Why do you have to be as much a marketer as a writer? ✍️ (updated!)

If you're about to publish your first book, it's time to sharpen those marketing skills! Let people know about your book, what it's about and most important of all, why they should read it.

1. Make your front cover pop! Realistically, marketing begins with the cover. Make it eye-catching. If it grabs the reader, they're more likely to investigate further and see what the book is about, which brings me to...
2. Create a back cover teaser. Your job is to make potential readers want more! Choose spicy words and descriptions to captivate them. Authors often find this tricky. How do you sum up your book in a few words, create intrigue without telling too much? 
3. Send out a press release with a cover photo. Start with your local media, smaller newspapers, free newspapers, radio, and television stations. Send it everywhere! Not everyone will open your email, but you never know who will or if your cover will catch their eye. 
4. Change your signature at the bottom of your emails. This allows anyone you send an email to know that you're an author, the title of your book, and even add an image of the cover if you can.
5. Post on social media. This is one of the best tools in your toolbox. Social media is FREE and a great way to let people know about your new book. Be creative. Present the cover, share reviews, events, and news with your readers and friends. Have a page or account dedicated to your writing life so people can find you and learn about your book.
6. Videos are nice. Not everyone is crazy about recording videos, but I find it helps to let people learn about you, your books, and it's another way to capture attention. It also allows you to discuss your books while increasing your confidence and make you more comfortable talking about your writing in interviews and events. 
7. Ads are doable but expensive - so look for deals. You can pay next to nothing for ads, or you can pay through the nose. Be careful who you're dealing with too. There are a lot of scammy, suspicious people out there. I receive an email from sketchy companies attempting to sell me marketing packages every week. 
8. Bookmarks are the best! I have bookmarks made with all my covers on them and where to find me online. Remember, bookmarks travel, can be shared, and are just fun to give out. 

Of course, there are many other things you can do to get your book out there. Traditionally, many authors have book signings or book launches, while some might choose to speak at their local library. 

Remember that marketing is a big part of selling your book. It doesn't matter if you're the most famous author in the world or an indie author of your first book, this is an essential part of the process. If you aren't sure, research online, see what other authors are doing and check out books on the subject. Good luck! 

Why do I make YouTube videos? 📹 (Updated)

If you are a writer and have a new book, should you do a YouTube video? What if you are a more seasoned author; should you dip your toes into the world of YouTube or run the other way?

Many people choose to run the other way because it is scary. Recording a video (and worse still, playing it back to watch yourself) isn't always an experience that people look forward to trying. I promise you that it's usually not that bad, and sometimes it can be a huge confidence booster.

I started to do YouTube videos a couple of years ago with much reluctance. To be honest, I was terrified. I wasn't exactly excited about watching myself talking on video. It reminded me of those days of public speaking in high school that made me want to hide under my desk. I did recognize that it was important to my overall goal. I gave it a shot. I now have over 200 videos on my channel.

The beauty of recording a video is that you don't have to post it. You can take the time to get comfortable with speaking to a camera. You must adequately explain your topic (notes help), and of course, you have to stop finding fault with your appearance. These are probably the three things that make most people hesitant. We live in such an overproduced world when it comes to 'reality' television and even YouTube videos that we often forget that we don't have to look, sound, or be perfect to record a video. If you sound, look and seem too perfect, it might make you slightly less relatable to your audience.

Of course, you should make some effort. Don't roll out of bed, not comb your hair, and ramble on for 20 minutes without making a point either. Show your best side. Fix your hair. Throw on some makeup if you're into it. Tidy up the space you'll be recording your video. Find some decent lighting (I don't always do this). Tell everyone in the house to not make any noise because the camera catches everything. 

So why did I start doing YouTube videos? I wanted my audience and potential audience to learn about me. I didn't want to be the anonymous face behind the books or the mysterious author that no one knows. I wanted people to learn about me, why I was writing about the topics I chose, explain my books to people who wanted to get more of a sense of what they were about, and answer some of my most asked questions from new authors or people interested in my writing.

Most important of all, I believe that YouTube videos are about connection. It was important for me to connect with people, especially those interested in my writing. I don't do videos because I want to be an internet star or gain followers. I have them available as another option for readers to learn about me, my books, and my thoughts as a writer. The beauty of YouTube is that you never know who is watching.