Authors Helping Authors discussion
Juggling PR and Writing time
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Elena
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Mar 12, 2016 09:11AM
As we're all authors and the PR machines for our work, I'd love to hear how the rest of you carve out time for setting up book signings and pitching to present at conferences and updating social media ... and....and... and... plus honoring writing time. My first book comes out in April and I'm not very organized about working on PR plus writing the second book in the series. I don't want to shortchange either. Thoughts?
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No worries! It's not a problem. You can just hold off until after April 15 and post up something nice on Amazon - that would be amazing!
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I think most writers, like myself, struggle more with marketing than writing. It has been helpful for me to keep reading about book marketing, but I've never felt like I'm truly doing a great job. In fact, there's always a sense that I should be more (and I'm not sure I'll ever overcome this feeling!). However, I can do the best I can do, always looking for those methods that work better than others.
Thanks Joel. Is there anything in particular (book? magazine? Website?) that has been most useful for you to read?
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Sadly it takes money to truly advertise and market properly. If you are able to invest in yourself and your books then many resources are available. Since most of us probably don't have that then need to truly ban together. Many people your friends with etc.. like on Facebook will get tired of seeing your posts for your book, so need to be diverse.
Have a Facebook page.
Have a Twitter - find good people to follow and build your following.
Have a Google Plus.
Have a Linkedln.
Have an Instagram.
Don't always just try to promote your book. Find quotes and other things that relate to your book and post about those as well.
If we each follow each other on twitter retweeting each other could be very beneficial.
Sharing and Liking posts on Facebook pages helps to reach a larger audience.
Since we don't all know each that well we truly have an advantage here of reaching so many new readers if we truly ban together.
Set a schedule to budget your time for the most part. You can pre-program your FB pages to post things so if you do a day or two ahead post at least twice a day not promotional each time then you can work on other things.
Use Hootsuite and do the same for twitter. Pre-program tweets to go out numerous times of day. Some promotional, some Retweeting others, some quotes and tips etc..
Any questions or anything feel free to ask, this is truly what I do for a living. Just sadly with the work I do for everyone else hard to do same for my own and write.
This thread is awesome! As a brand new author, I had no idea how much time I was going to have to spend marketing. Cindy, those are some great tips I'm going to be putting into practice. Looking forward to seeing what you all do to balance this! I have no advice yet, as I'm still learning myself. But I really appreciate the ability to learn from all of you!
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Cindy wrote: "Marketing is truly the hardest part! Especially for self-published authors. I work for a top author, who I learned a lot from and I run all her social media. I used to each social media years ago t..."Great post ... i truly despise marketing and it shows in sales. Sometimes I get into the swing of it, but then I get so involved in my story again that I completely forget about it. *sigh*
Hello, thought I'd add my two cents! With marketing and promoting (for me - a self published author) it's like a juggling act in a psychotic circus, where I have to learn new skills on the fly. It's also like a Vaudeville act: spinning plates and tap-dancing (at the same time!) - while trying to appear as a serious, thoughtful, hard-working author.
The most difficult thing for me is trying to balance my writing with my promoting. I decided that it was best if I did the "spruiking" in the morning (Aussie term for promoting and marketing, particularly marketeers in fresh produce and butchers - yelling over each other!) and the writing in the afternoon and evening.
The reason for this is that I have more energy in the morning, so I'm more "dynamic" (I wish!) When I start writing after lunch, I drop into a more thoughtful, slowed-down mental state, which is more conducive to good work.
I agree with Iris when she says "I truly despise marketing and it shows in sales..." If you despise it - it will show - which is the opposite to "if you build it - they will come." I also agree with Cindy and would like to add that using Copromote is very helpful, in terms of sharing other's work so they will reciprocate.
The thing with marketing vs writing is - they are really just like chalk and cheese. Some people try to pretend it isn't - but it is. Of course - that's just my opinion - however I find that the "energies" involved with writing are markedly different to what's needed to get the word out, engage and drive conversion rates and sales.
It's true that you have to spend some money and invest in your work in order to promote yourself, but it's a daunting challenge when you're wading through a sea of unscrupulous vultures who just want your money. You know the ones: promising the earth and offering services which cost anything from a few bucks to $49.99 per month and beyond!
They go on and on about how they worship at the altar of the Indie Author - but then rip them off by doing a mediocre job; a job that's better done by the author themselves. I say this because I know that no one has my work's best interests at heart than me.
For example: I am engaging with possible readers (trying to find your target audience is harder than it seems - at first) as well as other interested parties. I am pretty savvy when it comes to tracking what works and what doesn't. I utilize Twitter, however I balk at buying followers. I use Facebook even though I loathe it.
I have several blogs (here on Goodreads, Wordpress, my author site etc.) and I write about my work as well as other topics (such as movie reviews and so on) - in order to keep it fresh.
I "appear" on radio interviews, offer freebies and giveaways, drop the prices of my books down to 99 cents, try to create engaging content and advertising, use Hootsuite to schedule posts and am currently planning and researching for my crowdfunding campaign (for the cookbook "A Feast in the Forest" - which will accompany my contemporary romance novel - "The Willow Lake Group.")
I offer my novels as ebooks and paperbacks (even an audiobook on Audible!) Reviews are hard to come by - although I won't pay for them or badger my friends and family to do them. (I recently received a negative review for one of my novels - which was scathing and actually quite mean - but I kept my tongue still as I didn't want to create a storm!)
I support other authors when I can (which is actually a pleasurable thing to do!) and keep my finger on the promoting and marketing pulse. I say all this to say: promoting and marketing is a full time job on its own - but then - so is writing!
I'm one of the lucky ones, in terms of being able to work full time as a Freelance Author. I finally left my traditional job in early January this year, in order to write full time. What a joy! (or at least it should've been.) In order to ensure I had my own money (as I didn't want to rely on my husband - even though he's very supportive) I took on ghostwriting jobs and other freelance work.
That's another story in itself - as I'm still chasing one #@*% for $650 - for a brilliant screenplay (if I do say so myself!) As a side note, I decided to join the National Writers Union. They have attorneys who will track down clients who owe you money - as well as other great perks and services.
The magic word is "discipline" - which I have in sporadic spurts - much like a child who's had way too much sugar one minute, then crashing the next! Some days I feel like promoting and marketing is turning me into a vacuous, lying car salesman. Other days I feel like I'm shooting into a tornado - being engulfed and swallowed up in the process.
I discovered that - at the end of the day - it's all about value. Yes - you do have to wade through all the flotsam and jetsam in order to discover what's right for you, but it's worth it. Research, learn through trial and error, listen to other authors and ask questions where necessary.
Drill it all down to a workable unit that shows results and enhances value (for the reader and yourself) - however small - as long as it's a steady climb, rather than stagnation or worse!
I'm still struggling with striking a balance - as I can't help but check on my platforms to see how things are going - when I'm supposed to be writing! if it's not Facebook and Twitter alerts - it's Linkedin (which I find very useful as there are great forums and groups to link with) - or Pinterest, Google+, Youtube, Instagram...
I keep promising myself that I'm going to write at least one book where I don't keep the readers in mind; where I can focus on the actual art of writing. I remember the Beat Generation's motto (or at least - one of them), which is: "First thought, best thought."
Even though I'm an incessant reviewer and re-writer - I'd like to produce a book that is not written with my brain cracking the whip - regarding current trends, rules and regulations, etc. Spelling and grammar is a given - but I want to channel my inner voice into a work that is not apologetic, politically correct or decent for the sake of being acceptable or marketable.
The hard thing is to not let the voices that result from promoting and marketing flood the brain and persuade or pervert the creative process.
It's an ongoing struggle for all of us. Even the traditionally published authors are having to do the tap-dancing and plate-spinning. Striking the balance and discovering what works - separating the wheat from the chaff - along with making time (every day!) for writing is like finding your personal Mecca!
I'm sharing the following not because I'm great at marketing but just to share my own experiences as the author of over 20 books. I've published a dozen or more books with mainstream publishers and got into self-publishing to keep books alive after they went out of print with the original publishers. Given that background, I have to say that self-publishers are not alone in this problem of promoting their work. Mainstream publishers demand the same PR time and effort from their authors. And the rule of thumb in publishing is that a publisher only spends PR dollars on books that don't need it. What that means is that if a book has sold 50,000 copies, it may be worthwhile for the publisher to put some money into advertising. (But not very much). Books are bought by mainstream publishers as much for the author's ability to promote their books as they are for the content. Well, that may be a slight a bit of an exaggeration but not really. Publishers choose authors who have an active "platform," who are already reaching at least 20,000 readers or so, or who are already riding the wave of current events. Ever heard the expression that a book "has legs," or that it "leaps off the shelves?" That's what everyone in publishing and bookselling wants. What that comes down to is that a book has to sell itself; it has to excite readers so much that they can't wait to tell their friends about it. And if it doesn't do that, it won't take off with advertising of any kind. So what is an author to do? The short answer is really know your audience, your target readership, and focus all your PR efforts on making yourself and your book visible to them. Don't waste energy anywhere else. And don't make the mistake of saying your book is for everyone--because it's not. No book is for everyone. Identifying this target readership takes some research but being effective with PR requires it. Else you can spend all your resources on channels that don't reward you with anything but frustration and heartache. Find out where there's already a lot of action for a book like yours and look for ways to get in on conversations that give readers an opportunity to know you. Facebook and/or your own website are mostly "passive" venues, like a business card. The point is that getting people to your website of Facebook page is the same problem as getting them to open your book. Look for open conversations--Twitter maybe--where you can dive in and add your bit to the discussion and subtly mention the title of your book. Don't whack readers over the head with a pitch for why they should read your book. I rarely pay attention to such pitch lines. But I do pay attention to an author who has something to say. Once you've found a place where people respond to your part of the discussion, keep building on that. Oh, but...promoting your work is a career in itself, and not one most writers have signed up for. Do I do I advise? I confess, not as much as I should to please my publishers but in a good year I earn enough in royalties and direct sales to at least keep the light bill paid and gas in my car. Keep on writing, though. Don't get so lost in your PR efforts that you stop the work that feeds your soul.
