Marketing Your Book Online - Before, During, After Publication

If you're a writer -- for any type of writing from business how-to all the way to the most polished literary work -- you've probably heard that there is little or no funding for big league marketing of your work. The good news is, you're not alone, and many authors have tips and trick to offer. Learn from those who've been through the hoops and tweak what you learn to your particular need. Below are two of many resources I'm familiar with. (Please note this is not an endorsement of any services other than the free information provided here so you can make your own decisions based upon your needs, product and comfort-level of marketing.)

• Flash Gordon's take on Online Marketing for Independent Writers is one good source, listed at the Bauu Institute and Press (but note the press has several articles on the topic).
• Steve Harrison of the Million Dollar Author group also has regular free teleconferences full of tips and tricks. Granted, he's a business man trying to get you to sign up for his latest partnership or event, but he's gotten where he is because he knows what he's doing.

You need a plan to be successful. The best way to make a plan is to be aware of your options. Go scout the 'net and see what appeals to you. You may just walk away with ideas that will make your work a best-seller!

Plan for Success

"Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities.
Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning." - Gloria Steinem

Today, I was delighted to receive a message from a woman I met at the yW's Empowerment event last Tuesday. She is planning on walking away from a business not because of a slow economy but because she is ready to live her dream. We'll be meeting for coffee on Friday so she can bounce some ideas off me and ask me about my storytelling background, because it is related to her new vision of her future.

This may not seem like a significant event, but your mind can only create what it envisions and plans for. She is already successful on one level because she can see where she wants to go and is asking others for input that may be beneficial for her future business. Even if the information I give her cannot help at this time, she's gained an ally who wants to see her succeed, and having a team you can share your dream with is another essential step to a long-term vision that will allow you to live your truth.

• Who is in your inner circle of allies?
• How often do you get to share your ideas with them?
• Which experts have you taken out to lunch?
• Do you have experts who are not creative chime in (as a board of directors of sorts)?

As a creative person, it may be easy to hole yourself up in your work area and not come out until you've seen a project through, but know to see the success you desire, you need to take your dream out, show it the sunshine and parade it around a while. You just may be amazed what energy you get in return for sharing your vision and dream.

Until next time,
keep creating.
-Mel.