Are you stuck in a rut? Has your promotion grown stale? Are your ideas stagnant? Do you stare at the blinking cursor and wonder what to write next? Does it seem like your blog posts are all the same? We’ve all been there!
In work and in life, it can be easy to continue to do things the way you’ve always done them. It’s comfortable and convenient, but it can also stall your forward momentum. If you’re ready to shake things up in 2019, then it’s time to take a risk and try something new!
Don’t hold onto a habit just because it’s comfortable.
If you notice a downturn in engagement, it could be a result of the change in social algorithms, but it could also be that your accounts have become predictable. If you are bored with your posts, it’s going to come through that way to your audience as well. If you’re still posting on Google+ but completely ignoring Instagram and LinkedIn, then it’s definitely time to shake things up! Tired of posting on Twitter? Focus on something new! If you’ve developed writers block and grown weary of writing full-length posts, consider switching it up and creating mini-blogs on Instagram or doing a weekly Facebook Live. Just because something used to work (and even work well) does not mean you have to keep doing it.
And just because it worked in the past, doesn’t mean it always will.
Instead of continuing to do what worked five years ago, shake up your schedule of promotion. Change up what you’re posting, incorporate new ideas, create share graphics that highlight your own content, and don’t waste your time on things that no longer meet your needs or the interests of your audience. Keeping tabs on where your audience hangs out will give you a sense of freedom to move on and change things up. Even though I met my boss on Twitter, neither of us spend much time on there these days and have moved on to new platforms that meet our respective needs.
So be willing to try something new.
In terms of book promotion, we’ve had to get a little more creative as the social landscape has changed. It’s been vital to our success that we resist the pull of the comfort zone and seek out ways to make our clients stand apart from the competition. Shaking things up a little has made our whole team take a look at what we do for “best practices” and consider whether or not those things are still the best that we could do, or if something else needs to take their place. Sometimes old faithful is still the best option (for example, Dan Rockwell is still rocking the Twittersphere!), but make sure you’re not hanging on just because it’s what you’ve always done. If you’re scheduled to launch another book, remember to include a new promotional tool or Download here. in your plan. If you’re no longer getting engagement on Twitter, try opening an Instagram account (and follow us @weaveinfluence). Don’t get stuck in the past!
The slide into a slump often happens without even realizing it, especially if you’ve been doing something for a long time. So if you want to experience growth, then it’s time to step outside of your comfort zone and give something new a chance!
Carrie Koens joined the Weaving Influence team in May 2012 and has held a number of roles, including three years as the Book Launch Director (a title she stepped away from in June 2016 in order to focus on the needs of her growing family), and she currently serves the team as a Writer and Consultant. An INTJ with a penchant for culture, book stores, Parisian cafés, Indian curry, British mystery shows, and her passport, you can find her on Twitter @CGKoens.