Targeted Marketing Leads to Writing Success

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

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An awareness of new ideas is the most powerful weapon in the writer’s arsenal. We either study, evaluate, and put into practice those changes in the industry that ensure we are expert writers and dynamic marketers. Or we fail by stubbornly refusing to learn and grow in the world of publishing. A successful writer understands an expertly crafted story will not reach readers unless targeted marketing and promotion lead the way.

Ignoring the push to educate ourselves means a death sentence to our writing careers. I admit the daily updates with technique and social media can be overwhelming. Add balance and the time factor, and we can find ourselves hiding beneath our desks instead of taking our expertise to the front lines.

How does a writer march forward, armed and confident of the road ahead?

Here are seven tips to help you stand stronger and wiser while pursuing your publication goals:

1. Why are you writing? Do you have a mission statement that you’ve thoughtfully considered and put into practice? Do you read it often, have it memorized? If not, schedule a time to get yours written.
2. What are your writing goals? Do you know where you’d like to be in one year, five years, or ten? Do you have a written strategic plan in which you can chart progress and evaluate potential successes and challenges?
3. Do you know who your readers are, how to reach them, and how you can be an asset to their lives? Take the time to record what is unique about those wonderful people who enjoy your books.
4. Determine how much time you can allot each day for educating yourself about the craft, social media, and new trends. By embracing change on a regularly scheduled basis, a habit forms. Stick to the amount of time you’ve set aside. This isn’t a contest but a part of your professional life.

   

   Take the leap and reach out to readers!

5. Budget funds to attend conferences where you’ll learn about a writer’s responsibilities. The larger conferences ensure we writers have a variety of workshops and continuing classes available for what we need. Seek out various podcasts for the same reason.
6. Explore the blogs that challenge and provide you information. Need help with dialogue? Search out the blogs that teach. Social media drive you nuts? Follow www.TheAuthorRoadmap Discover the blogs that make communication with readers and potential readers easy to understand. Looking for genre help? Those blogs are out there to give you guidance.
7. Is your current method of publication the best option for you? Are you a traditional, indie, or hybrid published writer? Digital or hard cover? There are always new ways to reach readers.

Change can be defined as an adaptation, adjustment, exchange, reshaping, variation, modification, or even a transformation. All sound great to me if it furthers my writing career with quality stories and reaching more readers. 

The Author Roadmap shows the writer how to work effectively and efficiently. 

What unanswered questions are holding you back from being a successful writer?

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; the 2015 president of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.