I really appreciate the tenacity but I also worry that if this is what is now required of authors to sell their books this industry is going to lose a lot of really great writers.
I hear this! I look at it like most individual solutions to systemic problems: If guerrilla marketing your book feels empowering, great. If it feels overwhelming (or NOT doing it makes you feel guilty), then remind yourself it’s your publisher’s actual job and focus on how your most important role is writing the best damn book possible!
My favorite part of this is the beautiful decal. More innovative than social media and no algorithm!
Jo, I don't know if you'll see this followup question but it strikes me that you are either able to muster 100% confidence about your books and the idea that any reader out there should love them, or to act as if you do (perfectly valid), because that leads to a better outcome. Many of us assume some people will like our work, and some really won't--and that makes it harder to promote to strangers, for example. Do you struggle with any of this and/or do you just say "F*** it, I'm great AND I need to sell books!"
Great question. Look I have had books that I didn't believe in and maybe I didn't hustle as hard. Right now I fully believe in what I am writing and that it is fucking amazing and that is why it feels good to be unabashed about it.
The diabetes treatment commercials are absolute ear-worms. Dear god, if I only had the talent to crest a song-and dance routine celebrating my book I would laugh all the way to the bank. As it is, I have found that my book sells well after book talks and memoir workshops at libraries and Rotary groups. Love these suggestions!
I am in the pharmaceutical business so we are shameless when it comes to jingles :) There is a new commercial out for a drug for acid reflux that says " let's kick some ass" which I thought was interesting. However, when it comes to attracting my attention to buy books, nothing works as good as getting to see and hear the author talking about their book, what motivated them to write it, and sharing about themselves. I also like the publications like Book Browse where you can sign up to recieve advance copies to review!
I loooove the decal idea and was so curious if people actually were using the code. That’s amazing!!!
Always Be Tracking—that’s a thing I’m doing now on buy links!
They are!!!!!
This is so admirably bold and scrappy, I love it! We can all learn something from Jo.
Right?! You wrote the damn book, nothing wrong with wanting people to pick it up!
I really appreciate the tenacity but I also worry that if this is what is now required of authors to sell their books this industry is going to lose a lot of really great writers.
The answer to both of these questions is yes and yes.
I hear this! I look at it like most individual solutions to systemic problems: If guerrilla marketing your book feels empowering, great. If it feels overwhelming (or NOT doing it makes you feel guilty), then remind yourself it’s your publisher’s actual job and focus on how your most important role is writing the best damn book possible!
I am SO excited for Jo’s book! Great read.
My favorite part of this is the beautiful decal. More innovative than social media and no algorithm!
Jo, I don't know if you'll see this followup question but it strikes me that you are either able to muster 100% confidence about your books and the idea that any reader out there should love them, or to act as if you do (perfectly valid), because that leads to a better outcome. Many of us assume some people will like our work, and some really won't--and that makes it harder to promote to strangers, for example. Do you struggle with any of this and/or do you just say "F*** it, I'm great AND I need to sell books!"
Great question. Look I have had books that I didn't believe in and maybe I didn't hustle as hard. Right now I fully believe in what I am writing and that it is fucking amazing and that is why it feels good to be unabashed about it.
Happy to hear that!
Great question! If Jo doesn’t see this, I’ll tap her after her pub-day craziness!
The diabetes treatment commercials are absolute ear-worms. Dear god, if I only had the talent to crest a song-and dance routine celebrating my book I would laugh all the way to the bank. As it is, I have found that my book sells well after book talks and memoir workshops at libraries and Rotary groups. Love these suggestions!
I can still sing the jingles for local businesses from my childhood!
I am in the pharmaceutical business so we are shameless when it comes to jingles :) There is a new commercial out for a drug for acid reflux that says " let's kick some ass" which I thought was interesting. However, when it comes to attracting my attention to buy books, nothing works as good as getting to see and hear the author talking about their book, what motivated them to write it, and sharing about themselves. I also like the publications like Book Browse where you can sign up to recieve advance copies to review!