Okay, I’m reblogging David Gaughran’s guest post from Joanna Penn’s wonderful blog, The Creative Penn. I suppose it’s poor form, but I really liked some of her thoughts and I wanted to give David credit for bringing her blog to my attention.
I’ve interviewed a few authors and read many other interviews. Almost without exception their number one dislike about being an author is the need to market their work. While some are naturally outgoing and gregarious many are not. They may not fit the stereotype of hermit-like misanthropes, but many are quiet introverts. As such, even with all of today’s social media tools, they find it tedious to market their work. Add to that the meager results from some fairly herculean efforts and it’s no wonder that many dread marketing and promotion as if it were a Sisyphean task.
Among the indie community one of the biggest myths is the one about a ‘traditional’ book deal. Many authors dream of getting a ‘traditional’ book deal. Not just for the prestige, but for the perceived marketing bonanza that will accompany the deal. The truth is that even mid-list traditional authors get very limited support from their publishers, and new authors can expect less than that. In today’s business climate, publishers are often looking to gain visibility from their authors, rather than the opposite.
That’s not to say that we shouldn’t strive for ‘traditional’ deals, we just need to have realistic expectations of what those deals bring in terms of marketing. Even if you’re happy as an indie author, there are several other ‘marketing myths’ that many of us believe. These self-defeating beliefs prevent us from effectively marketing the fruits of our labor. Many authors are looking for the magic solution to get the boulder over the hill. They’re convinced that one big splash, a national radio interview or newspaper mention will lift them out of their slime filled pit of marketing despair to the promised land of mega sales. Unfortunately, for most that’s just not the way it works. Effective marketing involves making connections, emotional and intellectual, to readers. That takes time, dedication, and patience – there is no magic bullet.
As always thanks for reading.
Armen
Original Post
For more please checkout Joanne’s blog: 5 Book Marketing Myths You Need To Forget – Guest Post by Joanna Penn.
