by Melissa Tagg, @Melissa_Tagg
When many of us were growing up, dreaming of writing books one day, we probably never realized that in addition to actually, well, writing the book, we’d also need to spend a good chunk of time marketing.
And while I’m a big believer that marketing can and should be at least a little fun, I also think it’s really important not to let marketing take over our writing career. In fact, over the years, I’ve decided it’s pretty darn okay to take a mini marketing hiatus now and then. 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 generally a no-no. If you’re pouring more time and effort into marketing—social media, especially—your writing will suffer. Your creativity will suffer. (Seriously, look up some scary info on what social media is doing to our brains.) Your energy will suffer. Your enjoyment will suffer.
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.
2) When it’s not working.
If you’re spending time and resources on marketing efforts, but you’re not seeing results, it’s time to step back from the “doing” and take a little time to assess your marketing plan. Take stock of what you’re doing and try to figure out why you’re not getting results. Ask author friends or mentors for help. Take a look at what’s working for others. Revise your plan as needed.
3) When your marketing is all over the place.
One of the reasons your marketing may not be working: it’s too fragmented. If you’ve spread yourself too thin, taken on so much that you’re not able to see various marketing efforts through to completion, you need to step back. Much better to follow through on three or four solid marketing activities than fumble through nine or ten. Take a break and review your strategy. Try to hone in on the most effective of your tasks and put your focus there.
4) When you hit saturation point.
This is something we talk about in my day job from time to time: have we saturated our constituent market? Which is basically fancy lingo for, “Are we driving people crazy?” If you’re in tune with your work, your readers and your marketing plan, you might have those twinges now and then when you feel you’ve put you and your book out there…enough. None of us want to drive our social media friends/fans crazy. We don’t want to push launch team members away or bombard readers with too much. If you get that twinge, I say listen to it. Take a little break. And in the downtime, start brainstorming ways to connect with new people in new places.
5) When none of it is fun anymore.
Marketing isn’t always going to be a blast. There will be days when your inbox feels like a chain around your neck, social media drives you up the wall and you really don’t want to attend one more event.
ere should be at least some key piece of your marketing strategy that appeals to you. The best marketing happens when we as the authors are authentically enjoying connecting with readers—whether that’s through social media, in person, newsletters, etc. If you’re not enjoying one single piece of your marketing work, then I think it’s important to ask yourself why? Are you focusing on the wrong areas? Is there a marketing strategy that would better fit your personality? Don’t be afraid to take a break, re-assess and look for the fun.
Last year, after traumatic circumstances forced her from her job as a nanny, Mara Bristol finally found a place to belong—the winsome Everwood Bed & Breakfast at the edge of Maple Valley, Iowa. For months, she’s helped its owner, Lenora, maintain the ramshackle property despite their shortage of guests. But when Lenora fails to return from a month-long trip and the bank threatens foreclosure, Mara worries she’s once again alone . . . abandoned . . . about to lose the only true home she’s ever known.
Detective Marshall Hawkins is no closer to whole today than he was two years ago . . . the day his daughter died. Between his divorce, debilitating migraines, and a dependence on medication, his life is falling apart. And when a reckless decision on the job propels him into administrative leave, he has no other plan but to get in his truck and drive. A one-night stay at the Everwood was supposed to be just that. But there’s something about the old house—or maybe its intriguing caretaker—that pulls him in.
Together, Mara and Marshall set out to save the Everwood. But its secrets run deeper than they could’ve imagined. As they renovate the house and search for its missing owner, they’ll each confront the pain that brought them to the Everwood in the first place . . . and just maybe discover a faith and love to help them carry on.
Melissa Tagg is the award-winning author of the popular Walker Family series, the Where Love Begins series and the Enchanted Christmas Collection. Her latest release, Now and Then and Always, kicks off a new series set in her beloved-by-readers fictional town of Maple Valley. Melissa is a former reporter, current nonprofit grant writer and total Iowa girl.
Melissa’s books include a 2018 ACFW Carol Award Winner (One Enchanted Noel), an RT Book Reviews TOP PICK (All This Time) and a Publishers Weekly Spring Top Ten Pick (Like Never Before).
Melissa has taught at multiple national writing conferences, as well as workshops and women’s retreats. When she’s not writing, she can be found hanging out with the coolest family ever (not that she’s biased), bookworming, watching old movies, and spoiling her nieces and nephews. Melissa loves connecting with readers at www.melissatagg.com and on Facebook and Instagram.