As much as I love meeting people, it is a different scenario when you are putting yourself out there as an author. You are at the same time looking for acceptance for yourself while also thinking, "Don't tell me my baby is ugly." That may be a dab dramatic but when we, as authors, are stretching our hands out in greeting holding this book that took so much time and sweat (and yes a few tears along the way) to produce, our hearts are saying, "Please love this like I do." It is this offering of an extension of ourselves that keeps many writers out of the marketing maze. That's a mistake. Some introspective on what is holding you back might show that there are some baby steps (Internet groups, social marketing such as Twitter and Facebook) with which you would be comfortable. Face to face can be hard, especially with individuals you have never met. Having been there, I know how difficult it can be. I published a women's magazine in the early 1990s, which was certainly when it was necessary but not accepted by | all. Marketing was all new to me then. It was quite literally gut wrenching for me to go to networking events, put a smile on my face and wait for the first anti-feminist remark. The funny part was that it was not a feminist magazine. It was a publication that promoted accomplishments, promotions and women's programs. It took all my energy to win these individuals over by showing them the positive and refusing to get into the larger feminist-antifeminist debate. My situation is not a lot different now. There are many individuals who see no need to separate women's history out of the mainstream history that neglects them. I bring in my past because it shows why I can override my desire to just curl up and read a book instead of putting myself out there. It's PASSION. It's belief that the book you have produced is important. It has something to say. That's what I tell myself every time I put my hand out and say, "This is Female Adventurers." |
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Some how I've always been drawn to marketing. In every organization in which I've become active over the year, I did or helped do the publicity. I have also worked as a Marketing Consultant.
Today it is so much easier -- Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ -- to spread the word. It is still important to remember that the quality of the message you are putting out is accurate and important. In today's too-much-informatio-climate, it is essential that your words hit a chord with the reader. They don't have time to waste reading what they already know. As I go deeper and deeper into my marketing plan, I'm reminded that as always plans have to be revised, adjusted and added to as new ideas present themselves. For instance, I had a day planned to visit bookstores on the Cape but when the opportunity came to participate in the Boston Book Festival, I happily revised my schedule. I find that every time I talk to people about "Female Adventurers" someone will suggest a person to contact or a venue for a book talk. These added to social media are what marketing is about. Wonderful news this morning - Female Adventurers has received a wonderful review. Here is the link: http://dougholder.blogspot.com/2013/10/female-adventurers-women-who-helped.html
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