Let's Talk Writing

Chapter 5

Marketing

Normally I start you off with a definition. But first, sit tight because this is a long one. Here you are, right from Merriam-Webster it'self; the definition of Marketing.

"a: the act or process of selling or purchasing, 

b: the process or technique of promoting, selling, and distributing a product or service."

So what does that mean to you?

Marketing is showcasing your product in a way that is appealing to your consumer so that they buy it. If you are writing a novel, you want to start sharing juicy details that make readers want to buy your story. 

You share merch, art, inspirations, and the cover, all to get the reader's appetite wet for the meal to come. Then you give quotes and excerpts from the story in order to make them hungry and salivate. Ew...where am I going with that?

Anyway, you need to spark interest. 

That's what marketing is, it's sparking interest in a product or service in order to profit off of it. Let's be honest here, you market so you can get paid. Or so that you can share some sort of work with others.

How to do it?

Well...there are tons of ways to market. And that's saying something because for whatever reason no one knows how. Or the whole process is shady and surrounded in gray areas. As much as I like the color gray, I can't see through it and that's a problem here.

#1 Word of Mouth - 

Word of mouth. Pretty self-explanatory but it means the words out of someone's mouth to the other person's ear canal up into their brain, where they soak in information. No, I'm kidding, but seriously it is exactly what it sounds like.

I say, "Hey this is a good book, I think you'll like it." My friend is like "whaaa....bet." And goes to read it. They like it, they tell others. Not the quickest way because it's like the game of Telephone. After a certain amount of time and people, the message can get jumbled up, or forgotten entirely.

But word of mouth works. Your parents cooing over their little author or your best friend bullying people into buying a copy. (I am just making fun. this may be reality, but let's not talk about it 'Kay?) Whatever it is words about the book float into the ear, to be heard against the wind or something like that.

#2 Social Media/Ads -

My favorite. Can you hear my sarcasm? No? 

Anywhoo. Marketing through social media is something I talked about in the earlier platforms chapter. Basically you are going to create an appealing visual like a photo, or a video or Gif. Something that grabs attention and runs it through platforms with millions of subscribers to pull interest and eyes to your product or services. 

Ads. This is promoting those earlier visuals through services as well as other things like features, sponsors, and paid works. 

Features:

Features can be paid for, or free, depending on your relationship with what/whomever you are gaining the feature from. You are more likely to get a free feature from a follower on social media than a blogger you've never had contact with.

These are short ads created by you or who/whatever you are getting featured from, which introduces you and your product to this person/thing's audience. That brings them to you and you then take it from there. Thank you feature!