| When I published my first novel, Henrietta The Dragon Slayer, 10 years ago, I had zero dollars for a marketing budget.
It felt that way at least.
Then I looked at my options to market my YA fantasy and realized I could spare $100-200 -- if it was money well-spent.
But I had no idea how to get the best bang for my buck.
I knew I wanted to be read, wanted reviews and sales, and wanted to get my book in the hands of my core readers -- teen girls.
Marketing Options Here's how my thinking went...
Blog Tours: Yes! I knew how to do that -- I taught others how to do that -- so that strategy was a go.
Contests: I'd already been entering my unpublished work in contests (Romance Writer's of America contests), so entering a contest for my published novel felt like a natural next step.
All I needed to do was find a good fit for my independently published (self-published) novel.
I found a few contests and entered them, probably sending about $100 today, plus the cost of my books and shipping.
Then lo and behold I won one! OMG! I could not believe it. So exciting and amazing to me that total strangers liked my book enough to award it with a Grand Prize out of all the entrants.
So yah, I'm a fan of contests.
So last year, when it was time to get some more visibility for Into The Black, the first novel in a new series in a new genre -- sci-fi mystery -- I looked around for a contest and entered a few.
Lo and behold, I finaled in the Page Turner Awards, and was blown away-- again -- that I won an audiobook contract for the book and actually, all my fiction!
Awards can convey prestige, credibility, (and boost confidence), which helps expand your visibility and heighten your status in the eyes of readers. Some awards also provide feedback, which is very helpful.
Needless to say, I'm a fan of contests.
That said, do your homework. Make sure the contest is a good fit, ethical, and worth your money.
Two Awards on My Radar Page Turner Awards
Their deadline to enter is May 31st.
Enter now for your chance to win amazing publishing prizes (including 2 of my courses!), ranging from mentorship, audiobook production & film options.
Submissions close May 31st!
BookLife Prize I entered this contest last year but did not win anything. I will try again this year for the next book in my sci-mystery series, Lured By Light and probably for the third book in the series, that will be out next week, Gone Green. (Squee!)
Why? As this prize is offered via Publisher's Weekly, there's a lot of clout that comes with winning this contest. Clout equals visibility, prestige, and a confidence boost -- all helping marketing and hence sales.
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What do you think about contests and awards? What marketing strategies are you considering? What questions and concerns do you have about book marketing?
Hit reply and let me know.
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Marketing Consultations: I Work With Authors One-on-One
I do work with authors on their marketing plans, as well as helping them as a developmental editor and a creativity coach.
If you'd like a one-on-one session with me where we can discuss your book marketing -- such things as: - a book marketing plan;
- advice on which social media platform to focus on;
- how/if to advertise on Facebook, Amazon, other places;
- making sure your book marketing activities align with your writing goals
- and more!
-- then contact me to set up a time for our consultation and pay in advance here:
These sessions are one-hour via phone or Zoom and are $150. I can record them if you'd like.
Once you pay and schedule a consultation, I send you some reflection questions to answer ahead of our call, so that we can make best use of our time.
Here are the questions, so that you can use them to gain clarity around your book marketing:
- What are your writing goals?
- If you could wave a magic wand, what would you like for your life?
- What are your three most important values?
- What are your favorite book marketing activities and your least favorite book marketing activities?
- What are your online links: site, social media, blog? (In a paid session, I'd take a look at them and your books ahead of our call.)
- What is the size of your newsletter subscribers; social media accounts?
- What writing communities are you a part of?
- (If we were consulting, I'd want to know: Is there anything else you'd like me to know before we talk?)
Okay, my friends, that's it for this week! | 
