Marketing: Be Bold. Be Brave. Be Hungry.

Since I’ve returned from the 2011 ACFW conference, I’ve tried to share some tips that you might find helpful. I know what it’s like to be on a journey that can, at times, be very lonely, and to hunger for bread crumbs of information about the craft (the ministry) that we love so much.

I’ve found that journeys never really end; we just learn to navigate new streams of learning (if we’re smart). With each bit of newfound knowledge (if we truly have hearts for Christ), we should want to share, encourage, uplift, and inspire one another.

Many folks have been instrumental in my writing journey, and I try to live by the “pass it on” philosophy. There are things that I wish I would have known, too, early in my writing career–things that perhaps I was too timid to ask at the time, or things that no one else talked about so I inaccurately believed that I was the only one in the world who didn’t know them.

Pssst…please let me clue you in: there isn’t anyone (except our Heavenly Father, of course) who knows everything. And I would certainly be the first to admit, I don’t pretend to know everything. But what I DO know, and what I have learned, I value you enough to want to share.

Today I wanted to focus a bit more on the marketing aspect of writing. (In a recent post, I shared some tips, as well.)

Like with anything, marketing is a process. To be effective, we must boldly put on our thinking caps  and give some thought as to what approach might work best. Competition is stiff; readers want the best bang for their buck, and rightfully so. (Even with candy, we want to know that it’s going to be tasty well before we take the first bite! Advertisers know that the better the eye appeal their products have, the more likely we are to buy them in the first place, return for more, and encourage others to try the products, also.)

When I attended Shannon Vannatter’s workshop at conference, the first half of her workshop dealt with “Branding for the New Author”which I talked about on Wednesday’s blog post. The second half of Shannon’s information-packed workshop dealt with Marketing.

Shannon had these tips to offer:

• Be willing to “think outside the box.” Don’t be afraid to venture out of your comfort zone and try something different. If one thing doesn’t work, don’t stress–just move on to the next!
• Begin thinking about a website. Use all the information you’ve gathered for your “brand” and use it for your website and blog.  An example–My Brand: Heartfelt, Homespun, Contemporary Christian Romance. My tagline: Dishing Hearth and Home on Plates of Love. Since my website is currently under construction, I’m still formulating ideas for pages.
• Consider a blog and decide what type of content you will feature. Shannon stated that one way to draw readers to your blog is to promote other writers on blogs. Since there are literally thousands of blogs in the inspirational/writing blogosphere, you need to be brave and try different things.
• Facebook and Twitter. These are excellent social media tools, and when used effectively, they have great potential in connecting with your readers, AKA fans.
• Public Speaking. Don’t limit yourself to writers’ groups only. Offer to speak at schools, to civic organizations, to church groups, etc. Perhaps, not everyone will be interested in your genre, but as I’ve said before, you can make them interested in you. Once that “connection” is made, many times people will be curious/interested enough to read/buy your book.
• Establish a press kit. This should include a headshot, a bio with links to your website and blog, a list of books with blurbs and when they will be available, a list of interviews you’ve done, FAQs, public speaking events, and any endorsements from others in your field.
• Go where the people are. Shannon suggests checking out local festivals, craft fairs, and business expos. Always have business cards handy. Be ready to dish about who you are and what to do. Shed that wallflower mentality, and be ready to make new connections. Be friendly, approachable, and polite.
• Offer freebies–a favorite word in today’s tight economy. If you’re shy, ditch that persona. When wearing your writer/author hat, convey confidence and a willingness to go the extra mile. “Freebies” don’t have to break the bank. Shannon often gives away chocolates and silly bands. You could also do goody bags with other things geared to whatever event you’re attending and coordinate the giveaways accordingly. Again, include a business card or maybe some small item that has your brand/tagline listed.
• Ask folks if they’re interested in signing up for your free newsletters. Think about doing at least a couple per year. Hold drawings now and then from those lists of names. You can also sponsor prize drawings on your blog from time to time, too. The prizes don’t have to be elaborate. (Don’t forget to post the rules somewhere.)

I found Shannon’s workshop to be very informative. She had a quick smile and a heart for sharing. As a pastor’s wife and inspirational romance writer, she connected easily with her captive audience (which, by the way, wasn’t just women.)

As I’ve had time to digest some of Shannon’s marketing tips, I’ve thought about some of my own ideas I’m excited about.

And the idea of marketing shouldn’t cause us to lose our appetites for fear of the unknown. It should make us hungry for possibilities that lie ahead!

******

What marketing strategies are you thinking about implementing?