Promotion: to do or not to do
How much time do you spend on promoting? That’s a question I ask myself periodically. Lately it has crept up again. Promotion for an author is becoming more and more important. But where do you draw the line? If you spend too much time promoting, that means you aren’t writing. How do you balance promoting your books with writing them?
Some authors I know use a day during the week to strictly promote. Others spend a certain amount of time every day or every other day. There are so many ways to go. I haven’t found what works best for me.
Not only is the questions how much time to spend on promoting, but how do you use your money and time wisely? What works? Again it’s a work in progress for me. I’m not sure what works best. I have a web site I update every month. I have a blog. I participate in two blogs with others. I occasionally talk at conferences. I write back to any reader who writes me. I have bookmarks with my titles for the year on them. I sometimes get around to bookstores to sign my books when they come out, but that’s limited to my town usually. Occasionally I’ve advertised in a magazine or on a web site. I participate at the Steeple Hill boards (forum). What have you found works the best? Even if you haven’t sold a book yet, as a reader what works for you—attracts your attention?
I guess the bottom line is to write the best book possible and let it speak for itself. But I still think it could use a little nudge from me to get it out there for the readers to enjoy.
