The majority of authors begin with a flawed premise:
“Good writing will generate revenue.”
Either it will or it will not.
This assumption is not entirely incorrect, but it is also not entirely correct.
Do you only consider quality when making purchases at the grocery store?
The writing profession is no exception to this rule.
You do need a quality product, but that is all you need.
More is required if you want your writing to be read and generate revenue: marketing, strategy, and tactics.
What sells is a combination of a strong product, effective marketing, and a sound business plan.
Returning to the grocery store:
How do you pick a particular yogurt or toothpaste?
A quality product is not the only factor, I wager.
It has to do with a trustworthy brand:
- A lovely, eye-catching package.
- A commitment supported by outcomes.
- A great deal or an alluring offer.
- The shelf’s visibility and ease of use.
- The legitimacy of the product (top brand, best-selling, etc.)
Do not be duped; people are complicated creatures who never base a choice solely on one consideration, particularly when money is at stake.
So, how can you get readers to choose you and your work?
The monsta of marketing
Writers can be divided into two categories: those who enjoy marketing and those who do not.
The unicorns, on the other hand, sell their writing by using their marketing superpowers. You should be one of them, too.
When done well, marketing is your round-the-clock salesperson who makes a product a product. However, the majority of writers avoid it, making it an afterthought.
As a fellow Medium writer and reader, I have read almost hundreds of articles from 100+ authors, and it’s a deja vu: writers run away from the marketing monsta. They then ponder the reason behind the cricket sounds.
Poor marketing cannot be saved by good writing.
Demystifying marketing
Understanding the fundamentals of marketing does not require you to be an expert. It requires being a bit business savvy, some common sense, and an attention to detail.
Here are some basics that will increase your views, conversions, and sales.
Your trademark
People are unlikely to purchase from you if they do not know who you are, particularly if the product is related to a trust-sensitive topic (self-help, advice, leadership, etc.).
You better turn on the camera and microphone and prepare for some action because writing without marketing is like writing in a journal because no one will read it.
You are not your brand by your book.
You are not your brand by your course.
Your brand does not exist in your newsletter.
Your brand is who you are.
Come out of your shell and share your values and identity with the world. Simply put, your product is a manifestation of your brand.
Participate in podcasts, post on social media, reveal your voice or face, and establish rapport and trust. Do not be a stranger; if you want people to buy from you, they must believe in you.
You can do videos, LinkedIn Lives, X Spaces, interviews, and guest posts. It is up to you to choose according to your strengths and preferences.
What is your title?
Many writers view their title as an accessory they quickly grab when leaving out the front door, even though 80% of readers will not read past it.
While a title can make or break a story, it will not make it.
Seasoned writers spend a lot of time strategizing the title, picking tactical keywords, and spicing it up with power words to add intensity and emotions.
You can optimize your title with a variety of free tools. Monster Insights (no affiliation) gives a score and suggestions such as character counts or using emotional words.
The package you received
The goal of marketing is to make things appear beautiful.
Like water flowing through a river, your writing must feel natural.
In order to maintain their interest, readers require visual breaks, contrast, and an appealing appearance and feel that builds suspense. I scroll down in agony when I see endless passages of text, wondering if or when it will ever end.
That is not how you want people to feel. Let us end the agony.
I spend just as much time formatting and curating as I do writing.
Have fun styling your writing by experimenting with the formatting tools, changing up the fonts, and adding contrast.
A lovely and fashionable package makes a big impression.
Your bookcase
Whether it is books, blogs, or newsletters, getting on the right shelf is essential. And making friends with the dreaded and elusive SEO is the way to discover your ideal location.
Does SEO really matter?
Only if you want search engines (like Google) to increase your visibility and highlight your writing so that readers will click on it.
It is not necessary to make things too complicated. Let us use SubStack as an illustration. The following three steps will help you avoid SEO:
- Personalize the description, which is what Google displays beneath your title. It will automatically display the first sentence or the subtitle if you do not have a description. Make sure you include strategic keywords and that it is clear.
To draw in my ideal readers, I used keywords like views, sales, SEO, and marketing for this piece.
2. Improve the URL link by making it as relevant and unambiguous as you can. To help search engines comprehend concepts, encode words with hyphens.
3. Adhere to the recommended character count.
Returning to today’s topic, the supermarkets are extremely busy, and it is Black Friday every day, which is why your writing is not getting any views.
Products are piled on top of one another, and countless brands are vying for consumers’ attention.
Do not let the crowds get to you.
- Take pride in your place on the SEO shelf.
- Encase your writing in a seductive bundle.
- Invest in creating a recognizable and beloved brand.
You will be the next unicorn.
If you want to earn from Writing
Read this How to Set Up a Blog: The Complete Guide to Make Money from Blogging
Or This How I Started Forex Trading and First Lost $500, Then Earned $5K
