In very short order an unknown author or artist can go from stage right to the spotlight if she knows how to promote herself.
In today's market, there is no shortage of writers looking to sell their writing. But there are good and bad ways of promoting ones wares.
Today, I'm going to take a look at a look at how to promote your work and/or hobby with the intention of initiating simple public relations strategies that get noticed.
First up, get yourself a blog. Everyone has by now heard of and experienced the Blogosphere in some fashion or another - either you have a blog or have read someone else's. If you don't know about blogs or what they are, consider taking a tour through Blogger.com some time.
A blog is a user-generated website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order. It's that simple. And then again it isn't.
Blogging is not for the faint of heart (if you do it frequently), nor is it difficult to blog or get responses to your blog. All it takes is a little time at the computer and a diligent attitude toward what you are doing.
My only problems with blogging are 1) that everyone's doing it and if everyone's doing it, then the chances of your blog being noticed depends more on your marketing capabilities than your blogging prowess, and 2) blogging has become so successful that blogs are becoming just another place to put advertising.
The art of marketing is not difficult to learn, but it can be a drain on your finances (often enough) and without a good strategy to market your work you could end up dissatisfied with the results or lack thereof.
If you do choose to initiate a marketing program, work within your budget. Don't be taken by organizations that make money by locking clients into contracts they are not ready for.
The key to blogging successfully is doing it regularly and involving your blog in communities that support your type of effort. One way to find other bloggers who are doing similar things (i.e. writers, artists, agents, publishers) is to search blogging communities and send a link to your own blog or an email about what you're doing.
It's likely, though not guaranteed, that other bloggers will embrace your effort and support you. Some bloggers I have known are also turned off by other bloggers due to the competitive nature of blogging. That's the business though. Everyone's going after the same chunk of cheese.
Whatever the downsides to blogging might be it is a surefire, inexpensive way to get the word out about what you are doing.
One after another, if you are blogging regularly, the announcements build up; a history begins to form out of what you are doing presently. Soon enough, there is a trail of personal success (however you measure it) and people will begin to take notice.
Like most hobbies that turn into a career, it's about getting up everyday and doing it. Duration plus effort and repetition equals success, which is often measured by persistence and patience.
Keep writing, keep reading.
