O.C. Writers

By Kristy Tate // 

When DeAnna Cameron asked me to write a monthly column on marketing, I questioned her reasoning. After all, I’m not a terribly successful marketer, and furthermore, I don’t enjoy it. Her response was, “Yes, but you’re always trying something new. Why don’t you share what does and doesn’t work?”

I decided to accept her challenge, not because I believe I have much to share, but because:

1. I really like DeAnna
2. This project will keep me accountable.

To be clear, I believe in the power of marketing, but as an introvert, I find shouting about my book as appealing as pole dancing. (Not at all.)

But I also believe in any endeavor the secret to success is learning to love, and therefore, embracing the process. So, I’ve decided to create a monthly marketing contest. This month, the winner will get a free first page analysis of their book. Their first page will be posted on the O.C. Writer’s Facebook page, and everyone will have the chance to offer (helpful, kind, and inspiring) feedback.

How do you enter the contest? Choose a marketing endeavor that’s outside your comfort zone, try it for the month of May, and let us know how it goes. If you don’t know where to start, I’ve post 31 ideas. You could do one every day for the next month.

1. Create a newsletter (or send out your newsletter)
2. Publish your first chapter on a blog (either your own or ask to be featured on someone else’s)
3. Create a Pinterest page featuring your book
4. Tweet about your work in progress
5. Take pictures of your book and post on Facebook and Instagram
6. Set up interviews on blogs
7. Set up a visit to a (virtual) book club
8. Create a Facebook fan page for your novel
9. Post an article on Linkedin
10. Do a podcast
11. Put something up on YouTube
12. Send out a newsletter
13. Review a novel in your genre and tag the author
14. Enter a contest
15. Create a media kit
16. Ask for reviews
17. Post reviews on social media
18. Post your book cover on all social media sites
19. Make promo images on Canva or similar graphic program
20. Create a promotion for a holiday (Memorial Day)
21. Create a marketing calendar
22. Create a book discussion guide at the end of your book
23. Run a contest
24. Host a Facebook event
25. Book ads at such sites as Fussy Librarian, Ereader News Today, Robin Reads, etc.
26. Participate in a Bookfunnel promotion
27. Experiment with Amazon ads
28. Experiment with Facebook ads
29. Donate books to senior centers
30. Book a speaking engagement
31. Share a recipe of food your characters eat in your book

If you have any better ideas, and I hope you do, please share.

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KRISTY TATE is the Social Media Director for O.C. Writers and a USA Today bestselling author who is writing her own happily-ever-after one day (and sentence) at a time. www.KristyTate.com.