Marketing Plan (Photo credit: EmaStudios)The bottom line of promoting your product is promoting yourself, your image, and your brand. When you come right down to it, it's all about you. It's your reputation on the line and ultimately you are responsible for whatever happens with your marketing campaign.
There are stakeholders in what you are doing and they provide a good support system. You might have agents, publishers, sales people, employees, and anyone else involved in producing and moving your product. Also, family members may be there to boost morale and help you on your road to success. Even loyal customers may be providing you energy to go on. These people want you to succeed and may even be depending on that success. You have a lot resting on your shoulders.
Even if you have others doing most of the marketing for you and they are the best in the business, don't become complacent. It's far better to stop an erring campaign before it gets out of hand and you have a huge mess to clean up. Having a staff, an agent, or any others taking care of your marketing does not absolve you of the responsibility of keeping your image the way you want it to be.
Your marketing is about you and it's your responsibility to see that it's done right.
Have you ever had to clean up a marketing mess? Do you have a marketing strategy in place?
Thank you for your constant comments:
Yvonne Lewis from Welcome to My World of Poetry is the first person to have accepted my Blogging from A to Z Challenge in 2010 and she has returned for her third year producing poetry like the pro that she is. Yvonne is a faithful commenter and a dear friend. She is one of the few bloggers whom I have actually met in person.
I don't recall when the blogger who shows up as Yeamie Waffles first started commenting on my blog, but now he visits and comments on my blog and many of your blogs on a regular basis. His blog can be funny, heart-breaking, and thoughtful and often in the same post. Matthew can be found at, where else but, Matthew's Blog and I suggest that you pay him a visit and become friends. He's seems like a nice young fellow and I always look forward to his comments.
Susan Kane has not only been a guest on my Wrote By Rote blog, she is another regular commenter on all of my blogs. Now I'm going to head over to Susan's blog The Contemplative Cat. She's says she's got a surprise waiting for me on her Y post. It's been my dream to be on Susan's blog--I must be dreaming!
Aw Lee, thanks so much for the kind words and the share buddy, they both seriously mean a lot to me. It's been my pleasure to read your blog since I started visiting, this post reads as a seriously great pep talk to any person actively looking to start their own business, I know it inspired me at least.
ReplyDeleteI don't have marketing plans, but enjoyed reading all about marketing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the write up about me,I was taken by surprise and it was most appreciated.
Yvonne.
You've been working hard all through this challenge Arlee....can't wait to see what surprise Susan has for you.
ReplyDeleteYou have a big heart, Lee. Always acknowledging and encouraging others.
ReplyDeleteI'll visit Yeamie and Susan...
Doris
I meant, "Matthew" LOL
ReplyDeleteyou are a very encouraging writer and it seems to me a great person--thanks!
ReplyDeleteYup, it's your responsibility.
ReplyDeleteTaking in all the tips that you're tossing out, Lee!
ReplyDeleteI'm like a kid that's following your lead -lol! Being a little facetious about the kid part- however, true to some extent!
It's great to have your own mind , ideas, identity; it's also a plus to be open to hearing other peoples advice and life experience!
It's one thing to listen, it's quite another thing to "hear"
Keep tossing it out, Lee!
I think you're a storehouse of experience!
http://bettyalark.blogspot.com
I have indeed had to clean up marketing messes in my day -- even the ones I made. But it's not the messes you make, it how you clean them up, huh?
ReplyDeleteAs far as a strategy...yes, I have one. Is it the right one? Not sure. Hope so. Great post.
I wanted to stop by and say thank you for hosting the challenge. It was awesome. :)
I'm getting ready to launch a new book on my own, so your posts have been wonderful to read. I hope I can pull together something and get my book off to a great start.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Arlee.
Matthew (Yeamie)-- And the readers like you who comment regularly inspire me. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYvonne -- I'd like to have some more readers and blog friends who were more like you.
Delores -- I'm not the only one who has been working at this Challenge. Me and about 1700 of you bloggers. What a great job!
Doris -- I've found that encouraging others has a good pay off. I like being a part of the success of others.
Lynn -- Thank you so much for those kind words.
Alex -- We each have a role to play and the biggest role is in tending to our own lives.
Betty -- You are so right about the difference between listening and hearing.
Mina -- Thank you for helping to make it another success.
C.Lee -- Good luck with the book and let me know if you'd like to do a guest post or are doing a blog tour. An invitation is extended to you.
Lee
Marketing, marketing, ohhhhh. I've been traditionally published where the pub dept works really hard for you for about two months, and I've indie pubbed, where I do it all myself. Each way has plusses and minuses. I've learned a lot so far on my own, that I would take to another traditional deal, should it go that way. And I really enjoy "meeting" book bloggers and the online community, which is so welcoming.
ReplyDeleteI will have to have a hosting blog sometime soon, maybe when the ...hullabaloo is ended, and the hurley burley... Is that Shakespeare?
ReplyDeleteThe responsibility for marketing seems even more on the author as more self-publish.
Very true. If it's your work, YOU need to be promoting it.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, I've not had to clean up a marketing mess, but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen in the future. I think long range, as well as short range planning is essential, as it continuously forces one to refine their efforts.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a great month - this has been my first time, but not my last! Thanks for creating and hosting this amazing challenge.
ReplyDeleteAs for marketing, I haven't had any mess-ups because I haven't done that much. I've been reading your posts, though, so I've got a better understanding - now I just need the oomph!
I feel like the biggest loser on the planet, Arlee. I can't believe I kept missing your blog. I've been trying to return each and every blog comment during the challenge, and it left me with no time to visit my normal haunts. I will be returning on a regular basis. I mean, how could I forget about the founder of the A-Z challenge, during the A-Z challenge. *bows head*
ReplyDeleteI'm going to come back and read your A-Z Marketing. Haven't been reading and commenting much because I moved - though have been visiting many blogs that come after mine on the A-Z list. Not many 'real' A-Zers amongst them. Plenty who signed up to get a link it seems, and plenty who dropped out, and a handful who have actually done the challenge. I guess it really is a challenge that takes dedication and commitment to complete. Thanks for inspiration and for stopping by and commenting on my blog. BTW - also been having problems with blogger comments!
ReplyDeleteI've been making a marketing list from some things I've learned in A to Z. Going to put it to the test in May and June.
ReplyDeleteA friend and I had an email discussion about the future of our blogs. We've both been at it over 3 years and still don't seem to know where we are headed with it.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it is a tool to express and to self-educate; to learn to write better.
As I'm happily doing this, I get a compliment here and there and then I wonder, "Is it time to market myself? Get some ads; more followers."
I can't seem to pull myself away from the reading and writing, so maybe it's not quite time for the marketing. :)
You're doing wonderfully at it!
Great post! You're so right about it being our own responsibility.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent post. It is very much your responsibility to get things done. After all, it's your dream, your product, your novel, your idea.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why I haven't followed your blog before, but I am now!
Your thirteen hundred and twenty second follower,
Lauren
You really should turn all of your posts for the challenge into a book.
ReplyDeleteAlways back to the hard work! You must plan your work and work your plan. Great series!
ReplyDeleteI always feel a bit twitchy and rebellious when I think about "branding" myself. I don't really want to be a brand and market myself. But I think that it's kind of a requirement if you want to be a writer. It's something I have to come to terms with.
ReplyDeleteOkay, think I'm following you now (my yahoo, networked blogs and FB .. now I won't miss a thing!)
ReplyDeleteTrisha Faye
www.trishafaye.wordpress.com
I think promoting myself id the hardest thing because I'm always afraid people won't like what i have to offer
ReplyDeleteThanks for all of the wonderful marketing tips, and putting another successful A to Z together! Yvonne is a very faithful follower, Susan is great too, and I'll head over to meet Mr. Waffles! Thanks again, Julie
ReplyDeletegood post. and you are right - we do make the ultimate decision.
ReplyDeleteSonia Lal @ Story Treasury
I'm looking forward to seeing what Tossing it Out looks like when the A to Z is over.
ReplyDeleteI've been enjoying A Few Words and decided to join in here as well.
Great post Lee- please keep tossing it out! I'm needy here and can use all the good advice i can get! Cheers, Sylvie of LittleSToday.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteMany thanks to all of the new followers, old followers, and those who just happened to drop in. No worries if you haven't kept up with my A to Z series--it'll be here if you want to come back to it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping in for this post.
Lee
Debra knows marketing. Now if I can finish THE BOOK I'm set. Can't say thanks enough for creating the challenge so my A and Z is dedicated to you!
ReplyDeleteHi Lee .. marketing is so important and to be prepared and ready with a plan, when the time comes.
ReplyDeleteI worked for a Marketing Manager - his grammar was terrible and his spelling even worse - it used to drive me demented! Theoretically I wasn't there to correct - just temping and helping out.
Cheers Hilary