Promote your shit!
I wrote my first book, Everything I Couldn’t Tell My Mother, in 2014 and it continues to be a source of income for me to this very day. This is because I take advantage of every moment I’m given (even some I boldly take) to talk about it; what inspired it, and what opportunities it sparked once it was finally out into the world.
Truth be told, my decision to continuously promote my book is because I refuse to allow my story to fall into obscurity.
But, for those in my industry, I find it all too common to see people excitedly promote their work in the weeks and days leading up to launch day, and maybe, just maybe in the months after. But nothing more. What follows is usually a steady decline in enthusiasm until the posts all but disappear from their content altogether.
Think about it. How many people do you know who’ve launched something a few months to a few years ago? When was the last time you saw them promote that product or project?
Why is that?
Every time I see this happen, I question why someone would choose to abandon something that once meant so much to them once the dust apparently settles. If anything, I see it as the perfect time to kick the dust up again, and again, and again.
Just recently, I shared a post on my Instagram story about my 2014 release. Within a few hours, a friend and founder of a popular book club, reached out, “Omg, I didn’t know you had a book!” To which I replied, “I didn’t know you had a book club!” Though we’ve been mutuals for quite some time, this became a timely reminder to me (and you) that every time you step out of your comfort zone to promote the things you’ve created, you create room for new people to find you.
After my friend and I laughed at the revelation, the conversation quickly shifted to the possibility of me being a speaker at her monthly book club meet-up in New York City where my book would be featured as the book of the month. Not only am I beyond grateful for the opportunity, but I’m excited for my book to reach a new generation of readers, all because I never stopped talking about it.
And neither should you.
You can’t be too cool, embarrassed or consumed by the fear of being seen trying or even failing when it comes to talking about the projects that speak to your deepest passions. My book is one of my life’s greatest works, and for that reason alone, I’ll never be ashamed to talk about it, loudly and proudly forever.
So, if you’ve created something, or you’re about to, talk about it, tell people about it, and give those meant to find it a real chance to, even if that might be years later. Reality is, you can’t put that much time and love into your work just to forget about it.
Be proud of this shit you made!”