two: Research local bookstores, libraries, and other places to speak.

·         Day Three: Join 20 FB groups that contain potential readers.

·         Day Four: Update and revise your web site.

·         Day Five: Draft a press release.

·         Day Six: Call 10 places to seek out speaking opportunities.

·         Day Seven: Research 25 media outlets to send your press release to. 

We could write out tasks to fill your entire calendar year There’s always something that one can be done – and that you should be doing. Take that first step. Don’t overthink it. No excuses. Just move. You’ve got this. 

“Only the ephemeral is of lasting value.”

--Ionesco 

“I’m always trying to turn upside down and see if they look any better.”

--Tibor Kalman, Graphic Designer 

“Real knowledge is knowing the extent of one’s ignorance.”

--Confucius

 

Brian ‘s wisdom Nuggets:

·         A NO is just a delayed YES. Keep pushing. Show them value. Help them see what you know to be true/good/right or needed/desirable/wanted.

·         You don’t need anyone’s permission to succeed. You can create, invent, sell, negotiate, network, learn, and collaborate.

·         Persistence is what prevails. Initiate. Follow-up. Change your approach. Follow-up.

·         Assume one will oppose or argue with you. Come at them with confidence and certainty. don’t ask. tell. Make the assumptive close. Expect a yes and act as if. The only questions are “when?” and “where?”

 

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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Oh, So That’s Why Muy Book Failed?

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on LinkedIn. 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, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.4 million pageviews. With 4,600+ 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.