Navigating Marketing Mania

In a world where we are bombarded with advertisements to buy products, Authors have to find new and creative ways to reach out to the public.  There is no clear-cut way to market a product.  The audience is complex; what excites one may turn off another.  So what do you do? Get creative!

·         On rainy days: GIVE away umbrellas to people who do not have one. TIP: Introduce yourself; tell them about your book!

·         If it is a hot day, camp out at a park. Cover the picnic table with a sign “FREE WATER.” You have to spend money to make money! Prepare fliers with your beautiful book cover.  

·         Volunteer in the circle of your target audience.  You give back to your community and they will too!

Connecting on social media is also a valuable tool. It is highly saturated, but you can still reach your audience.   No one said it was going to be easy, but if you want it bad enough, you will go the extra mile.

Also, on July 16, 2012, I will be celebrating the launch of a Paranormal Mystery and a Children’s Picture Book. You are invited. Join me on Facebook for six hour of PRIZES.  If you don't come, you can't win

How do you get the word out when you have a new title?

From My Lips To Your Ears

I had an interesting vegetarian style lunch over the Veterans Day weekend and I would like to share it with my readers. Everyone loves a good sandwich and many love Bacon, but not everyone can eat it.  So, I used morning griller vegetarian bacon, but you can use turkey.

Veggie-Bacon Sandwich

INGREDIENTS

1 tsp oil

 

 1 tsp butter

 

Spinach (handful)

 

Morning Griller, bacon

 

Pillsbury French bread (freshly baked taste better)

 

Swiss cheese

 

Utensils

 

Frying pan

 

Spatula

 

Directions

 

Bake, Pillsbury French bread.

 

Add oil in a pan on low heat, sate Morning Griller bacon in for 1 minute on each side on low heat, add 1 tsp butter, and then add spinach.  Stir until the spinach has steamed, and continue cooking for 2 minutes on medium heat. Slice an opening in the side of the French bread and insert the ingredients.

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For starters, much of what we try in society is based on a recommendation from someone we know.   Nowadays with the internet, we rely on reviews when deciding to make purchases.  I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a laggard when it comes to the latest gadgets.   So, I rely on reviews when deciding on making a purchase.  

 

There is a science to everything we do and it includes shopping.  Teams of scientist have dedicated studies to learn how and why we buy.  Though there are many aspects that go into marketing a product, presentation plays a big part in the process.  During my journey of making my book ready for print, I developed a newfound appreciation for what it takes to make a product attractive to the public.  The audience plays crucial role in considering packaging.   For example, the cover of my children’s book, IN THE VALLEY OF MUD AND WORMS is visually appealing to parents and children. 

It took me awhile to find the perfect fit but it was worth the effort.   So, the next time you buy a product think about why you made that choice.  Reflecting on your actions can aide you in presentation of your own business ventures.

 

I am curious, why do you buy a product that is not a necessity?

 

 

 

 

A Look Inside,The Mind's Eye

There are so many things going on in the mind of an artistic person. Writers suffer from a constant stream of information. Authors and inventers have many things in common. Inventors create objects and authors create worlds. Inventors make our lives easier, authors provide an escape from the real world.

The journey to novel writing was an overnight impulse. During the joy of sleeping, I mentally thought of the beginning of a story. I woke up the following day and frantically searched for a paper and pen. I began to write. I wrote every day, on the way to school, during my lunch break, and while waiting in line at the bank. Every ounce of my free time was dedicated to writing. I finished writing three months later with a 40,000-word manuscript.

The writing process allows me to put my thoughts on paper, it's relaxing and it frees up  space in my head. I often wondered, was I the only one with all those thoughts running around in my head? Two years later, I enrolled in a writing course at the university and my question was answered. For the first time since my writing episode, I felt that I was somewhere where like minded people could be themselves. I learned many things, but the most valuable lesson was that I was not the only one with chapters in my head. Taking a writing intensive class freed my creativity. I felt complete.

My advice for anyone who desires to get into the business of creative writing:

·    Take a writing course at a community college. (It's cheaper than a writers workshop)

·    Improve your writing. (Quality sells)

·    Choose a genre you love ( Do not write a genre because it is in style)

·    Join a writers group or get a critique partner (It may take some time to find the right fit) Also, if you have a critique partner he/she should be someone who is supportive of your desire to write, but not afraid to tell you when something sucks!

·    Write every chance you get

·    Always take a writing pad and pen wherever you go. (Don't forget to put one next to your bed)

·    Network with other writers (Published and unpublished)

It is important to mention, there is no single method that guarantees success. Keep writing, continue on the endless pursuit of improving your craft and never give up on your dream of being published.