I May Be a Brilliant Writer, but This One Thing Holds Me Back
All my life, I have believed in the magic of words. Writing had been my passion, and in every single piece I had created, I put my heart into it. But brilliant writing just is not good enough.
Without writer marketing, even the best work can pass unnoticed. And unfortunately, marketing is about the one thing I am very terrible at.
Just the way it’s happening with my book, Life Lessons Turned Into Stories, after months of night and day working, rewriting and editing, then publishing on Amazon KDP, Gumroad, starting my website , and then just letting it sit unseen, unheard.
The content isn’t at fault; I didn’t even have any strategy whatsoever to promote it.
This has taught me an important lesson.
If you’re a writer who doesn’t know how to market yourself, it’s almost as if your work doesn’t exist.
Marketing is a lifeline, not just a tool. The beauty of the direct writer marketing system is that it puts you in touch with the right audience. Whether you are a fiction author, a blogger, or a nonfiction writer, your work has to reach out to people who would care about your message.
Take, for example, Paulo Coelho; his book The Alchemist did not become an overnight sensation. It was through consistent marketing, reaching out to his readers personally, and social media that the book became one of the most read books in the history of mankind.
Similarly, Brené Brown wrote her books but also used public speaking, TED Talks, and social media to magnify her work and grow an audience loyal to her.
Another great example is James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits. Before his book became a bestseller, he had been blogging consistently and sending out email newsletters.
That’s just one perfect example of how content writer marketing paves the path to success.
What are some of the strategies writers like us can use? Some practical steps are:
- Build Your Email List
Create an e-newsletter. Through this regular email newsletter, one can reach one’s readers personally.
Give some freebie, like a short e-book, some checklist, or a guide on any important aspect of the theme of one’s book, in exchange for their emails.
Keep targeting that list through value and frequent updates about your work.
2. Leverage Social Media Wisely
Instead of trying to master them all, set up an account on one or two platforms where your target audience hangs out.
Share your insights, bits of your writing, and behind-the-scenes glances, and engage with your followers to grow a community that’s loyal to you.
3. Collaborate with Other Writers
Guest blog on other popular blogs, collaborate in joint writing projects, or take part in author interviews and podcasts. This widens your reach with audiences who already enjoy reading.
4. Optimize Your Website
Make your website reader-friendly; include a blog, a clear call-to-action to purchase your book, an “About the Author” section, and links to your social media.
Ensure your website leverages SEO for rankings on search terms your target audience uses.
5. Limited-Time Discounts
Offer time-limited discounts through online stores like Amazon KDP. Complement them with social media or email announcements to make the offer appear urgent.
6. Join Reader Communities
Participate in forums and groups like Goodreads, Reddit, or Facebook Groups. Share insights without blatantly promoting, and you’ll naturally gain readers who are curious about your work.
Unlike these successful authors, I failed to apply the direct author marketing system.
My website isn’t reaching any target audience, and neither have the sales of my book. I realize that if I can’t take care of it myself, I should hire a content writer marketing team or a content writer marketing agency.
These persons specialize in implementing strategies that will help writers link with the right audience.
A marketing team of content writers could completely redo my website to reach out to readers interested in my niche. A marketing agency for content writers can run ultra-targeted campaigns, from social media management to building your presence.
Such services are not reserved only for big-name authors but rather for anyone who wants his or her writing to make an impact.
If you’re a writer like me, struggling, here’s a hopeful reminder: you don’t have to do it all alone. Whether you learn to market yourself or hire experts, the important thing is to take action.
Your work deserves to be seen.
A combination of good writing and smart marketing is unstoppable.