Do you immediately cringe when you hear the words "book marketing"?

If so, you're not alone.

If I asked you to describe a bad experience you've had with marketing, what would you say?

Most of us harbor memories of some negative experience we've had with marketing. I'm no different.

For example, I recall the relentless school fundraisers in elementary school. We'd go door to door selling candy bars door-to-door to our neighbors. Each doorbell brought about another awkward encounter with a neighbor I didn't know or want to talk to.

During my sophomore year in high school, I briefly worked in a call center, making cold calls to sell tickets for a circus fundraiser. I remember when one guy agreed to buy a pair of tickets and the first words out of my mouth were, "Are you sure? You really want these tickets?"

Those rare moments of success were overshadowed by the far more frequent person hanging up on me.

Before we move on, let's not forget the classic archetype of the used car salesman – often portrayed as the pinnacle of pushy and dishonest sales tactics, eager to pawn off a lemon in exchange for lots of your hard-earned cash.

The idea of marketing leaves a sour taste, evoking images of manipulation, misleading claims, and an invasive presence that overwhelms our daily lives.

No wonder we don't want to market our books.

For us writers, who revel in the joy of crafting stories, marketing our work can seem starkly contrasting and uncomfortable.

However, marketing is necessary.

It doesn't matter what method you plan on publishing with, you're going to need to engage in some level and form of marketing.

So, let's begin our marketing conversations with changing our mindset around marketing.

Marking isn't about coercion or slick tricks; rather, it's an essential bridge that connects our stories with readers eager for new stories. If we avoid marketing, our stories might never find their audiences.

Let’s reframe how we think about marketing. Don't think of it as a demand for money, but as an invitation to a grand celebration where you share the stories you've passionately crafted.

It's like inviting your friends and family to your birthday or wedding celebration. You want to share these moments because they're important.

Your books aren't any different.

By reimagining marketing as an extension of our storytelling, we transform it from a dreaded task into an engaging opportunity to connect. This shift not only helps us reach new audiences but also integrates marketing into our creative process.

Hello!
My name is Jocelyn.

Story warrior, book lover, day dreamer, gardener, and creative. I help serious writers roll up their sleeves, get their novel ready for publishing, and reach readers. When I’m not elbow-deep in the story trenches, I’m outside world-building in my garden and battling weeds with my three criminal mastermind cats.