2010: Forming Promotion/Marketing Goals
Posted By Joleen James on January 21, 2010
Joleen James, Author and Golden Heart Winner
by Joleen James, Golden Heart Winner
1st Turning Point Columnist
Copyright © 2010 Joleen Wieser James
Happy New Year!
I love the New Year. It’s a time for reflection, and a time to look forward. Did your writing take you where you wanted to go in 2009? Did you give marketing and promotion your all? If not, there’s no time like the present to set new goals for a sparkling new year filled with progress and success.
I am a goal setter. I’ve always been a goal setter, even before I realized I was setting goals and reaching them, especially when those goals pertained to my writing page count. But what goals did I set with regard to promotion? Zero. Nada. Zip. Why did I need marketing goals? Certainly I was doing everything I could to get my career as a published author off the ground. I was entering contests and winning them. I was networking by attending conferences. I volunteered for my local RWA chapter, and I even gave the occasional workshop. What more could I do?
Turns out, plenty. After talking with published and unpublished friends I decided to take a chance and join a Goal Group. In one year, the group has taken me places I never would have pushed myself to go on my own. Once a week I check in via email with the other writers in the group. Each week we set goals, and most weeks we make all or most of our goals. Promotion and marketing oneself are big with my group. I wouldn’t be writing this column without encouragement from them.
Yet, I haven’t even begun to build my author platform. One of the writers in my goal group suggested I read Get Known before the Book Deal by Christina Katz. What an eye opener! After reading the book I realized I was a slacker. Worse, I felt my lack of self-promotion had hurt me in ways I probably wasn’t even aware of. How many editors or agents had Googled me (I know of one for sure) only to see I didn’t have a website? Did they pass me over in favor of another savvier author, one who was already doing everything she or he could do to promote themselves?
Christian Katz says, “You are 100-percent responsible for the success of your writing career. And you are responsible for it 100-percent of the time.”
Holy cow, I felt like someone had just slapped me upside my forehead. I was responsible! It was my own fault I didn’t have a website. It was my own fault I didn’t want to put myself out there in the public eye. It was my own fault that editors and agents weren’t knocking at my door. After all, what could I offer them in the way of promotion?
After reading the entire book, I set 10 goals for 2010.
1. Get a website—I am already working on this. Watch for it.
2. Nail down my author platform and work on my tagline.
3. Work on getting my name out there in other ways, such as volunteering at the RWA National level.
4. Write this column.
5. Step outside of my comfort zone.
It’s okay to self-promote. I know this, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I’m not afraid of public speaking, but tooting my own horn is painful for me. I will get over this in 2010.
I envy the published author who does all of the above with ease. One of my critique partners is a promotional whiz. She makes it look easy. She maintains a website, writes a weekly blog, and does a newsletter. She’s gathered hundreds, maybe thousands of email addresses at conferences by asking writers and readers to enter their business cards in a drawing for a give away item that promotes her newest book. Plus, she’s nice, and I mean genuinely nice. Writers love her. Readers adore her. Editor and agents respect her. Recently, someone asked me if she was always that nice, and I said, yes!
So, the next goal is…
6. Be nice to everyone. Be professional. Be gracious. Think about how you want other writers and industry professionals to remember you.
7. No negative thinking. No gossiping. No bad karma. I’m a big believer in positive thinking. It works. Visualize that sale, or dream editor/agent, or that spot on The New York Times list you want.
8. No bad-mouthing, moaning or groaning about rejection or disappointment. What’s the point? I’d rather move on, send projects out, and open the window to possibility rather than whine about what I don’t have.
9. Send projects out three at a time, keeping three queries/proposals/contest entries out there at all times. If you don’t send work out, NOTHING can happen.
10. Write the best book I can. After all, none of the above matters without a good book.
You’ll notice that all my goals are goals I have complete control over. I can’t control when an editor will buy my book, but I can control the quality of my work, my author platform, and the way I conduct myself. Keep your goals realistic. That doesn’t mean you can’t dream, and dream BIG. Meeting goals will lead to your ultimate dream.
And finally, I’d like to close with another quote from Christina Katz, “Good things can happen to people who are not afraid to share their road.”
Enough said. I challenge you to write up your promotion/marketing/writing goals for 2010. It makes no difference if you are published or unpublished. We all have promotional/marketing/writing goals no matter our status in the publishing business.
Put your goals in a safe place. Look at them often as you strive to meet them. Better yet, post your top three goals here in the comments section. I, for one, would love to know what others are doing to promote their writing careers. This time next year, I hope to learn how many of those goals you achieved!
After finaling in the Golden Heart three times, Joleen James thought she’d always be a bridesmaid and never a bride, but in 2008 she won the Golden Heart with her series contemporary manuscript Under A Harvest Moon. Currently, she’s working hard to make her dream of publication come true.
Joleen–It’s incredible how inspiring a goals group can be. I LOVE mine!
Thanks for another helpful article. As for my three top promo/marketing goals for 2010:
1. Add individual pages for my books on my website with lots of fun, interactive features (even though I’m NOT published–makes this more challenging).
2. Land and give six workshops (so far I have four scheduled–just two more to go!).
3. Revise and publish one of my non-agented books on Smashwords and Sribd in order to begin building a reader base (not for the $$).
Good luck on your goals! I look forward to hearing how you did on them at the end of 2010 and hearing about all of the other goals you’ve accomplished along the way.
Ann Charles
Exactly what I needed to read today, Jolein! Promo and marketing can be so daunting and overwhelming, but you gave wonderful direction and several resources I plan to look into! Thanks so much!
Joannna Aislinn
NO MATTER WHY
The Wild Rose Press (available now!)
http://www.joannaaislinn.com
http://www.joannaaislinn.wordpress.com
Joleen,
A great pep talk. Just what we all need. Your item 9 really caught my attention. I’m going to assume you mean three different projects to different publishers. But the last part of that statement is really significant. “If you don’t send work out NOTHING can happen.” You are so right on with that one. For a long time I just sat around waiting to hear from a publisher. Not anymore. We too often take it to mean ‘do nothing’ when we read “no multiple queries’ in submission policies. Enjoyed the article and thank you for sharing it with us.
Hi Ann and Norman,
First, Ann, thanks for posting your top 3 goals! They’re fantastic! I love learning what other writers are doing to promote themselves. And in answer to your question, Norman, I do have three different projects out right now, but I’m happy just to have the same project out three different places. Whatever works!
Fantastic article, very helpful/motivating - Personally, I’m still thinking of my first three goals but I’ve already taken steps on the first one: getting a website.
~Marlo Berliner
Joleen, you’ve done one of the best jobs responding to what I wrote and quoting the book that I’ve seen yet. Clearly you are an quick learner, who can soak up strategies and put them to productive use. Good for you! Looks like you are going to be having a great 2010! Wishing you the best.
Great article, Joleen! It really got me thinking about my promo goals for the year. Like you, I have trouble talking myself and my books up. It just isn’t me. So one goal for me is to work past that to become less shy about promoting my work. Another goal is to be better about maintaining my social networks.
Very motivating article. I’m the same way with tooting my own horn–can’t do it. I also tend to take on too much at one time, and all projects suffer. Here’s where a list would come in handy. Focus on each item and how to achieve it.
Thanks for the helpful advice.
Great article! Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm with us. My top three promotional goals for 2010 are:
1. Blog more on my website. I have a feature I’m running right now called “Sundays in Scotland” which has been very successful, but it’s proven to me that I need to do more. There is so much ~more~ I could do!
2. Send out my first newsletter using FeedBurner.
3. Network with western Washington booksellers.
Wishing you all the success in the world with your goals this year, Joleen!
Great information, and I just love Christina’s book, (and she’s a fabulous speaker, great person too!). I feel like people are going to get sick of me soon, because I’m spending so much time blogging, writing articles and podcasting. But, getting the word is crucial to my books’ success. You are so right about that.
Goals for 2010
1. Get those 3 projects out, (only 2 now but I’m working on number 3)
2. Maintain my blog with weekly entries
3.Make at least 4 presentations
Write the next damned book — but that’s always a goal!
Great article!
As a primarily e-pubbed author, I’ve found that promo costs far more than it pays for the most part. With that in mind, the best promo is undeniably my next book, which has been the toughest part for me over the past 15 months. So my goals for 2010 are:
1. Finish novella
2. Finish novel
3. Pitch something to larger publisher
Now that’s effective promo - if I sell the projects!
Joleen-
Great blog! Thanks for sharing your goals. I enjoyed reading through them.
Wow! Thanks for the great comments, everyone. I’ve enjoyed reading the posted goals. I hope you are all inspired to work a bit harder at promotion and marketing this year–I know I am. Special thanks to Christina Katz for stopping by. Christina, you really inspired me to put myself out there.
Your book is wonderful.
Great post. I’m currently working on writing out my 2010 goals. I have four kids and find I can totally get sucked into their schedules/lives (lol) and I really need to set goals with my local romance chapter. My main goal this year - secure a literary agent/blog more/write more. Get out of my comfort zone more often (that means leaving the house and taking a new course) to add some creative juice to my mind. Thanks again for the push to write it all down. All the best - Renee
Great post, Joleen. Thanks for giving us all a nudge.
In 2010 I plan to (promo wise):
1. Learn how to and maintain my website on a regular basiss
2. Find a permanent blog
3. Get my two other books off to BookStrand to keep my name out there.
Yay! We’ll ALL be having fun.
For me the hardest part is stepping outside of my comfort zone. I hate to be pushy.
Joleen,
Great article! Thank you so much for turning the light on upstairs. You’re absolutely right, goal setting is essential. My goals:
1. Finish the book and submit (or else Cherry will kick my butt)
2. Do a little self promoting. It feels strange to do this even though I’m not published.
3. Make it to all chapter meetings, even though it means missing my kids basketball games!
Again, thank you!
Inspiring article, Joleen! I’m so glad to see you stepping out there and claiming the brilliant person that you are!
My three promotional goals this year are:
1. finish the update to my website
2. become active on social networks
3. get my blog up and running.
Actually these are all planned to be done by March 1, so after that I’ll have to think of three more!
Thanks, Joleen!
Tamara, I know what you mean about promotion feeling strange when you’re not yet published, but just think about how far ahead of the game you’ll be when you do publish!
Great article. It does seem difficult to transition from the lone-wolf act of writing into the look-at-me aspect of promotion. I sought out other published writers here in the Des Moines area. Not only have they been a wonderful source of guidance, but we’ve banded together to promote one another. We spread the word on signings, book trailers, blogs, etc. A critique group is a must, and a published authors’ liaison is the next phase.
Wonderful information and a great challenge. My top three are
1. Write!! (and learn more about the craft along the way)
2. Revamp my blog for a broader audience
3. Attend as many writing group meetings as possible to meet and learn from others
Your goals are inspiring, Joleen! I might steal a few of yours too.
Joleen, Thanks for the great information. My three goals are:
1. Finish my current WIP and submit.
2. Get my Facebook page up and running and keep it current
3. Set up a blog and keep that current.
Networking is going to be difficult for me. Sometimes it seems so forced. It’s just going to take a bit to get me out of my comfort zone. Thanks again.
Joleen, you are so WRITE!
The power of postive thoughts will life us towards our goals like the wings of a dragon. Up we spiral, but only if we focus and create promotional plans and a business plan. That better than anything will start us on the road towards success.
I found a site (mind movies) where the people talk about creating a set of slides to view each day that will help us get what we want. I began mine right away by creating a PowerPoint presentation that I can add to as I go. As soon as I get an idea I want to implement, I include it. So far it’s health, wealth, fame, (so I can take care of my family), a new home, new car…and expecially having the funds to help others like those in Haiti who are in dire straights.
It is only for me, this slide show, but I watch it every day and keep on going. I WILL reach my goals. My motto? “NEVER SURRENDER! NEVER GIVE UP!” from Tim Allen’s movie Galaxy Quest. Those five words helped me climb out of the doll drums and find a career I adore! WRITING!
Thank you for the blog. It speaks to my heart.
Hugs
Franny
Joleen, wow! There’s nothing like coming out of January, slugging away.
My promotion goals are:
1. Run two contests
2. Guest blog four times
and
1. Update my website.
I think my home page is boring, and that’s definitely not the image I want to project!
Thanks for the terrific article!
Wonderful article! We’ve all been lectured about creating an online presence, but this article really drove the message home. However, two of your goals are not for me — stepping out of my comfort zone, and being nice to everyone. I’m not sure I can accomplish those.
Way to jump in with both feet Jolene — gold stars you!! Setting goals just beyond your comfort level means stretching those promo muscles in ways that will keep the adrenaline pumping and the creativity buzzing. Smart lady and here’s to you blasting past your goals!!! I’ll be cheering you on ~~ Mary B
Hey Joleen–So nice to *see* you! Great article. I’m guilty right there with you on not promoting myself. It’s the introvert in me. I can always hear my mom’s words in my ear: “It’s not nice to talk about yourself.” So I don’t. Which is not good when my first book is coming out next month. Ack! My goals:
1. Actually remember to LOOK at goals
2. Create a schedule for my blog and stick to it (at least one post a week)
3. Learn how to maintain and update and redesign my website myself–then do it.
:)Becky