Just when you think your life has changed...
Surprise! Haha! Try again. Back to the same old formula that brought you joy and misery in the same felled swoop.
We're working on a musical. All my time should be in a theater, editing music, designing sets and costumes and blocking and lighting...but no.
Want to know where I'm at?
CREATING SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.
And even more shocking...
WRITING A BOOK.
It's not much.
Oh yeah, and working with a marketing specialist for the first time and completely restructuring our efforts. Nothing, really. All good here.
The awesome co-hosts for IWSG this month are PJ Colando, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Natalie Aguirre!
Question - What elements do you include in your book launch? Or what do you have in mind for your future book launch? Or what advice do you have to offer to others planning to launch a book?
Haha! It has been three or four years since I launched a book, but it won't be the last time (obviously). We are in the middle of launching our MUSICAL (Immortal the Musical) and it's like launching a book times 850%. (Plus there's a book version that will come out one day.) Things that overlap: sharing snippets, interviews in your targeted readership (aka viewership), creating content (written, visual, video) that's easy to share, comment on, interact with. Building a direct mailing list is another aim, incentivized by contest, giveaways, etc. Then ads pushing content you've had proven engagement with...
I wonder at the effectiveness of blogtours these days. It feels like the climate has shifted to podcasts, TikTok/Instragram Reels, quirky graphics, and reposting rave reviews. A friend of mine started an Instagram series of "writer problems" in video where she has quirky issues we all face, and she's done quite well since her books are romcoms. The point is, she's built an audience there. Converting them to purchasing a book is an easy sale.
When prepping a launch, you really have to analyze your strengths, where your community of readers hangs out, and how to make those ends meet. You're not selling a book. Not really. You're selling you. The book will speak for itself in the aftermath.
What unexpected twist has your life taken recently? Book launch ideas? Tasted any really amazing cheeses?
Yes, many have drifted from blogging to other platforms.
ReplyDeleteI rewrote an old story years ago and it became my first published book, so good luck with your rewrite! And everything else...
Good for your friend! Not so good for us. I think things are going to go well -- especially with our marketing specialist pushing things.
DeleteYou might be right about how marketing a book has changed. Good luck promoting your musical!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm told BookTok is really the way to go these days, but I image that depends on if your demographic hangs out on that platform.
DeleteI need another cup of coffee after just reading this post. :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with everything!
Thank you. Forgo the coffee. Have some cheese! Here.
DeleteUsing a marketing specialist is a good idea as so much has changed over the years. You are going to be very busy.
ReplyDeleteAlways. I think that's the one thing we can safely say about life.
DeleteBlog tours help with search engines but not for sale (IMO). I agree podcast and other things like that are becoming more the way to go--at least right now. Tomorrow, who know. 😁
ReplyDeleteIt's true! But these days SEO also comes from social media posting as much as websites. (With the merging of the big beasts behind the scenes.)
DeleteCreating social media posts are daunting. Usually it takes a lot of time to create, at least for me it does. I've been wondering and considering about working with a marketing specialist. I get plenty of emails for supposed marketing specialist wishing to work with me. But these can come off as fishy. I need help on that! Good Luck, Crystal !!
ReplyDeleteAgreed! We've had several too, but until someone has been vetted and recommended, plus interviewed mutliple times and proven, I'd steer clear. So many people like to slap something together, throw it out there and call themselves an expert. We interviewed SO MANY people to find our professional.
DeleteI had to laugh at your "minimal" to-do list. Rewriting a 2005 draft is a massive undertaking on its own (the battle against the passive voice is real!), but layering that over homeschooling and a marketing restructure is heroic.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet, it doesn't compare to organizing and forming an entire drama program while running a writing contest, teaching, and serving in my church. Honestly, it's doable. I think. (Don't quote me on that two months from now. 😂
DeleteWell, if you survive it all, and we hope you do, at least you will know you are indestructible. I had that conclusion about myself after translating two books on quantum physics LOL
ReplyDeleteRIGHT?! We are POWERFUL. Haha!
DeleteOuch! I feel that wave gif too much. Sending you a surf board.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I will cling.
Delete"the effectiveness of blogtours these days. It feels like the climate has shifted to podcasts, TikTok/Instragram Reels, quirky graphics, and reposting rave reviews"--I fear you may be right, hope it's not true, that we bloggers have our corner of the world like Apple Mac users held out against MS PC users.
ReplyDeleteI do reach an acceptable level of sales and comments with my blogging approach. But hmm....
And that's all that matters. The world is constantly changing, eh?
DeleteI'd say your plate is FULL, Crystal. Wishing you nothing but the best for your musical and your book. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteYou're rewriting the entire book? That's a lot of work; however, I have no doubts about you getting it done and doing a bang up job.
ReplyDelete