How To 'NOT' Market Your Book

You’ve poured your heart and soul into your novel, worked even harder targeting and querying publishers AND FINALLY all your effort has come together and a publisher has agreed to take you on. Yippee! pat yourself on the back you’ve entered a world that is the equivalent of being drafted in the NFL.

​You may be in, but the game has only just begun. So, fasten your seat belt you’re a rookie in this foreign place and marketing your work will be just as challenging as getting through training camp.​ Well, it was for me and my background is communications--seriously.

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Do NOT Do This!

To help get you succeed, please don’t make the same mistakes I did when I marketed my first book. If I could do it all over again, I would not do the following:

1. Believe a book will be successful on merit alone. You may think it’s beautifully written but walk into your nearest Chapters and the shelves are busting with beautifully written books.
2.  Be shy. You are the best advocate for your novel (I will add…my Mom and sister were pretty darn good too). Create opportunities to speak about your book and step up to the plate and let your passion fall out—it’s contagious and it translates into sales. 
3. In continuation with #3, when you’re on that platform don’t be in a rush to get off. Take your time, this is your moment. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with readers. 
4. The launch period is critical and most of your sales will occur at this time, but don’t lose the momentum. Continue to build on it and you'll get those books into even more hands. 
5. Don’t be intimidated by self-promotion. Re-frame the way you think about it. Your novel is your child, be proud—it’s your opportunity to show it off.

You've got this and I've got this too, when book #2 launches I'm going to the play it smart this time round! 


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