The Marketing Gameplan for Someone Who Has Never Market…ed…

When I was a little girl, I was afraid of most things. But one of the things that frightened me the most was the thought of putting myself out there. This was in regards to anything. I couldn’t think about getting up and sharpening my pencil in class without setting my heart hammering in my chest, my palms sweating, and my mind racing with all of the potential horrors “being the center of attention” could induce.

And I would say writing has saved me from that. My desire to do this. To get published. To share the inner workings of my mind with the world.

And if you’ve spent much time in the writing community at all, you know that this… Being an author, selling books, getting your brain child out there… It’s a business. Not just art. You aren’t selling your product, you’re selling yourself. Your persona and your brand and your online presence is everything on these streets. Especially for indie authors just getting started.

I’m not sure exactly when I made the unconscious leap onto this train. But I did it and I haven’t looked back yet. And with each passing day my brain churns out more ideas, more ways to put myself out there, more plans to get more eyes on me.

Eyes on me.

Little Shayla would have never dared utter those words. Not even in the darkness of a moonless night wrapped in the safety of her many security blankets.

But I’m simply not interested in hiding anymore.

And before we get too damn sappy, let me channel my inner arrogant ass.

I want to show people what I can do, and I need to put myself out there to do so.

I’ve never marketed in my entire life, and I’m just getting started. So I suppose this is “Episode 1” of my “Marketing as a Dummy” series?

Follow my inevitable path of horrifying destruction as I flail around with wild abandon and feel my way through this. We’ve had a lot of new territory already on this blog, so enjoy the ride I suppose?

So far I have this blog (obviously) where you can follow my writing journey, and I’ve made a Facebook page if you’d like some more day-to-day updates on my writing, what I’m up to, direct marketing updates, etc.

But what about word of mouth? So far, that’s where I’ve found the most interest and success. Which is surprising, considering I don’t tend to talk about myself much in general conversation. But the people around me have been listening, and they’ve been spreading the word about what I’m doing. Which, by the way, is probably the most incredible feeling I’ve ever experienced. I’ve spoken to people I would have never guessed would bring up my dreams, and they even go so far as to ask me about them. Mind-blowing. And no, that isn’t sarcasm. Like I said, new to putting myself out there.

I thought it was a stupid idea at first. But what’s a bitch to do if the waitress at a restaurant or a clerk at a store asks me what I do for a living, and my dreams come up in casual conversation? What if your mom finds out the car salesman she just met is a lover of all things fantasy, and even goes so far as to express interest in being a beta reader.

Holy crap.

And so, I designed the business cards. That’s right, the ones you see in my thumbnail. They have my name, my dream, my website, email, and Facebook. All of my current marketing rolled into one tiny piece of paper I can hand out to people who show interest. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I suppose a business card is worth about twice that.

And so, that’s the beginning of my marketing journey. It’s not much, I know, but some things start small. I’m so excited to bring anyone along who wants to go, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.

Happy writing, or reading, or marketing, or whatever else you love to do!!