An Author's Journal: Why I HATE Marketing - Entry 1

Image snagged from the Internet by Denny S. Bryce

My hatred of marketing has nothing to do with the fact that I've been in the business of marketing for the past 20 plus (cough, cough) years. Nope. Not it. And honestly, you know I don't really hate it, but it does seem to be the popular reaction of many authors I've talked to when it comes to all the work they need to do to sell their books, or create a dynamic web presence these days.

Yes, the marketing of authors and their books has changed dramatically over the past decade (or less) for a number of reasons I will mention in more detail in future  journal entries, but today we are just getting our feet wet.

The first steps in developing a marketing strategy are easier than you may think, and whether you're published or not (I'm not - yet:), you must be willing to put your hatred (fear, excuses, whatever) aside and step into the fray. You want to compete? You want to sell books? You've got to have a plan.

BRANDING - Who am I and why do you want to be my friend? 

Author marketing includes branding, and building awareness of your brand through traditional and non-traditional communication vehicles. Anytime I walk into a meeting and hear this gobblely-goop, I cringe - but it ain't wrong.

It means getting to know the strengths of your brand and promoting those strengths. For authors, I think this part is fun, and here's a way to get started with branding--conduct an interview with the author-you. There are a bunch of these character questionnaires on the web or in craft books, but go here for one I've used.  If you've already got a strong brand identity - this is way to dig deeper and maybe unearth some additional ideas for blogging, twitter posts, new features on your website, etc.

Part of the reason I wanted to start this journal and make it a regular feature on my blog is that I'm working on a new website. Why? Because I want to develop my brand, although as of yet, I'm not published (I know I keep mentioning that), but I don't see being unpublished as a reason not to establish an Internet presence. I don't however recommend starting a website if you haven't finished writing one book (or written at least a few hundred thousand words of several books:). You need a frame of reference, an understanding of who the author-you is before you start developing your initial brand identity.

Next jot down some keywords. Think about what you write (the genre, sub-genres, or whatever) and the themes you like to play with in your stories. Those keywords are important bits of information you will find useful when you start laying out your website (and yes, we will be talking websites very soon). Here are a few of my keywords and phrases:

• Urban Fantasy
• YA Paranormal
• Multicultural Contemporary Romance
• The Science of Romance
• Mine, Yours and Ours
• Edgy, Sexy, Laughter, Revenge
• Light and Dark, Death and Life

You can also find a bit more about websites in my blog post today at Waterworld Mermaids. Check it out!

In the meantime, if you have questions about marketing, or want to discuss anything I've written here, please comment below.

Marketing for Writers - Social Media for NonPublished Authors - Why Bother?

Snagged from the Internet by Denny S. Bryce

I just got back (no, that was yesterday afternoon, I'm just up so damn early on a Sunday) from a monthly meeting of my local RWA chapter where there was a brief discussion regarding publicity and what writers can expect from publishers these days as far as support for marketing their book. There were also a few comments made about the effects of social media on book sales.

Before I dive into this - let me say it was a great meeting with a fabulous panel of authors from the sci-fi, paranormal and the futuristic world of writing. It was great to hear their stories about the ups and downs of their careers, what has worked for them and what hasn't worked, but thankfully, a lot of what they did worked. So it made for an uplifting panel discussion. Well done WRW! For a list of the authors, please visit the WRW website. Whoops they've updated the site - so here are the authors on yesterday's panel: Catherine Asaro, Mindy Klasky, Pamela Palmer, Diana Peterfreund, and Rebecca York. Please go check out their websites!

OMG! I almost left out the star of the day! Author Colleen Gleason. She taught two workshops in the afternoon one on world building and the other on the Hero's Journey for Writers. Good stuff!

But as I pointed out - during this meeting there was a short conversation about marketing and the value of social media. My take away was pretty much - wow, really. I'll explain that more in a moment, but does anyone out there have any research on social media and its impact on author sales, or what impact social media has on an author's visibility in the marketplace? Is there a marketplace for writers you can count on to deliver sales?

Some of what I'm about to write here is pure speculation based on my expertise as a marketer of consumer products and special events. It also is based on my observations over the past few years of what seems to be working for authors and what doesn't work (to me) for authors and writers.

If you are published, social media alone won't sell your book. It can support a marketing plan, but it better not be the only apple in your barrel. In today's marketplace, you need a website (which is NOT social media). Your website is the address of your business, your touchstone with customers - your readers, fans and the industry in general, and if you are published and you don't have an effective website - stop reading now. You and/or your publisher just don't understand the world in which we live.

If you aren't published, not having a website is not a bad thing. But if you're a serious writer - you want to start developing your online identity sooner than later. It's an opportunity to showcase your personality - not as a means to promote your yet-to-be-published (or sold) book, but to let people get to know the public you. The aspects of your personality you are comfortable sharing with a broad audience, some of whom, once you do get published will buy your book because you've encouraged them to get to know you. And if you've written the best possible book you can write, you have a better than average chance of selling that book to the 'friends' you've made through social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or any of the rest.

I do have a website and you can find it at http://www.dennysbryce.com. But as an unpublished author I focus on Twitter, Facebook and my blog (don't laugh about my once-a-month blogs because it will be the subject of my next blog, okay).

This next statement is not based totally on what I heard yesterday, it's been out there for a while.  I believe a lot of established authors have had it up to 'there' with their publishers' lack of marketing support. The attitude I am hearing is: "I wrote it, and now they want me to sell it, too?!!!"

Sorry, but it's that way it is these days in all aspects of business, especially for entrepreneurs and as authors, you are an entrepreneur - just ask your tax guy or gal.

As an entrepreneur, your goal is to identify the most effective way to incorporate marketing into your business routine. That means as part of the time you allocate to writing.

To get started, I always say ask questions. Do research. Talk to published authors who have embraced their role in marketing their own product. Talk to agents - ask them how much it matters if a new client is savvy about social media, marketing, or open to diving into the fray.  Don't be shy. We all know that authors love to talk about writing, they also enjoy talking about selling books, too. Where can you find these folks to ask them questions? Join RWA and then join your local chapter. Go to meetings, or visit online blogs (like this one:), and ask questions.

Finally, don't be intimidated by technology. If you own a computer, you should be able to figure out how to Tweet, or how to set-up a free blog account.

It doesn't take as long as you think to become a pro.

Have a great Sunday!