This post will be pointed towards a specific group of people. This is for my peeps trying to market their product, their idea, or even themselves PURELY on social media. If you’re not trying to do that, you may not want to read any further. So go on, get!

Now that they’re gone… what kind of shit show is this?! I have used social media to market myself for roughly twelve years. Originally for photography, then for my book. I guess I took my photography business marketing journey for granted. It seemed so easy. I’d run a sponsored ad on Facebook once a month and get a few people outside of my repeat customers, and it was great! I should probably mention this was during the beginning of Facebook ads, and they were MUCH more affordable. Also, my photography business was my second job, so I wasn’t exactly trying to reach a huge crowd. I needed to keep it a weekend business.

But now, I am trying my best to become a novelist, like the kind that only writes for a living. My dream job. Therefore, I am trying to reach a large audience, and it is SO EXPENSIVE. Since publishing in January, I have spent roughly $500 on advertisement, specifically on Facebook. I haven’t tried advertisement anywhere else only because I’m not sure how. Which is my own fault and probably one of my limiting factors.

I have seen that a lot of people have success with TikTok or Pinterest. I think that is very time-consuming, but I will say, I can sacrifice more time than I can money, at this moment of my life. Granted, with the kids and everything else I have going on, I have to give up sleep for it.

But isn’t that what every successful person talks about when they’ve hit their goal? They tell you everything they sacrificed in order to get there. I get it, I really do. I’m just not willing to give up time with my children, especially this young. My friend and I were talking about this the other day. We spoke about our dreams and goals and what we think it will take to get there. We both agreed we just weren’t willing to give up our time with our children to get there. They’re so young, I don’t want to miss anything. But then I got to thinking, and I said to her, “Will there ever be a time in our lives we’re willing to give up time with our kids to achieve our dreams?” We both laughed because there is never going to be that time. Now don’t get me wrong, I understand as my children grow they will require less of me, especially if I do my job right. When I think of my life in twenty years, my oldest will be twenty-five, my middle twenty-three, my youngest twenty-one, I can’t imagine I won’t answer their call to meet them for lunch with, “sorry I can’t, I’m writing.” I just don’t think that will ever happen.

Okay, back on subject. Sorry, I went on a short tangent there. I think a lot of people have found success marketing on TikTok as well as Instagram and Pinterest. Admittedly, I have done a few videos and I was embarrassed posting them. It takes real cajones to put yourself out there. I need to try harder with that and get over myself. I have had a friend make fun of the videos I have made so far, and it really slowed me down. That person was a very close friend, and if they think they’re cringy, I can’t imagine what people who don’t know me think. BUT, this is where I need to learn not to give a shit what others think. I don’t mean it in the, “I’ll wear whatever I want, I don’t care,” because I am already there. I mean the TRULY not giving a shit. I think that must be the real freedom.

So I am reaching out to you guys. What’s your secret for marketing? Where have you found the most success? What groups should I look into? I REALLY want to make this book thing happen, so please tell me what you had to do—short of selling your soul—to get your product out into the world!

Until next time, ladies & gents~