How Authors Beat A Marketing Handicap

 

Writers love to write. Marketing, eh, not so much. But why write without marketing? To not market is like getting dressed, but not putting on footwear. So close, but not yet ready for prime time.

Ok, so we know the many reasons why. Here are 10 reasons— do you recognize yourself?

1. Procrastination
2. Perfectionism
3. Analysis paralysis
4. Don’t know what to do
5. Not sure how to do marketing
6. Lack time
7. Short on resources like money
8. Shy or introverted
9. Lack physical stamina
10. Stressed out

Here’s the thing you likely agree on: You wrote your book for a reason. It is important to you and you believe your book can help others in some way, even if it is just to entertain another.

Here is the thing you have no choice but to agree on: Your book, as one of 7500 new books published today, won’t get discovered unless you initiate a conversation about your book.

The good news is all or the above excuses have work-arounds or new ways of being looked at. 

Let’s delve further: 

1. Procrastination

Honestly take note that you are in fact procrastinating and instead take a time-out to simply start tackling some aspect of marketing. Also, figure out exactly why you are putting off your marketing. What is it that frightens you or makes you feel uncomfortable? Can you address each issue?

2. Perfectionism

Some people are perfectionists. It can be that they have a lot of pride and everything done in some idealistic way. Others are perfectionists because they use it as an excuse to slow down or not do something. Folks, there are times when you just need to keep moving forward, even if it is not done perfectly. Think of parallel issues in life.  

Maybe you hunger for a steak but can only find pizza. Do you starve, holding out for what you want, or settle?  

Perhaps you are at a bar seeking to meet a potential spouse but one day you only meet a one-night stand kind of person. Do you go home alone or take what you can get? 

There is a saying: You don’t go to war with the army you wish you had; you fight with the soldiers that you do have. 

Get the point? Shoot for perfection but most often, do the best with what you have.

3. Analysis paralysis

If you like to plan, analyze, and explore possibilities, that makes sense. You can’t just jump into something with little or no thought put into it. But, don’t weigh everything so heavily to the decimal point or debate internally like Hamlet. Make the best decisions with the information at hand and don’t drag this shit out.

4. Don’t know what to do

Let me make this easy. To promote most books about anything by anyone, focus on seeking professional and consumer book reviews, securing news media coverage, being productive on your social media platforms, setting up speaking engagements, submitting to book awards, having a solid website, and looking at book giveaways and book deal-of-the-day sites. There are other things one could or should do, but 90 percent of your time, mindshare, and money should be devoted to some measure of each of these things.

5. Not sure how to do marketing

If you don’t know, ask others who know. Read blogs or find YouTube videos on how to do things. Or, outsource things you just can’t see yourself doing or pay a book marketing consultant (I know a great one) to guide you.

6. Lack time

Commit to making time, prioritize what you will do, and outsource some things. You will find more time once you experience some success and get the hang of what you are doing. Even if you have only 15 minutes a day, you can market your book. No excuses!

7. Short on resources like money

You can borrow from others, cash-out a retirement account, or get a second mortgage, but I don’t usually support that. You can also go to crowdfunding sites, or, hold off on other non-book expenses, like a vacation, and support your book instead.

8. Shy or introverted

Nothing I can say will make you otherwise, but I will say this: a lot of marketing is not in-person nor even face-to-face. It is email-to-email and social media post-to-post. Fear not!

9. Lack physical stamina

Start eating better and move more. Lose weight. Explore surgical or medicinal help. If you have a certain condition or you are elderly or disabled, ok, so no road trips, but you can still do other things that don’t require you to be physically fit.

10. Stressed out

Everyone is stressed out. Are you taking psychotropic meds? If they are not helping, see a psychiatrist to try something new. Don’t rely just on a pharma cure — see a therapist, find a coach or mentor, meditate, or do things that make you less anxious — and then buckle up and take a ride on the road of book marketing. 

 

Need PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, 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!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. 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 3.9 million pageviews. With 4,900+ 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 director of publicity positions 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 hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, 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. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.