Promoting Your Work Without Being Obnoxious

We all have that friend. Maybe they sell essential oils, or bags, or beauty products. Maybe they are a local craftsman, or, like many of our readers, maybe they are an author.

And do you know how you know they are that thing? Because it is literally ALL they talk about online. Every single post is a reference to the product they are hawking, and lets be honest, we've all unfollowed that person at one point or another.

Does that mean that promoting on social media is a lost cause? Doomed to failure?

Of course not. Social media is probably your best tool in your promotional toolbox. But, as with most things, moderation and balance are key. So here are three tips to help you promote your work without being obnoxious.

Don't be spammy

Have you ever been added to a group or online sales party without your permission? And then you see the updates over and over again? Who added you? This guy? You haven't seen this guy in twenty years, why is he adding you to things? Invite people to like your page, but don't seek out old relationships for the purpose of selling to them. People can sniff out when you're being hollow.

Half of networking is forming relationships. Care about your audience, not just about whether or not they are going to buy your book.

Involve them in the process

Your social media presence should begin long before you publish. Posting that you have written a book and it is AVAILABLE NOW may get you a few purchases, but if you have been posting for months that you are writing a book, and updating your platform on your progress, you will already have a built-in audience dying to see what you've been doing all this time.

As you write, take your platform on the journey with you. They will feel invested and less like you are simply trying to get their money.

Remember the rule of 80/20

This is so important, and something many people forget. Before you are a writer (or Direct Salesperson, or candlemaker or whatever), you are a person, with a life. Post about that life. 80% of your posts should be unrelated (or only sort of related) to your book. People relate to other people, and the whole reason behind social media is that we love getting peeks into other peoples lives. Give your audience something to peak at (Sorry, phrasing). By following the 80/20 rule, you will be able to promote without your audience feeling like they are inundated with sales pitches.