"Do I Have to Help Market My Book....?"

I am still surprised when asked by authors these days ...
shocked really...
that is considering
the many and highly publicized changes to our publishing industry...
 and, I still get asked surprisingly often, 

"Do I Have to Help Market My Book?!"

....fortunately, I don't blurt out what almost always immediately comes to mind....

something like....uummmm, "Does a bear ... in the woods?!"
errrr..... I mean...

"Do You Want to Sell Any Books?!"

• If an author waits until his/her book is done to start building their following... they are likely to be already hopelessly behind... marketing begins on the front end of a project - as opposed to sadly misperceived "end-o-the assembly line of the production process"... 
• Peer groups, affinity groups, and niched orgs are all terrific ~ the best places to start...
• As you build your marketing plan, you have to ask the basics: 

1. who do you want to reach? 
2. how will you reach them? 
3. how many books do you expect to sell? 
4. what is the potential for total sales w/in your immediate circle/sphere of influence?

• You must build your "tribe" now... or bluntly... your writing will only remain a "wishful hobby"... not just my opinion...it is the current reality...
  
  
  -Seth Godin on the tribes we lead “A tribe is any group of people, large or small, who are connected to one another, a leader, and an idea. For millions of years, humans have been seeking out tribes, be they religious, ethnic, economic, political, or even musical (think of the Deadheads). It’s our nature.”
  
  “If you are an author,
  your tribe members
  are your readers—or, at least, that’s potentially true. The only question is whether or not you will become the tribe’s leader and equip them to communicate with you and with one another.” –Michael Hyatt, CEO-Thomas Nelson
  
  
• Author platform building-marketing needs to start BEFORE your book is done...
• Developing a productive author platform that engages and develops relationship with the intended audience is essential. 

What some things that you are currently doing to "build your tribe?"

Some terrific links:
The Importance of Building Your Platform, Mike Hyatt, CEO- Thomas Nelson

The Key to Marketing Your Book: Time Well Spent, Nathan Bransford - Lit Agent
5 Reasons Writers Need to Embrace Technology | www.publetariat.com
5 Tips For Joining Your First Social Media Site Such As Twitter, Facebook Or LinkedIn | www.publetariat.com
There Are No Rules - 5 Questions for Those Who Don't Have Time to Market/Promote  -Jane Friedman, Writer's Digest
Social Media-What I've Been Learning for Book Publishing–Marketing -J A Heinlein

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• Get Published: Start Writing and Establish a Writer's Platform (onlivingbylearning.com)

"Do I Have to Help Market My Book....?"

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