Marketing Your Writing

Many authors come to me with questions about “how to market my writing.” This is a question virtually every writer wrestles with, and which is particularly challenging for less experienced writers.

A decade or two ago, marketing your writing was a fairly straightforward process. You called book stores and libraries to schedule events and reached out to regional media outlets. This marketing approach may have been easy to follow, but it wasn’t always efficient or effective. After all, you can only reach so many prospective readers through library readings and interviews.

Today, however, writers have new tools at their disposal. The emergence of the Internet—and even more importantly, social media—has changed the landscape of marketing. It is now possible to cultivate your readership and speak directly to your audience without relying on third parties to mediate the conversation.

In other words, marketing your writing is easier than ever. The barriers to entry are lower, and even the most geographically-isolated author can find a global audience.

Unfortunately, many writers are still struggling to promote their work. Great voices go unheard because they don’t know how to fruitfully promote their work.

Here are some helpful tips on effectively marketing your writing.

Work Smart

Writers are inundated with the message that social media engagement is the key to growing a readership. Although this is true, it is not enough to open accounts on a variety of social media platforms and make a half-hearted effort to engage followers. That’s because when it comes to social media, you reap what you sow.

Instead, come up with innovative and interesting ways to engage people online. Offer your fans and followers fresh and useful content rather than a relentless marketing push. Having 100,000 Twitter followers won’t do you any good if half of them don’t bother engaging with you.

If you would like to increase your social media engagement but don’t have time, consider using an app like TweetDeck, which automatically publishes content you have pre-written.

Narrow Your Message

Knowing your niche is a critical part of any marketing strategy. Identifying where potential readers are—and then reaching out to them with customized messages—will make your marketing efforts vastly more efficient.

Create a Professional Website

Building and maintaining an attractive, user-friendly website has never been easier or less expensive. Having a professional website will boost your credibility and brand as a professional. It is also a great platform to post blogs on issues or products you want to promote.

Do Media Outreach

Although digital marketing is omnipresent, it hasn’t eliminated the power of the news media. Create a media kit and a polished promotional pitch you can use to pique the interest of news outlets. Your media kit should include samples of work and highlight places where you have been published and achieved success.

Build a Following

Too many writers feel they need a stamp of approval from a publisher for validation. Instead, build your following organically. Publish electronically or through a small press. Some of the world’s most successful authors began with nothing more than an Amazon page and an ebook.

The Takeaway

“How to market my writing” is the eternal question for new and up-and-coming writers. By following these helpful tips, you will be able to market your work more effectively and build a loyal following that is engaged with your work.