Oh, did I raise an eyebrow or two when I mentioned this week that I spend 15 minutes a day marketing! You don’t believe it, do you? But it’s true. I don’t spend a ton of time marketing. My marketing is virtual and quick – therefore, it shouldn’t take much time. Oh, not every marketing task I do is that short. Some are longer, some much shorter. How long does it take you to write an email to a client saying, “Just checking in to see how you’re doing and what you’re working on. Can I help in any way?” Yep. One minute.
Because I’ve written more queries than I could count over the last 15+ years, I know what to say when I get the idea, find the market, and put fingers to keyboard. I should. If I don’t, there’s something wrong with me. But if you’re starting out, it’s going to take you longer. First, you have to find an idea. That in itself could take some of you more than 15 minutes. And because you’re new to it, that’s fine.
But many of us don’t market because we’re under the impression that it’s time taken away from the business of writing. Au contraire, mes amis! That’s time you’ve just invested into your business.
So this week’s assignment: Invest 15 minutes into some marketing activity. It could be looking for ideas, looking for homes for those ideas, learning how to write query letters (hint: click on the tabs to the left here for query letter help articles), writing an email query offering your services, or all of the above. Just do something that puts your name in front of a new or existing client. You can’t get the job if you don’t ask for it, right?
How long do you spend marketing each week?
9 responses to “Worthy Tip: Give Yourself 15 Minutes”
That reminds me of a time when I worked at a company where I would have to go this particular lady to ask to have something done. She yipped at me about not having time, right now, to do it. She said that as she was playing computer solitaire.
Now, that example doesn't have anything to do with marketing, but if you read between the lines…
Maybe one could spend 15 minutes less chatting on Twitter about the movie you saw last night or whatever and use it elsewhere.
I spent a couple of hours sending out pitches/queries for the plays whose rights are coming available. I think it took 2-3 hours to query about 3 dozen producers, modifying each query for the individual company/researching the company's roster.
I'm in talks with several of them already.
For me it depends on the week. This week, it's probably around the 15 minute mark. Most weeks its more.
My challenge is to remember to make time to query and contact editors when my schedule is full. I kick myself later for not doing it, because invariably a lull will follow when I wind up doing little more than marketing to find that next job or three.
BTW – the word of mouth "advertising" worked well for my Santa letters this year. I want to keep the number of letters manageable, yet still make enough money to help off-set my Christmas costs. Since custom letters require details about the recipients, I also want a customer base of people who already know me, or know someone who knows me well. After all, no parent should send detailed information about their kids to a total stranger.
I sent my flier to four people: My sister-in-law, one of her best friends who ordered last year, one of my best friends, and a neighbor. They circulated the flier to their friends and I had 16 orders. Small, but manageable. Next year, some of them will likely tell their friends, too. Each letter only takes about 10 minutes to write – like queries, the more you do the faster you get, so it's a decent ROI on a flier than I simply updated from last year.
I often do a set of mini-email check-ins, as well. Mine are more along the lines of… "Hey, what ever happened with that project that we talked about a few months back? Are you still planning to get it rolling, or is it dead in the water?"
I find that I often get a response of, "Would you mind taking the lead on it? It really needs to be finished up but I haven't had time to talk to X and Y. I've copied them on this email, so see if you guys can get started without me."
I think the problem is the word. Marketing. It has echoes of corporate drudge work combined with buying groceries, both of which most people hate. "God, I hate marketing myself," writers say, imagining putting on a suit and tie and getting stacked in the produce aisle between watermelon and zucchini (vine ripened!)
So we need another word for it. My fave, "shameless self-promotion", is distasteful for the more Victorian among us — "I can't boast about myself" — and "query" must sound like an arcane practice involving herbs and bat organs, because nobody understands that either.
Perhaps "surviving". I want to eat, therefore I put myself out into the world, shamelessly, intelligently, marketably. "I'll be surviving this week" has a nice ring to it.
And you know what … God bless all those who find the concept of marketing so foreign and frightening. More work for me.
That's my favorite too, Joseph. 🙂 The concept is to meet new people and extend your services to them. But do we think of it that way? Nooooo…
Bingo, Wendy!
Devon, in your case, and maybe in the case of others, 15 minutes won't cut it. But if you promise yourself JUST 15 minutes, it lifts that cloud that hangs over the whole marketing thing. You're a perfect example of the payoff one gets from time spent marketing.
Paula, don't look at how little you did, but how much you've accomplished. :)) It's too easy to kick ourselves. You have a great plan there.
Rebecca, I'm glad you back up my 15 minutes a day idea. It doesn't take time to market that way. Okay, so marketing like Devon does is more time consuming, but the payoff is SO worth it!
As a person who is new to the freelance writing business, I appreciate your insightful advice. Your query examples were very helpful. I've benefitted so much from your expertise. Thanks for remembering the little gals like me:)
Andrea, you're not a little gal – you're on the path to huge potential. 🙂
That's what we strive for – helping each other. Once you find your sea legs, just pass on what you've learned to the next newbie. 🙂
Thanks for the supportive words Lori. I appreciate them very much.
Best wishes