Ditch the Circus Act: Automate Your Indie Author Life (and Get Back to Writing!)

Automation isn't just about efficiency; it's about liberation. It's about giving yourself the gift of time to focus on what you love most: writing. Here's how it can change the game for you.

Hi friends,

Let's be honest. Being an indie author often feels like a frantic juggling act. You're spinning plates of character development, plot twists, and witty dialogue while simultaneously trying to balance social media posts, email newsletters, book promotions, and a never-ending to-do list. You're the ringmaster, the clown, the lion tamer, and the acrobat all rolled into one. It's enough to make even the most seasoned author want to run away and join the circus (and not in a good way). The sawdust is getting in your eyes, the roar of the crowd is giving you a headache, and quite frankly, you just want to sit down and write for a while.

I'll be the first to admit it: I'm a productivity nerd. I'm always on the lookout for "cheat codes" to reclaim my time and energy. And automation? That’s my superpower.

I don't automate because it's trendy; I automate because, at my core, I'm lazy. I'd rather spend my time dreaming up new worlds and characters than wrestling with spreadsheets or agonizing over social media captions. And you know what? You should, too.

The Automation Advantage: More Writing, Less Juggling

Automation isn't just about efficiency; it's about liberation. It's about giving yourself the gift of time to focus on what you love most: writing. Here's how it can change the game for you:

• Reclaim Your Time: Say goodbye to hours wasted on mundane tasks. Automation gives you back those precious hours so you can write more, market smarter, or simply recharge your creative batteries by (probably) scrolling TikTok. No? Just me? Alrighty then.

• Increase Productivity: We're all looking for ways to increase productivity without burning out. Automating the time-suck tasks can help. Imagine a well-oiled machine, humming along smoothly while you sip your coffee and dive into your latest chapter. That's what automation can do for your author business.

• Maintain Consistency: Ever wished you could clone yourself to keep up with social media, newsletters, and blog posts? Automation is the next best thing. Schedule your content in advance and watch your online presence thrive, even when you're busy crafting your next bestseller. 

Your Automation Starter Kit: Conquer the "Suck"

Before you dive headfirst into the world of automation, take a moment to assess your current workflow. Which tasks consistently leave you feeling bogged down, frustrated, or overwhelmed?  

This is what I call "the suck." You want to automate the suck so it doesn’t, you know, suck. 

Pinpointing these pain points is the crucial first step towards effective automation. By identifying the areas where you're spending the most time or struggling the most, you can strategically prioritize the tasks that will benefit most from automation. Once you've identified your biggest time-wasters and productivity killers, you're ready to tackle some easy wins. Here are a few simple automation strategies that can make a significant impact on your author business:

Email Marketing:

• Hands-Free Newsletters: Say goodbye to the last-minute scramble to get your newsletter out. Write a single blog post and let your email service provider pick it up and send it automatically through an RSS-to-email automation, so every new blog post is automatically sent to your subscribers. (Here’s an example of how to do this with Mailerlite.) 

Social Media Maven:

• Schedule and Thrive: Don't let social media become an energy vampire. Use scheduling tools like Buffer or PromoRepublic to plan your posts in advance, freeing you to focus on writing and engaging with readers in real time.  Bonus points if you can repurpose your blog content into social media snippets!

Sales & Distribution Dynamo:

• Review Team Assembly: Streamline your ARC team process by automatically sending out digital review copies through platforms like BookFunnel once they sign up using a form. Track reviews in Airtable, Notion, or Google Sheets and send automated reminders until their review is posted. 

Leveling Up: Automation for the Savvy Author

Ready to take your automation game to the next level? Here are a few more advanced techniques:

• CRM Wizardry: Turn website visitors into loyal fans with automated email sequences, web push notifications, or even text messages tailored to their interests. Think of it as your own personal marketing assistant, working tirelessly in the background to nurture your leads and boost your sales.

• Data Insights Unleashed: Gather data from multiple sources and automate its analysis. Uncover trends, understand your audience's preferences, and make informed decisions to grow your author business. Knowledge is power, and automation gives you the power to harness that knowledge without spending hours poring over spreadsheets.

• Workflow Optimization: Create powerful workflows that connect multiple actions. For example, you could automatically validate new subscribers' email addresses, add them to your email list, and send them a welcome discount for your books—all with a single signup. This is like having a virtual assistant who never sleeps!

Beware the Automation Pitfalls (and My Late-Night Coding Mishap)

I once spent an entire weekend automating the process for subscribers of Indie Author Magazine to switch between annual and monthly subscriptions with just one-click. I was incredibly proud of the sequence I’d built — as well as the custom code that I hacked well into the wee hours of a Saturday night. 

I rolled into our Monday morning all-hands meeting feeling like I’d solved the greatest problem we faced. Imagine how deflated I was when my business partner showed me that 3 people had requested this over the past two years. I solved a problem that simply didn’t exist. 

Lesson learned: Don't automate just for the sake of automation. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of new tools and shiny features, but not every task needs to be automated. Focus on the areas where automation will truly make a difference in your life and business. Don't waste time automating something that doesn't need it or that you could easily do manually.

Another pitfall to avoid is neglecting maintenance. Automation tools and workflows aren't "set it and forget it" solutions. They require regular monitoring and updating to ensure they're functioning correctly and delivering the desired results.  Remember, automation is supposed to make your life easier, not create more work!

Finally, be prepared for a bit of a learning curve. Automation tools can be powerful, but they can also be complex. Take the time to learn how to use them properly and don't be afraid to ask for help or consult online resources if you get stuck.  

Your Automated Author Adventure Awaits

Automation isn't just about saving time; it's about reclaiming your creative energy, reducing stress, and building a sustainable author career. By automating the mundane, you can focus on the magic of writing and connecting with readers. So, ditch the juggling act, embrace the power of automation, and let your creativity soar. Your next bestseller is waiting, and automation can help you get there faster and with less stress.

Ready to take the plunge? Start small, experiment, and don't be afraid to ask for help along the way. The rewards of automation are worthwhile! 

Chelle Honiker writes a weekly newsletter called Author Automations and is the founder of Indie Author Magazine, Indie Author Training, Indie Author Tools, and Direct2Readers.com to empower authorpreneurs. She also serves as the programming director for Author Nation, an annual conference in Las Vegas. Chelle's extensive career in executive operations and leadership, coupled with her experience as a speaker and TedX Organizer, showcases her dedication to supporting and empowering authors worldwide.

What do you think of this one?

• Are you already automating bits of your author business?

• Are you too nervous to start?

• Do you think this is a good way to fight overwhelm?

Let us know in the comments.

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