A Book Marketing Diet For Authors?

 “Did you fast?” someone asked me, a day after the most important day of the year for Jews, Yom Kippur.

“Yes, no problem,” I shot back.

“I couldn’t do that,” the man said.

“You would be surprised at what you can do, once you put your mind to it,” I retorted.

The same can be said of book marketing for authors.

They simply need an attitude adjustment, some encouragement and support, and a deeper understanding of the benefits of achievable book publicity.

I know it is not easy for authors, otherwise I would not be in business. I am here because authors fail to promote themselves and market their books, just like nutritionists exist for fat slobs and bariatric surgeons feast off of the excesses of the morbidly obese.

I understand. I need to drop 40-45 pounds.

As much as I was able to block out food for the holiday, I realize I fail on a daily basis to cut down on my snack portions and frequency of eating. I lack self-discipline, even in the face of knowing that eating less is better for my body’s quality of life and one’s ability to live longer. And I would look better and feel better.

What other motivation is needed? What other facts or common sense could be shared to seal the deal and get me to stop biting into a premature grave?

And yet, despite the facts, here I am, on the wrong side of the scale, the product of many false-start diets. Sure, there is a lot of blame to go around, including food companies that addict us, an FDA that fails to safeguard our food, an economy and medical system that benefits from obesity, and a society that encourages eating at every event and emotional state. Often, eating is the event.

But all of that is a pile of excuses. The one sure-fire way to stop all of that is for me to generate some discipline and shut my f&@king mouth!

But it is not that easy. We battle psychological, cultural, emotional, physical, and genetic demons when it comes to our relationship with food. And, so, I imagine authors do battle with their marketing demons when it comes to saving their literary lives.

Writers know better than to ignore their book’s marketing. They know that books don’t sell themselves. They know there are things they can do to help themselves, as well as outsource to professionals. But many just lack the fortitude, attitude, and discipline to do what it takes to market their book.

Dear writer, unshackle your kryptonite. Step away from your whining, fears, insecurities, or a lack of knowledge — and take the initiative to save your book. Your writing soul depends on it.

But alas, we know that most of you reading this will fall short on your book marketing mission, just as I have in my bid to rid myself of my fat ass. Please note: Actually, I have s nice butt, but the gut’s gotta go. Well, you get the point.

So, what are we to do?

Not give up. Stop accepting our current state.
Each day, is a new chance to save ourselves. Maybe if I tell myself that every day is Yom Kippur, I can go deeper into my diet. Maybe half-day fasts or once-a-week fasts will help. And for you, committing to more and better marketing, every day, could need you some valuable gains. We don’t need to strive for perfection — just to do more, do better.

Of course I feel hungry just writing about this but I must rise above it. Life is too important to eat it away. And your book is too important to not market it.  Dig deeper. You’ve got this.

 

Do You Need Book Marketing & 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 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

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 (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.9 million pageviews. With 5,000+ 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, BookCAMP, 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.