Valerie Allen Shares Her Serendipitous Marketing Ideas

Serendipitous Marketing

Today’s Guest Blogger Is

Valerie Allen

If you are an author, you are also in the retail business. Most writers do not view marketing as their super power. Many consider marketing and sales, the bane of their writing life. Perhaps, but it is a necessary evil that comes with the territory.

If you break out in a rash at the thought of speaking to others about your writing, understand you must tell to sell. Keep in mind, advertising is paid for, promotion is prayed for. I often tell writers to have their “marketing brain in networking mode” at all times and the most unexpected things can happen.

Here is a recent experience I had that makes my point. I am a writer, a psychologist, a college instructor, an event planner for authors and book events, and Director of Authors for Authors (AuthorsForAuthors.com). I am a very busy person (as most of us are!)

I came across a lady, Patty Wolf, who was retired and was offering her services as a “personal assistant.” Her list of tasks included data entry, mail outs, phone registrations, etc. Wow! This woman seemed like a dream come true to help with my never-ending “to do” list. I contacted her and we met at my office to discuss what I needed and things where she felt she could be of help.

In the course of getting to know one another, it turned out that Patty Wolf and her husband, Jeff, own and publish, “The Pet Gazette.” This is a FREE newspaper, with an online edition. They focus on saving animals and encourage people to adopt pets from shelters. What a great mission!

My marketing brain kicked into gear. How could I help Patty and Jeff get more online attention for their cause and help my authors with their books? We did some brainstorming and came up with a “Pets and Books” section to their online edition. If it went well, she offered to showcase our authors in the print edition. How did this work out? Very well, I’d say. Go to PetGazette-Pets.com and see for yourself. Let me know what you think. ([email protected])

Did I know this would be the outcome of finding a ‘personal assistant’ for my business in the world of mental health services? Absolutely not! However, by keeping my writer brain going strong, and always seeking promotional opportunities, this serendipitous marketing seemed to come out of nowhere. No, not really; I don’t think so. This was not just the “Luck of the Irish.” My belief is the harder I work, the luckier I get! This is what happens when writers realize they are in the retail business. They need to find opportunities everywhere they look. They must tell to sell.

MORE ABOUT TODAY’S GUEST BLOGGER

Valerie Allen writes, fiction, nonfiction, short story anthologies, and children’s books. You can email her at [email protected]. Her work can be found at Amazon.com/author/valerieallen. Learn more about Valerie Allen at ValerieAllenWriter.com. Find information at AuthorsForAuthors.com and join the Facebook group, Authors For Authors.