DO I HAVE TO DO MARKETING?

Gone are the days when it was enough for the book to be excellent and for word of mouth to spread the story. Today, everyone rushes to social media and Google to promote their books. Too many books are talked about, praised, and glorified. Locating a tree in the dense forest becomes more challenging for the reader. And there lies the answer to our question—yes, we all have to do marketing to sell our books.

If you reach for online advice, some may suggest you shouldn’t feel guilty for not promoting your book. Maybe you should avoid comparing yourself to others who do it all efficiently. We know that when it comes to marketing, the list of must-doos is endless, and it takes time and strength you probably don’t have. So, the easiest way is to find an excuse and decide to do nothing. You can opt for that attitude. But, consider this instead: you don’t have to do everything from the must-doos list, but do at least something.

As a writer, it’s crucial to acknowledge as soon as possible that writing alone is not enough. That way, you can allocate a portion of your time dedicated to your writing career toward promoting your work.

Plenty of websites will give you specific and professional guidance on what steps you should take to build your author brand and promote your novels. The list is endless, so you can easily choose at least something you are comfortable doing. It’s a start. And the most important thing is to take that first step and show your future publisher you are a team player. It’s either that or fooling yourself that it’s OK to do nothing because you are a creative, introverted soul who likes to spend time typing.

When it comes to any job in this world, motivation is the key to success, and you have plenty of that because you wouldn’t have written a book otherwise. However, reminding yourself of your motives and strengthening your spirit when the crisis comes is essential. That’s why, on this website, we will focus on motivation and how to improve your entrepreneurial spirit as a writer.

Motivational power number 1:
PRESERVING

Starting any journey is always accompanied by challenges. You will face moments when you feel like giving up, but perseverance is key. When you lose focus, the most important thing is to regain it and return to the game.

The same thing you have experienced with writing: the longer you go without writing anything, the harder it is to start again. Regardless of the time that passed, returning and moving forward is essential. You shouldn’t feel bad about losing focus; it’s only human. As soon as you realize what is happening, return to that one thing you have chosen to do and resume building your author’s brand and promoting your writing.

Motivational power number 2:
TAKE ACTION

After much consideration, you have determined the actions that you will take to advertise and market your book. Taking action, such as writing a guest blog or providing a review, is a simple yet effective step. Maybe another author will give you the same in return because it’s a win-win combination. If you have taken a break from Instagram or Twitter, now is the perfect time to return and share your thoughts on the latest book you have read. Your review could greatly help someone who shares your interests and may encourage them to read your book.

Thus, your actions will cause a reaction, and each engagement will prompt someone else’s attention. The goal is to have as many engaged readers as possible. Every engagement will increase your audience until you gain critical mass. After that, you have to keep delivering more great novels.

Motivational power number 3:
HAVE A CLEAR GOAL

If you want to stay motivated, you must have a clear goal. We prefer written ones when it comes to those. Since you are good at writing, your goals are the most important things you can write down. Describe them in detail and with many specifics, from the exact look of your cover page to the number of sold copies. Return to that now and then, revise it, and add more details. If you have nothing to add, just read them aloud and imagine you already have it all.

Don’t give up; when you think it doesn’t lead to anything, remember that if you give up on your book, why should someone else push it forward?