I like pistachios (marketing tips for writers)

Guest Article by Vella Karman!

Struggling with marketing? Today’s article is by Vella Karman and covers a few helpful marketing tips she’s picked up throughout her journey as an author!

Vella writes sweet, inspiring, urban fantasy stories, so if that sounds like something you or someone you know would enjoy, be sure to check out her debut novel, Beyond the Mirage! (It was a really enjoyable read!)

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I like pistachios. But I never eat them. 

In fact, most of the time I only eat them when it’s hard to find anything else…but I do truly like the taste, texture, and smell of these little salty nuts. 

Marketing is all over the place these days. 

People can’t turn on their phones, check their inboxes, or drive to church without a million messages whizzing past. 

Even things that they’re interested in (say, a book with teleportation) fly by. 

On average, people need to hear about something 7 times before they actually take advantage of it. (This is a stat they teach you in marketing classes, so obviously it’s true.) 

I like to think that means book buyers feel the same way I feel about pistachios. They like to read. They like your kind of book. They might even like the smell of books. But they don’t actually buy it unless something out of the ordinary happens. 

(The same way I mostly eat pistachios out of plastic bags that have been sitting on my desk for months, and not when they’re fresh.) 

I view marketing as a public service. 

There are people who legitimately would love your book (or being on your newsletter). But they won’t buy or join automatically because they’re soaked in marketing. 

They will never buy your book if they’re not interested in it. But for the people who are, your marketing is a lifesaver. 

You’re connecting them with something they want/need, and that’s good service. 

So when you’re selling your book (or promoting your newsletter), here are three tips to make your marketing serve your audience: 

Tip #1 – The CTA 

Marketers like to use fancy terms for normal stuff. 

One of these terms is a “call to action” (CTA). Basically, it’s an invitation. Imagine that you’re hosting a party and you’re nervous no one will come.

You could say, “my party is at five and it’s going to be a lot of fun.” And stand there awkwardly while you wait to be rejected or accepted. 

Or you could tell them about the party and end with, “you should come!” 

If you ask me, the second version is better for both you and your invitees. 

A few tips for using CTAs: Don’t make it awkward, don’t make them think any harder than necessary, and don’t make them take the initiative. 

Tip #2 – Out of Sight, Out of Mind 

If people don’t buy your book the first time, don’t assume they’re not interested. Keep talking about it. 

As with all things, balance is key. I’m not telling you to mention your book in every conversation you ever have. 

But for me (and a lot of other self-conscious writers), it’s easy to assume that you’ve failed if people don’t respond right away. 

Here’s the truth: 

● When you told that friend about your book launch, they might’ve not realized it was coming so soon. 

● When you announced it in your writer’s group, some people were distracted thinking about what to make for dinner. 

● When you posted on Facebook, some of your closest friends and family probably didn’t log in that day and never saw it. 

I have a lot of writer friends, and I do my best to support them. But when one of my friends //link: https://www.annaharpauthor.com/ // launched a book a few months ago, I literally went to the checkout page to buy the book and never actually did it. 

That friend emailed her launch team again, reminding people to buy the book. That prompted me to double-check if my order had gone through and find out the truth. 

So I bought the book. 

The point is: don’t get discouraged. People are distracted by a million other things. Keep putting your stuff out there so the people who want it will actually follow through. 

Tip #3 – Think Bigger 

God’s gifted me with the ability to impact people through stories. I feel like he’s called me to use that gift.

If you feel that way too, your highest goal shouldn’t be to sell thirty copies of a poetry collection out of your basement. 

Try thinking bigger: one million copies sold, hundreds of people encouraged in their faith, a newsletter with ten thousand people who like your books. 

You can glorify God with both the little and small things. But Christian writers tend to limit themselves by thinking small. 

I know of several Christian books that have made the New York Times Bestseller list. Why not yours? 

My debut novel came out a month ago, and I plan to work on connecting it with more readers until I reach a thousand sales or a hundred reviews. 

Practical application: instead of bugging the people you know to buy a second copy, rent a booth at a local craft show or farmer’s market and sell books there. 

Final thoughts 

You can do this. Marketing can feel hard, but the more you push into it and grow, the better you can serve your readers and glorify God through it. 

Hang onto these three tips as you go: 

1. Invite people to take action (buy/join) when you talk about your book/newsletter.

2. Keep putting your stuff out there. 

3. Think bigger. 

Check out my urban fantasy! 

I love Thirzah’s royal intrigue fantasy series! Fun fact: I participated on the launch team for all three books, and worked as an editor on the last two. My book has sibling dynamics, action, and lots of drama, like Adventures in Eldnaire.