Managing Your Marketing & Drafting Time
As authors, it's essential to not only understand the significance of marketing and promoting our work, but how long it takes. Obviously, it's necessary step to put ourselves out there and gain recognition. However, it's crucial to maintain work-life balance. This week I definitely learned this lesson. That while we're engaged in PR, influencer outreach, and marketing, our focus should also be on writing our next project.
Here are some tips that have helped me.
• Set aside a week to focus on marketing your book. You might also be able to schedule writing time, but I have found that it can be hard to do both in one day. Don't overwhelm yourself by trying to do everything all at once.
• Now that your marketing has started to get going, meaning you've sent your work to book influencers and Arc readers, you can spend the next week working on your #WIP. Drafting is a lot easier when you're not distracted by emails, DMs, organizing book launch social media campaigns, etc.
• Working with a third-party PR or marketing firm can help, too. But make sure that they're vetted and that they don't cost your firstborn. Yes, some of these marketing firms charge hard-working writers an astonishing amount. Do your research. It's wise to pair up with a book marketing company with a money-back guarantee policy.
• Take some time out for yourself. Don't get discouraged and stalk Amazon Author Central and the sales/rating report. Checking it daily can make you feel discouraged because it can fluctuate day to day. FYI—Amazon claims it refreshes the rating every hour, but for a more accurate reading, it can take 24-48 hours after people have purchased it to show up in their system, and then you'll see an uptick at that point. But you will not see the sale immediately.
• Kindle books can often be on pre-order first, and physical copies can come later. You can pre-order, but ARC reviewers cannot post an early review on Amazon until the book is available. They can, however, post their review on BookBub or Goodreads. Don't forget to let those book reviewers promote your book on their Instagram. It can be a great way to get the word out.
• TikTok is also a great place, but some BookTok folks might be less receptive to doing a video unless they really know you. TikTok can also be cliquish. On the other hand, Instagram is more accessible to some influencers because it's mostly image-based.
It's important to acknowledge that both marketing and drafting require time and effort. As we embark on our publishing journey, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the demands of both tasks. However, with effective time management, a cup of coffee, and a commitment to self-care, we can find a balance that works for us.
Beyond managing our time, we also have to manage our expectations; otherwise, putting too much pressure on ourselves can be hard on our mental health.
Here are some tips that have helped me.
• Set aside a week to focus on marketing your book. You might also be able to schedule writing time, but I have found that it can be hard to do both in one day. Don't overwhelm yourself by trying to do everything all at once.
• Now that your marketing has started to get going, meaning you've sent your work to book influencers and Arc readers, you can spend the next week working on your #WIP. Drafting is a lot easier when you're not distracted by emails, DMs, organizing book launch social media campaigns, etc.
• Working with a third-party PR or marketing firm can help, too. But make sure that they're vetted and that they don't cost your firstborn. Yes, some of these marketing firms charge hard-working writers an astonishing amount. Do your research. It's wise to pair up with a book marketing company with a money-back guarantee policy.
• Take some time out for yourself. Don't get discouraged and stalk Amazon Author Central and the sales/rating report. Checking it daily can make you feel discouraged because it can fluctuate day to day. FYI—Amazon claims it refreshes the rating every hour, but for a more accurate reading, it can take 24-48 hours after people have purchased it to show up in their system, and then you'll see an uptick at that point. But you will not see the sale immediately.
• Kindle books can often be on pre-order first, and physical copies can come later. You can pre-order, but ARC reviewers cannot post an early review on Amazon until the book is available. They can, however, post their review on BookBub or Goodreads. Don't forget to let those book reviewers promote your book on their Instagram. It can be a great way to get the word out.
• TikTok is also a great place, but some BookTok folks might be less receptive to doing a video unless they really know you. TikTok can also be cliquish. On the other hand, Instagram is more accessible to some influencers because it's mostly image-based.
It's important to acknowledge that both marketing and drafting require time and effort. As we embark on our publishing journey, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the demands of both tasks. However, with effective time management, a cup of coffee, and a commitment to self-care, we can find a balance that works for us.
Beyond managing our time, we also have to manage our expectations; otherwise, putting too much pressure on ourselves can be hard on our mental health.
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