BOOK MARKETING BRAINSTORM SESSION

2025: Make Book Marketing an Intention, Not Just a Resolution

book marketing Jan 02, 2025

Every year, as the calendar flips to January, many nonfiction authors resolve to market their books more effectively. Promises to engage more on social media, update blogs, and reach out to potential readers. Yet, by February, these resolutions often fade away, leaving only a fleeting memory behind.

The enthusiasm that fueled these commitments wanes as the daily grind takes over, and the once-vibrant promises of increased marketing efforts get shelved alongside last year’s forgotten resolutions.

But why do these well-meaning resolutions often fall short?

Resolutions are often broad and ambitious but lack the specificity needed for consistent action. It’s like declaring, “I will be healthier this year,” without outlining a clear plan to achieve your goal. The lack of structure makes the goal overwhelming, causing procrastination or giving up when results don’t happen quick enough.

Instead of setting a resolution, what if you made book marketing an intention?

Why Intention Beats Resolution

An intention is a commitment to a process rather than a singular outcome. It’s about creating habits that integrate seamlessly into your daily life.

While resolutions often feel like a long, daunting race to a distant goal, intentions center on the journey itself. They emphasize small, consistent actions that steadily add up over time.

This approach simplifies book marketing by turning it into small, daily steps. Each step contributes to your book’s success, gradually building connections, visibility, and engagement.

How can you turn this concept into action?

Here’s how you can transform your approach to book marketing with simple, daily actions that build over time, turning marketing from a daunting resolution into a sustainable intention.

Start with 15 Minutes a Day

15 minutes might not sound like much, but when dedicated daily, it can lead to significant results. Here are some small, actionable steps you can take:

Social Media Engagement:

  • Choose one platform where your audience hangs out.
  • Spend your time liking, commenting, and joining discussions about your book’s topic.
  • Example: If your book is on health, engage in wellness groups or forums. Share a quick tip or insight from your book.

Email List Nurturing:

  • Draft a short newsletter or an email update.
  • Share a snippet from your book, an upcoming event, or a relevant news piece that ties back to your content.
  • Example: Send out a weekly “health hack” from your book to keep subscribers engaged.

Content Creation:

  • Write a brief blog post or create a short video.
  • Focus on one idea or chapter from your book.
  • Example: Record a 2-minute video discussing a key concept from your book and post it on YouTube or Instagram.

Networking:

  • Reach out to one person — a blogger, podcaster, or another author in your niche.
  • Propose a collaboration like a guest post or a podcast appearance.
  • Example: Send an email to a podcast host, suggesting a 15-minute segment on your expertise.

Book Reviews:

  • Dedicate time to request reviews from readers or influencers.
  • Follow up on previous review requests or thank those who have reviewed your book.
  • Example: Use a tool like Goodreads to find reviewers in your genre and message them personally.

SEO Optimization:

  • Update your website or blog with keywords related to your book’s topic.
  • Write or tweak meta descriptions for your book pages.
  • Example: Add a new keyword to your blog post titles to improve search visibility.

Learning and Research:

  • Spend time learning about a new marketing tool or trend.
  • Read articles or watch tutorials to stay updated.
  • Example: Learn about a new social media algorithm change and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Analytics Review:

  • Look at your sales or website traffic for insights on what’s working.
  • Adjust your marketing tactics based on data.
  • Example: Notice if certain posts drive more traffic and replicate that content type.

Local Engagement:

  • Look for local opportunities like book clubs or community talks.
  • Draft a quick email to local libraries or bookstores proposing a talk.
  • Example: Offer a free 15-minute talk on a topic from your book at a local community center.

Personal Growth:

  • Reflect on your marketing efforts, what you’ve learned, and what you can do better.
  • Jot down one new idea or strategy to try next.
  • Example: Write down one marketing tactic you haven’t tried yet and plan to implement it.

The Compound Effect

Just like compound interest in finance, the compound effect in marketing means small, consistent actions lead to exponential results over time. Each 15-minute session builds on the last, creating a broader reach, deeper connections, and more sales.

Consistency Over Intensity

The key here isn’t to do everything at once but to do something on a consistent basis. Marketing isn’t about a burst of activity but rather steady, persistent effort. By making book marketing an intention, you commit to this daily practice, turning it into a part of your routine, like brushing your teeth or checking your emails.

Forget the traditional New Year’s resolution mindset. Instead, make your book marketing a daily intention. By committing just 15 minutes each day to these small, manageable tasks, you’ll see your marketing efforts grow organically.

Remember, the goal is not to sprint but to keep walking. Your book’s success will come from the accumulation of these daily efforts, proving that in the marathon of book marketing, it’s the steady pace, not the speed, that wins the race.