Writers, Market Like Yourself: A Call for Sincerity

Writers, Market Like YourselfI have a very low threshold for extreme enthusiasm.  Hence my discomfort around cheerleaders, dance moms, and QVC hosts.  I find it hard to trust that kind of extreme positive energy, and I also find forced vigor – even if it is simply an amplification of genuine passion or belief – to read as insincere.  This is clearly my problem, no one else’s . . . but if you get me, give me a “Gotcha” in the comments, okay?

Recently, I’ve been listening to a LOT of podcasts on publishing, marketing, and entrepreneurship, and over and over again, I find myself drawn to the shows, where the host is enthusiastic but not fake, passionate but not sale-sy.  For example, I LOVE Brian Clark’s Unemployable  because I feel like I’m listening in on conversations between friends who are working to help one another succeed.  I listen to others, too – John Lee Dumas’s Entrepreneur on Fire, for example – where I get GREAT advice but kind of have to clench my teeth through JLD’s “Ignite!” intro of each guest because it just feels forced to me.

Here’s the thing, though.  I imagine some people really like JLD’s style, and some people probably find Brian Clark’s more laid-back tone to be boring.  That’s totally okay. We need folks who do both kinds of work in the world.

And that’s good news for us as marketers of our own work. We can be ourselves and still be effective in our efforts to get the word out about our work.  

What Does Being Yourself NOT Look Like

So being yourself as a marketer does not look like you hiding from people, eschewing all social media, refusing speaking opportunities, and praying that people find your book in the sea of titles that is publishing today.

That’s not being yourself – that’s being afraid and giving in to your fear. 

Now fear is normal and fine and reasonable. But giving into the idea that “you” can’t market or are “not you” when you do, that’s a total and complete lie. If you published a book, you want people to read it, and thus, you need to help them find it.

Sit with that one a sec.

What Being Yourself DOES Look Like

Being yourself is using the whole fullness of who you in whatever ways you choose to market.  It’s honoring your preferences, style, and available time to do the best you can by the work you have done.

Here are some things to consider as you think about who you are as a marketer.

The bottom line, my friends, is that marketing a necessity if you want people other than your family and those close friends who don’t want to hurt your feelings to buy our books. But it doesn’t have to be all-consuming or turn you into someone you aren’t.  You really can do it with integrity and confidence because, after all, you cared enough to publish your work . . . and it’s just fine – good even – to care enough to want other people to read it, too. That’s not wrong; it’s just good, wholesome, healthy pride in your work.

What’s the hardest thing about marketing for you? Or what are some of the things that keep you from marketing your writing? 

 

 

In just 4 days, my new course Discover Your Writing Self launches, and I’d love to have you join the over 775 people who have signed up to spend time thinking about what they fear as a writer, who they write for, what they want to write, and how they want to write it.  And one of the best parts – but hopefully not THE best since I want the content to be awesome – is that it’s TOTALLY FREE.  You can get more information and register here – www.andilit.com/dyws.  I’d love to see you there.  

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