3 Time-Saving Tips for Busy Authors

I recently asked some authors what they were struggling with the most with book marketing and social media. The resounding answer was the lack of time. 

In today’s world, more responsibility for marketing and promoting a book is on the shoulders of authors. It doesn’t matter if you’re self-published or have a traditional publishing house - most of the book marketing responsibility falls on you. 

So how in the world do you manage it all? How do you find time to write, market, and live your life without losing your mind? 

I wish I had a foolproof, 100% sure answer for you. But I do have some tips that will set you up to make the process much easier.
 

Setting Goals Saves Time

I’ve mentioned how unproductive the “ready, fire, aim” approach can be in earlier blog posts. If you don’t choose a specific goal for your marketing campaign before you set out, you will most likely waste your valuable time, and probably even head in the wrong direction.

You need to have a clear picture where you want to end up and a specific plan for the easiest way to get there.

If your goal is to sell 1,000 books in three months, you can create simple action steps that will help you accomplish that goal. It will show you what you should focus on and what you can ignore. 

The key is to not wing it. Be specific! Invest a little extra time up front planning things so you can be more efficient with your time completing all the tasks in the long run.

Start Simple, Get Fancy Later 

One of the worst things that you can do as an author is play the comparison game. When we see an established author who has millions of followers, an amazing website, and with tons of media coverage, we tend to think that that’s what we need to do to be successful. 

We are just focusing on the impressive tree without recognizing how the roots support that tree, or how long it took that tree to get so big. There is no such thing as overnight success. A thriving business takes time and learning from a lot of mistakes along the way. 

The danger with comparing yourself to established authors is trying to mirror what they are currently doing. They are on step 39 and you’re on 4. 

Start small and build from there. When you do this, it allows you to figure out your style, what you really want, and what realistically works for you. Focus on keeping things simple, laying a strong foundation so you can grow at a steady pace over time and build a lasting presence. 

As Confucius said, “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”

Work With What You’ve Got 

I know many of you are struggling to find time to write your book, let alone market it. You might have kids, a full time job, or other life demands. I get it - I’ve been in the same position. 

I once heard a fitness instructor say that it’s not just the amount of time you put into working out - showing up every day is the most important thing. If you only have 15 minutes a day, do it! The key is to be consistent. Creating a habit of even doing just a little bit every day will help. And on the days you have more time available, it will be much easier to invest that additional time into your marketing work and keep the ball rolling.

So don’t focus on what you don’t have - figure out what you DO have and work with that. 

Sometimes we think that we need to make big changes to see big results. Many times it’s small adjustments that make all the difference. 

If you want to go a step further and get all of the tools, resources, and help that you need to market your book, grow on social media, and sell more books - join The Author Circle membership!