There is a writer and there is a publisher, one creates and the other shares. There is a publisher and there is a marketer, one shares and the other promotes. One puts the words into a message, while the other’s job is putting words into action.

Who and what are you?

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The Pep Talk

There is a doer and someone who gets it done.
Who are you?

Follow through, don't make promises you can't keep and remember your limitations. If you fall short there is grace, but do your best to hold yourself accountable.

Remember you are human.

Don't be a "I can't girl" because you sure as hell can!

There is a negative Nelly and there is a positive Polly. It's about your attitude.
Who do you want to be?

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The Marketer Vs. The Writer

It’s easy to write, the words just seem to fall into place. It’s as if they have a mind of their own. And with intention the writer actually just might get their message out.

But once it’s out there, then what?

Who is actually listening? Who is the consumer of your words?

Market(ing) the Noun

My words live online and are found on my platform. How personal is that? A bunch of nameless people from across the globe viewing my posts.

Market – (noun) per Oxford Dictionary is a regular gathering of people for the purchases and sale of provisions and/or an area or arena in which commercial dealings are conducted.

The internet is the market. My audience lives online. These two statements feel so inhumane as if my audience is a bunch of bots.

Why bother writing to faceless people?

My stories are real and I am sharing my everyday struggles. Today’s struggle is Marketing. Writing is a passion but my passion is more than writing, it’s about connecting with people.

Marketing – (noun) per Oxford Dictionary is the activity or business of promoting and selling products or services.

I am a writer so what better place than to promote my work than online marketing to all. Except I’m finding it difficult to properly market.

Market the Verb

I have been writing consistently for over three years and resistant to putting myself out there in the live sphere. Hiding behind my words offered contentment but now I find myself stepping out of my comfort zone and wanting to make an impact. It’s a must as an aspiring author of self-help.

Market – (verb) per Oxford Dictionary is to advertise or promote (something.)

What’s not easy and what I struggle with is finding my audience.

“You” are still reading. Are “you” my audience?

Putting My Words Into Action

My name is Karen, the name behind the face of the grow-together blog. I’ve been doing this blogging thing for over two years, consistently publishing to the world-wide web. It’s going well!

Marketing Real Life Experiences

I use writing as a tool for recovery. Writing takes research and through research I am able to learn. Online research alone doesn’t even compare to real life experiences.

Human-centric marketing is a trend aiming to connect with consumers as people, not just as buyers presented with products and prices. It’s about creating a more intimate relationship with my audience. My focus is on the people I meet and who they represent.

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My Actions

All of the prep work I do through writing isn’t going to waste. Today not just because I have experienced detox and rehabilitation, but I continue to learn so I can share with others.

• Attending in-person recovery meetings and doing the work.
• Sharing my testimony
• Volunteering at the Pregnancy Center with women struggling with their addictions.
• “A Writer’s Guide for Recovery” shares transforming Swallow Your Pride from Memoir to Self-help.
• Created “An Author of Your Story” to provide introspection through journaling prompts.

My latest endeavor is “An Authors Guide for Publishing.” This new Substack pilar is a podcast that not only promotes self-help and recovery memoirs but brings awareness to recovery.

What good are our actions if they don’t help others?

Putting My Actions Into Words

Using Action Words

Action words related to marketing are advertise, distribute, motivate, promote, publicize, publish and sell. Each are necessary jobs for the writer. They are all relatively easy jobs.

These actions are meaningless if I don’t back them up with experiences. It is my actions that allow me to write and share with others. My words perpetuate my actions and then my actions offer content for writing.

Marketing Sobriety

To be successful at marketing an idea needs to be sold. If selling ice to an Eskimo is easy everyone would be doing it. Selling sobriety to an alcoholic is difficult because they don’t want or think they need what I have to offer. The same is true with selling sobriety to the person who can’t stand the taste of alcohol. They don’t even drink!

That is why my approach needs to be different. I am not selling sobriety in the form of abstinence from alcohol rather a mind free of all toxins. Choosing to cleanse myself of my unhealthy past, the resentments and bitterness, while being clear-headed, maintaining self-control, and sound judgement. That is where my strategy differs from many others who write and share about their recovery.

Falling Short

Successful marketing makes consumers customers. But it doesn’t stop there, the marketer must satisfy that customer’s needs and continue to foster the relationship. Marketing without actions is dead. Our actions are more important than the marketing of our goods and services.

In the last year I had good intentions but haven’t followed through with each proposal or goal. I either shared an idea that didn’t come to fruition or wasn’t able to meet a deadline. But this doesn’t mean I give up rather continue to grow as a woman in recovery and with my writing.

Offering Grace

We are human and need to remember that as long as we are moving in the right direction there will be setbacks. Grace allows me to move forward not just accepting my flaws but extending it to others who are on the same path of recovery. Grace is a gift.

Growing In Faith

I have been given a second chance. Through my spiritual death, by redeeming my soul and accepting Jesus. It is through my actions, not the words I use that save me.

So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without action is dead.

James 2:26 GNT

Are you ready to take your marketing to the next level, off of the web and into your community?

Act now and show your support!