So you wrote and launched a book, great! But does anyone know about it? I launched HOST on 08.01.23, it’s crazy to think it’s been out for almost a month already, and I feel like the work is just getting started. Marketing, sales, promotions are key to getting the word out there about your masterpiece and executing while staying focused on the next project takes some balance. I created a marketing plan six months before the release of HOST, outlining goals (sales vs newsletter signups) and what platforms I’d focus on. The early draft of that marketing plan was massive, I just threw every idea out there (at one point I almost designed a hacker text based game with a friend that would’ve tied into the story, maybe some day), and marked what is the purpose of each idea – sales vs getting my name out there. I was in the middle of a big push to get HOST completed, when I made choice to focus on the quality of the book vs tackling all these ideas for promotion. Looking back, was that the right idea? Maybe. Maybe not. But what I did do was take a step back, look at these ideas, and whittle them down to actions I could manage in a part-time capacity while still working on a second book.
Out of the gate I had planned on a few social media posts to the platforms that would have the most impact. For me, it was instagram, facebook and linkedin. Hitting friends, family, and old colleagues, using word of mouth and in the first two weeks it was successful and/or at least the return was what I expected. Now, I haven’t totally exhausted those channels but I can see it slow, and my focus was sales and reviews. What did I learn? I could do more next time on getting reviews and ratings. I want to set myself up so when I start the next phases (launch parties, events, running paid ads etc) those “new” people that arrive will see a book that has been reviewed and rated highly will be more likely to buy and later efforts won’t go to waste. To be honest, this part isn’t my strong suit, and it’s new territory for me, but it’s a learning experience and will be better the second time around as I find a balance between promotion of myself and the book. Tim and I chat more about using social media, coming up with a marketing plan, and executing in our latest Writer Syndrome episode. Check it out!
