Tuesday, October 4, 2011

@#$%^& $&*%!!!

To paraphrase comedian Jeff Foxworthy, you might be a crappy marketer if you go to a class reunion and no one there knows that you published a second book almost a year ago. Opps, did I just describe moi? Yep, I attended a reunion (no, I'm not going to tell which one) over the weekend, and while many folks remembered that I was an author and even remembered my first book, not one knew that I had a second book out. Ouch! I mean, if friends don't know what you're doing, how do you expect the general public to know? And I swore I'd do a better job marketing Headwind than I did with Northern Cross. Maybe I should just swear.

19 comments:

  1. Did you get their addresses? Connect on Facebook? Then you can proudly announce the next one and they will know!

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  2. Alex: No ... I was too busy partying ... hmmm ... there might be a clue here.

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  3. To quote Craig Ferguson, Sometimes only a curse word will do.

    Swear away!

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  4. Hi Christopher! Well, I was hoping to come by and read a post for the Insecure Writer's Support Group, but I'm not the least bit disappointed. It's so nice to find a new writer, especially one who's been published. I see we have a few follower friends in common so I decided to join your army. Come by an visit me sometime!

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  5. I think that hardest part of writing is the promotion. If you party while you're marketing it might just make it fun. :) Nice to meet you. And it would suck to go to a reunion and having people not know you published book 2. Good luck!

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  6. This wouldn't be applicable to me. All of my friends don't read.

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  7. Catlin: Yep ... dang near impossible to get through the day without a few expletives.

    Nancy: Opps ... well, this is sort of my insecure writers post ... yeah, that's it ... thanks for joining!

    Laila: You are mighty right ... my problem is that when I'm partying, I get caught up in the moment and forget to market. Thanks for stopping by.

    Michael: Well, at least it's 'don't' rather than 'can't', right?

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  8. Cold: Hey, sometimes it's even essential!

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  9. Promoting is hard. It's one grain of sand at a time, to build our beach.

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  10. These are good people, C.H., keep these folks near.
    And curse if need be, and have a PR person (Okay, me) send a release to the newspapers where your class reunion was held.

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  11. M Pax: That's a fact ... I know have enough sand to make a home for a flea.

    Jennifer: They are good people ... if you want to be my PR person, I hope you work for sand.

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  12. I know how awkward that can be. I never know when I am being too pushy about announcing that I have a new book when gathering at social events. I remember a time when it was considered too tacky to walk into a room and say, "Hey everybody, here is the author with a new book." LOL

    But seriously, I think having business cards with the info about your book to hand out is okay, especially if someone asks what's new.

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  13. Yep, social media does wonders. I think everyone in my high school class is on FB so all I'd have to do is post. :)

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  14. Christopher, I'm feeling your pain! Well, I'm my way there, I've been scrambling like craze to get my book out there as well. Yikes--tons of work done all by my onesie so far. *sigh*



    ♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥

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  15. I am just learning that authors are becoming more and more responsible for marketing their work. Social media appears the quickest and easiest route. Good luck.

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  16. Maryann: 'Awkward' is operative word around here. Thanks for the tip ... I'll give it a try if I'm invited to the next reunion ... which could be in doubt after my performance at the last one.

    Pk: That's what I keep hearing ... however, every time I post something, all I hear are crickets.

    Elizabeth: I sure hate to spread the pain around ... have your tried aspirins? Seriously, good luck with the tome and keep me posted.

    Melissa: Some people seem to play the social media like a violin ... mine sounds more like fingernails on the blackboard.

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  17. I'm awkward at social gatherings too. Then comes the partying which was meant to loosen me (or should I say my mouth) a bit. But then when I'm not asked "What do you do for a living?" etc... I don't mention it either. I need to learn being more outgoing minus the drinks :)


    Soul Mate Publishing Launch Party October 12th. Visit my blog: http://donna-realworldwriting.blogspot.com to sign up for the Blog Hop and party!!

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  18. Donna: When I'm asked what I do for a living, I have to be honest and say, "Nothing ... I'm a writer ... but that's not a living." Thanks for stopping by!

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