One of the many, many things I was naïve about before entering my writing and publishing journey is marketing. Yes, I knew I would have to do it. I would need to pay for ads, create teasers, make a launch packet, and so forth. I didn’t realize how much work and effort goes into creating the small things for a book launch. The teasers take hours to create. Finding the right short quote to the picture and font/color. That’s the least of my blown overhelmed mind when it comes to marketing. Let’s remember, I’m still in the writing phase. Yet, my published author friends are giving me timelines that require the marketing to begin four months ago! Needless to say, I’m behind on the eight ball already. That isn’t what bothers me. Honestly, the book can sit while I pull the marketing together after the writing, editing, and proofreading is complete.
This is what bothers me: creating a mailing list and keeping up on social media. How am supposed to create a mailing list if I don’t have an actual book yet. The authors, I follow offer a free book or an extended epilogue to that particular set of characters. One piece of advice I was given is add my friends and family. Umm…no. My family is not my target audience. I would rather skip this part for now. This is my crossroad. Do I skip it? Do I move forward with my social media presence and hope I gather enough followers to create the mailing list? If I go with the later, that requires creating and posting to social media at least 3-4 times a week. The actual posting isn’t what gives me anxiety. But having enough ideas about myself, my writing process, and my book to have enough posts each week.
Don’t get me started on TikTok videos. Those make me feel so old. I’m learning. Some videos are fun to make. Jeeze, there’s so many options available. The rules are changing faster than I can keep up with.
I am taking it little by little. To help keep my anxiety down and keep my organized, I designate 30 minutes a day just for marketing. Sometimes, that’s creating videos. Other times, like today, it’s updating and focusing on my website.
randaknightbooks.com 