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!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Martha! Wishing you epic cheese in return.
DeleteYou'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.
ReplyDeleteAw, you're the best, Lee. About 50% through the rewrite now, projected to finish in a month and a half.
DeleteI agree that the landscape is changing, and that sounds like your friend has some cool reels! I think the hard part always for children's writers is that we can't market directly to our audience, so it's finding ways to connect with their parents, teachers, librarians. And I so agree that marketing is all about letting people get to know you, so eventually they will give your book a try.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely a tricky beast. I just read about someone else with a book launch who basically hosted a pop up musical chairs even in the mall to promote her kids book. There are definitely ways to reach your audience, but whew! Figuring them out?
DeleteI like the reminder that you're not selling a book, you're selling "you". Good luck with your to-do list :-)
ReplyDeleteRonel visiting for IWSG day Like Herding Cats
Thank you! I'm by no means a pro but I can parrot back things I've heard a hundred times before. 😂
DeleteSounds like you have your hands full at the moment! Best of luck with it all. I agree that reels and TiKTok are probably the way to go, but as someone who hates being on camera, doing videos is not something I'm even remotely comfortable doing.
ReplyDeleteI get that! Most of the content we put out is video of other people, but my media specialist tells me that needs to change. *deep breath* We can do this, eh?
DeleteI know blog tours are dated. Even though mine was years ago, I still have warm memories of the whole thing. :-)
ReplyDeleteTidbits of new marketing advice would be welcome at the end of your IWSG posts. It the only time I check in on the blogosphere.
Likewise! Those tours were incredible, and all the awesome people who participated... *sigh* Good times.
DeleteI'll keep that in mind. No promises, but I do tend to bleed what I'm thinking, so, you know.
Hi Crystal, I loved the images you chose. They were hilarious. Wow! You don't do things by halves, do you! Good luck with your projects :-)
ReplyDeleteNo halves here. All in. 500 feet below the surface and diving.
DeleteThank you, Yvette. Have some cheese on your way out, eh?
I still do blog tours, but with a big company - The Children's Book Reviewers. Your musical launch sounds exciting (and exhausting)! Hope it goes well!
ReplyDeleteSherry, that's amazing! I love how many avenues there are these days. I was talking with someone about how different the children's book market is. Definitely a challenge.
DeleteThanks for the encouragement.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI believe Blog Tours have been replaced by podcasts. There are many ways to promote our books.
Shalom shalom
It's so true! But at the same time, not everybody subscribes to podcasts, so I really think it's subjective. Who are you trying to reach? Where do they hang out the most?
DeleteHa! Glad to see I'm not the only crazy person doing all the things at once. Best of luck with your musical. It sounds like so much work but I'm sure it will be worth it in the end.
ReplyDeleteYes, because we are more than human, eh? LOL!
DeleteYour musical sounds exciting. And a ton of work. Keep going, Crystal!
ReplyDeleteWill do! *double thumbs up*
DeleteYeah, no one really reads blogs anymore... You've been very busy. I hope the musical is going well along with your kiddos. Hopefully you'll get some rest one of these days.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm dead! Haha. Yeah, that's the goal. ;)
DeleteGood luck with your musical! That sounds very exciting.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the book!
ReplyDelete