CONSOLIDATING YOUR MARKETING EFFORTS
I think over the last 15 plus years on the net that I have
tried about all the marketing strategies out there. Radio show to ads in RT, to
contests and blog tours, there are many more over the years. But, the one thing
that is always difficult to determine once the event is over—is how successful
it may have been.
You can read stats to see what kind of traffic you scored or
how many people comment on your blog post, there are all kinds of way to see
how it went. Yet, no matter what method you use, the big question is did you
sell any books? That one question hounds authors whether their writing is a
hobby or professional—Book Sales is the gauge to success or is it.
That answer is very difficult to pin point to one specific
marketing event. The main reason is the author does not have the sales results
to do a comparison. Even if the publisher shares sales figure for the time of
the event it doesn’t cover any of the retailer sales. Retail sales are notoriously
months off the mark. The retailers do not report the sales until they close
that financial period and that can vary from a few weeks to months. Amazon
Kindle is the exception as they do have very timely reports. Smashwords also
has daily sales figures, but again these are not the major retailer sales.
The problem with having a part of the picture is the
obvious—it is incomplete. So no matter how well planned the marketing effort by
an author, it honestly is unknown if it equated to sales.
An even bigger problem than the sales figures is the time
and effort put into marketing. Authors are comfortable with writing, even
putting their finished product out there, but marketing—not so much. My own
personal experience was being overwhelmed with the whole process of marketing.
As I said I tried it all and most of my marketing was more to put the concept
of ebooks out there. Ebooks have come a very long way in a short amount of
time, but then it is an excellent medium.
Marketing is like this whole other world for an author. It
takes time away from writing and forces authors to step out in the public. The
fact we don’t know what is working makes it all the more difficult. I have
learned one very important lesson and this one just in the last year or so, you
have to focus your effort. When I say focus you can also throw in consolidate.
We need to stop going in all these different directions: blog tours, ads,
reviews, release parties, contest, websites, groups, and more.
Pull back, slow yourself down and take a very hard look at
where you have been. Did any of your marketing really get your book out there
to the reader? Can you see the readers’ reaction to your book? Are you spread
so thin it is affecting your writing?
I think that last question says it all for an author. Are
you still finding time to write? More to point, are you forcing the words and
finding it more and more difficult to focus on the story. Marketing can and
does kill off a lot of authors because it can steal away the spark, the muse,
whatever you want to call the gift. All the time management in the world can’t
create a story.
When you think about it, even if you are still writing and
finishing books, try to weed through all the things you do on the net. Do you
have a website, a blog, both? Pick one, let the other go. It isn’t easy, but
you would be surprised how much time you will free up just by consolidating
your efforts to get out there on the net. Don’t think I forgot Facebook and
Twitter, these two are great but they are time hogs. Slow it down, make
yourself turn off the net after your make a couple posts. This goes for yahoo
groups as well, chat or get off of them. The groups, even at retailers, can be
an emotional drain because they take so much time.
If you need to eliminate the groups, you are off to a good
start. Consolidate your blogs and websites, get one and have fun with it, yes
fun, when you aren’t out straight it can be fun. Try to see where the readers
are, not other authors but readers. You aren’t going to sell your books to
other authors so why are you marketing to them? Pick the sites/groups/blogs/
that has a great reader base. Find your way to reach the readers without
destroying the reason for being there.
It takes time to focus your efforts but the results will
show in your writing and well-being.
Jewel Adams
10 comments:
Focus is so important! Although I have both a web site and a blog, I find I'm spending virtually no time updating the web site. That's too bad, but you can't do everything and write (and paint) as well. You're right about finding readers because writers are not the buyers of your books. After all, how can writers write and also read what everyone else is writing?!!!
Monti
Well said Monti. I see so many authors posting to author groups about their books and I just wonder, why?
I write because I have so many stories to tell. I've given my books away so people can read them and I'll continue to do this :)
Having a reader tell me how much my book touches their life or fills their heart with love, that to me is success.
Jewel
Yea Jewel! I rarely scan lists anymore because I'm so exhausted seeing review postings, I SOLD A BOOK posting, and excerpts. I'm numb from them. Now, I'm finding Face Book is becoming a huge sales forum. Truly, I suspect readers live over at Amazon. The Kindle is BIG. If I had to pick one place for efforts, it would be there.
Readers, Readers, where are you?
Bev Haynes
So right you are Bev, "Readers where are you?" We should turn that in to a mantra lol.
I do think that readers want to talk to the authors they like, I would.
I think we need to reach out and find them.
Jewel
I think you're right, Jewel. Pick your media and put your efforts there. But foremost, write.
That's it Sandra :) write. Writing our books are the most important thing to focus on.
Jewel
I so needed to read this, Jewel, thank you.
Promotion can become ann obbession that dragsyou down into the pits of despair if you're not careful.
Targeting your market is key, and finding that market is not easy. Readers, yes, but those specific and on the edge of your genre.
Right now the whole shebang is dong my head in! LOL
About three years ago I moved to narrow my efforts, eliminating much of the frantic racing on the hamster wheel. I have one chat a month--same place and time every month. It's slowly building a readership.
I have a daily blog. Usually, it has nothing to do with writing, but is my observations about life around me.
I have a website I update every three months. Unless I have something new--say a new book cover or release date.
AND I write. After all, with no books, I would have no reason to promo.
Hi Anny,
Sounds like you have achieved your consolidation. I applaud you :)
Sherry I do know how you feel. I think my head was spinning with all the sites and comments, it became a nightmare. That is when I sat down and spent a long time deciding what I should do. I think one of things I've realized is that your reads for your genre will stay with you even if you shut down websites/blogs or leave groups.
I don't think anyone will really notice if I leave a group and as Bev said all they are posts from authors. On most of them no one but the authors ever comment. Yes, there are some great groups out there and they are the ones to stay with.
I know how much stress I was under and I'm still taking it away :)
Jewel
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