One Thing Marketing: Pieces of a Marketing Plan Part 2

We’re taking a look at the various pieces to include in the marketing portion of your novel proposal. Last time we talked about including a brief intro to your marketing plan and then a list of publications. If you missed it, you can check it out here.

Today, we’ll cover two more sections: Media Appearances and Networks.

Media Appearances

Following the Publications section of my proposal’s marketing plan, I included a list of all the local TV and radio stations at which I’d seek out coverage. I had a little bit of an advantage here because in my day job I work with the media quite a bit. But simply showing your potential agent or publisher you’re informed about your local media and willing to make an effort at grassroots is just plain smart.

One Thing Marketing: Pieces of a Marketing Plan – Part 1

It’s time to talk marketing plans!

And specifically, the marketing plan you’ll need to include in your proposal when you get ready to submit it to an agent or editor. I’ve seen marketing plans anywhere from a few paragraphs to a few pages. I tend to be in the two-page range myself. I think it’s important that we show agents and editors we understand the importance of building a platform and marketing our books.

For the next couple months in these “One Thing Marketing” posts, we’re going to look at the components of a marketing plan. By the time we’re done, if you follow along you should have a good start on your own marketing plan. Let’s get started…

One Thing Marketing: When to take a marketing break

This blog series is all about marketing. But is it ever okay to take a mini marketing hiatus?

You bet.

In fact, sometimes it’s more than okay. Sometimes it’s just plain smart.

When should you take a marketing break?

1) When you’re spending more time marketing than writing.

This is always a no-no. You’ll hear experts give all ranges of ratios and percentages about how much time you should spend marketing versus writing. And feel free to go with the ratio of your choice. But I don’t think you’ll ever hear someone tell you to spend MORE time marketing than actually writing. (That is, unless you’re in that 2- to 3-month window around a book release. In which case, just ignore this. 🙂 )

If you’re spending way, way more time marketing than writing, your writing may be suffering. So take a break. Whether for a couple days or a couple weeks, you need to reevaluate how you’re spending your time and come up with a plan to make sure marketing isn’t overshadowing your writing. After all, without good writing, you don’t have anything to market.