Perseverance Pays Off. Actually, Yes, it Does
by
Nike Chillemi
Maybe it's because the summer is over and autumn
always seems more serious somehow. Or it could be because it's been a whirlwind
for many an author getting the kids back to school. Whatever, I'm hearing lots
of authors complaining they're tired, very tired. Mostly tired of the constant
marketing.
This is especially true of authors with books out
through small Christian publishing companies and ebook publishers. The
marketing never seems to stop.
It seems to gobble up a lot of time, even taking
over lives. When it looks like it's getting to that point, it might be time to
pull back. In my humble opinion, it's time to pray about it. You might get a go
ahead from on High and start the whirlwind again. Or you might not and then
have to seek out what God's plan for your marketing is.
However, just as the tired voices of authors sing in
often not so harmonious unison, there are other voices coming from publishers,
agents, and editors who echo that perseverance pays off. All authors have to
market their books. Period. Even if you market twenty-four/seven, you might not
be able to make your book a New York Times Best Seller. But if you don't market
it, it will sell a lot less than if you did.
 |
| Nike Chillemi |
Also, if you've been marketing
your tome and it's been doing satisfactorily in sales, you'll notice as soon as
you stop, the sales fall away. So, marketing efforts are directly related to
sales volume, even if that volume is low. Without the marketing it would be
lower still.
As a published fiction writer with an ebook series
out, I find my publisher can't compete with the big guys in terms of marketing
budget. And as all indie authors know, many of the national and global outlets
promoting books do not accept publicity releases from individual authors.
Like
it or not, those are the facts, and most of us small fries don't like it. So,
what small guys like me have to do is painstakingly build a reader following.
How do we do that? We can join with other authors in
marketing efforts. I've found two of the most effective for indies and small
fry Christian authors are the Grace and Faith Author Connection. They publish
numerous articles on marketing strategies for the indie author. They also have
a daily Tweet Document so members can tweet for each other and they post media
sources.
You first need to get in
touch with Staci Stallings to join. The Facebook link is: https://www.facebook.com/nike.chillemi#!/groups/gracenfaith/
The John 3:16 Marketing Network has what is called a
"launch." This is not the same as launching a newly released book.
The Network will "launch" a book that has been out a while or one
just coming out. A "launch" takes time, coordination, and effort, but
others in the network will assist you. Many members' books have climbed to best
sellers in actual sales on the day of the "launch."
You first need to get in touch with Lorilyn
Roberts. The Facebook link is: https://www.facebook.com/nike.chillemi#!/Christian.Book.Launches
The Grace Awards has tip-toed into marketing with
its bi-weekly Tweet Chain (a place where members tweet for each other) and it's
Prayer Chain (a place where members pray for each other). This is done in the
Grace Awards Facebook group. You simply join the group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/228634957153779/ The Grace Awards Exchange is a Goodreads group
where members discuss crafting excellent Christian fiction, controversial
topics in Christian fiction, and much more. The link is: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/33583-grace-awards-exchange
Since
I'm talking about marketing, let me take a moment to shameless promote my
latest release PERILOUS SHADOWS (Historical
Romantic Murder Mystery, late-1940s ~ dead coed, news professionals hunt
a killer, secrets ~ sweet romance,
warm intimacy, sophisticated themes presented tastefully).
Pioneer
newspaperwoman Kiera Devane is on a mission to prove a woman can do a man's
job, as she hunts a young coed's killer? Ace radio broadcaster Argus Nye lost
one love to a murderous fiend and his pulse races as he tries to protect Kiera
from herself as much as from this killer.
Purchase
Links:
Amazon/Kindle. http://is.gd/W2Hm2N
Barnes and Noble/Nook. http://is.gd/RJF2zy
Author
Bio: Nike Chillemi has been called a crime
fictionista due to her passion for crime fiction. She was an Inspy Awards 2010
judge in the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery category and a judge in the 2011 and
2012 Carol Awards in the suspense, mystery, and romantic suspense categories.
She is the founding board member of the Grace Awards and its Chairman, a
reader's choice awards for excellence in Christian fiction. She writes
book reviews for The Christian Pulse online magazine. BURNING HEARTS is
the first book in the crime wave that is sweeping the south shore of Long
Island in The Sanctuary Point series, published by Desert Breeze. GOODBYE
NOEL, the second book in the series released in December, 2011 won the Grace
Award 2011 in the Mystery/Romantic Suspense/Thriller category. PERILOUS
SHADOWS, the third in the series released in July, 2012. She is a member of
American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers
(Ning).
Posts
