The Marketing Writer-I can Produce Books, but can I Market them?

As I was evaluating my failures and successes of last year, I saw that I did very well at being a productive writer. I seriously edited my first book (hopefully for the last time), I wrote and published my 46ths books (the last two I published the last day of the year, but it still counts) also I completed the second drafts of two books, and completed the first draft of yet another, plus wrote numerous online articles and wrote this blog all year. However, I also learned that although I had a small amount of success in marketing my books, my book sales were nowhere near what I wanted or needed as a full time writer. Therefore, I needed to find out what I was doing wrong and what I needed to add to my daily tasks to become more successful at selling my books.

Organizing My Writing Day to Include Marketing

Probably the most important thing that I noticed about how I was marketing my books was that marketing was an afterthought. rather than a key component to my writing business thus far. Sure I had done a few things  I wrote a couple of press releases, had been on the radio, had included it in my business plan, but I really have not made a plan to incorporate marketing into my daily routine. Since I know that I want to continue being nearly as productive as I have been, but I also know that just producing good writing is not going to sell books. I also know that I do my best writing/content writing in the morning. Therefore, I have determined that I will write in the morning and then in the afternoon focus on developing, maintaining, and utilizing my marketing plan.

Getting the Big Picture

In order to get the big picture, I have had to start researching what others are doing to promote their books. First, I had to realize that one format doesn’t fit all. I can put a book not just into a paperback format, but e-book formats as well. In these e-book formats there are numerous formats, not just Kindle. There is Nook, Kobo, and even pdf formats. In addition, I can format my books as an audio book. With some of my nonfiction books I could also make them into Power Point presentations that that I could sell as movies, presentations, or at least as trailers for the books.. Each of these formats can be marketed separately building on the overall  platform that my books represent.

Marketing should not only include marketing my books, but marketing myself as well. I have a lot of good qualities that would make a good speaker on the subjects that I want to address. Not only am I a writer, but I am also a speaker and someone who can teach others how to do many of the things that I do. Building trust is an important aspect of book marketing. By demonstrating to my online and real life audience that I know what I am talking about and that i am interested in helping them, they learn to trust me and will buy what I have to offer. Part of this trust is built through this blog, but also through other online contributions such as online articles or YouTube videos.  In person, this can be accomplished when I meet people at festivals, at book signings, and at conferences.

Two New Booklets to Market in Print

In addition to learning more about online book marketing, I now also have two new books to market in print both online and in real life. I also intend to make these books available as e-books as well. These booklets are Help from Kelp and Using Diatomaceous Earth in the Home and Garden. More about them next Tuesday on my Productive Writer post. Check them out now along with my other books on by Lulu.com Author Spotlight Page http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/cygnetbrown 

Donna Brown is pastor at Faith in God Church  1 1/2 miles south of Brandsville, Missouri on Hwy 63. Sunday services are at 10 am and Wednesday night Bible Study at 6:30 pm.   As Author Cygnet Brown, she  has recently published her first nonfiction book: Simply Vegetable Gardening: Simple Organic Gardening Tips for the Beginning Gardener

She is also the author of historical fiction series The Locket Saga. which includes When God Turned His Head and Soldiers Don’t Cry, the Locket Saga Continues, and most recently, A Coward’s Solace, Book III of the Locket Saga.For more information about Cygnet Brown and her book, check out her website at http://www.cygnetbrow.com .