Greetings and salutations people and peoplettes.
I could fill this blog entry with sunshine and rainbows but I have been told to write what I know and for the most part I would agree with that little piece of advice.
Don’t know much about sunshine and rainbows.
As you know I am an author and as such an extremely tireless and thankless part of that is the marketing of the material I write. I would have to say that I spend almost as much time if not more marketing as I do actually writing. It is exhausting. Every week or so I put together a different ad to pepper across various demographically desirable groups on social media pages. I have built and developed my technique over a series of lengthy trial and error attempts. And throughout all this I have discovered one concept – no one thing specifically works. You are at the mercy of the luck of the draw in regards to your rotating audience. The same people will never be viewing the same site at the same time and the window of visibility in posts of this nature is often small depending on the popularity of the site.
That is to say that what works on one person will not work on the other and vica versa.
So I vary my approach from ad to ad to see what has the most universal appeal. I often have many likes and few sales but the sales I do get I can mostly attribute to these promotional pushes. So if I have a texture or technique to this week’s ad you had better believe the modus oporandi is intentional.
Occasionally I will get some well meaning boob who comes along and tries to give me advice on how to market my work by pointing out that the way I am marketing at present is most definitely not the way. Remember, there is no right way as everyone is different and all exposure is good. I do not mind advice, well meaning or not, so long as it is constructive, and not condescending in nature. I have actually learned quite a few things during the course of this process and some of these things have come from well meaning strangers.
That being said, my most recent such encounter left me wanting to fracture this gentleman’s sphincter after feeding him an entire jug of industrial strength laxatives. My ad this week was in all caps, just how the mood struck, and he pointed out that most people when viewing all caps will be turned off, in a very teacherly way.
I appreciate this gentleman’s concern for not turning readers off and I equally appreciate him leaving a public message on my post which pretty much guaranteed to turn potential readers off. Perhaps while he is at it he can relate the proper method for balancing the national budget so I can pass it on to the proper authorities that they can know the peace which this man has brought to my life. While he’s at it why does he not give me the formula for cold fusion or the cure for cancer? I am sure he could make many people in the world very happy once they have received the benefits of his extensive knowledge.
My point is this: No one person has it right. There is no one true way to do it. My ad this week got tons of positive response. If I had been in his class seeking his advice then I would just have to keep my mouth shut and take notes. But the pomposity it takes to elicit unsolicited advice to someone whose back story you do not know is incredible. Grammar Nazis often miss the point. They just want to be right at any cost. I love advice if it is given properly and in the correct context. This was not.
If any of you are aspiring writers and want any advice from me whenever please feel free to ask and I will tell you what I think I know. It is a small meager bit of information but if you think any of it will help you I would certainly be happy to provide it.
Certainly be happy.
Sunshine and rainbows would be shooting out my ass.
Until next time, keep reading and have an amazing ass day