How to Conquer Your Book Marketing Anxiety

If you get anxiety when it comes to marketing your book, this episode is for you! 

My sweet friend and client, author Healey Ikerd, is here to share tips to help you overcome worry and self-doubt from a Biblical point of view. 

Healey is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the author of Changing Your Feelings: A Workbook for Anxiety and Worry from a Christian Perspective, and her children’s book, The Red Ball, a story of forgiveness and friendship.

You’ll hear how Healey is marketing her own books and her experience booking podcast interviews through the PodMatch service.

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As a practicing therapist, Healey saw a gap in Christian resources, specifically merging biblical principles with cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques. This became the foundation for her book, Changing Your Feelings: A Workbook for Anxiety and Worry from a Christian Perspective.

Healey candidly shares her initial overwhelm of marketing her own book and how connecting with a network of supportive individuals helped her navigate this new territory. From learning the basics of marketing to engaging in workshops, Healey’s journey highlights how crucial a supportive community can be.

“When I released Changing Your Feelings, it was a different time. I didn’t know much; I just released it in an effort to help people. Releasing my second book, for children, brought in the marketing complexities.”

Healey's authenticity in expressing her struggles with self-doubt is something so many of us can relate to as we build audiences and reach new readers with our God-given message.

Leaning on Faith and Purpose

A significant part of Healey’s journey is her reliance on faith. When facing marketing challenges, she leaned into prayer and her relationship with God to guide her decisions. She shares how this freed her from the pressure of building a platform and allowed her to focus instead on her mission's core.

“God said, ‘Healey, don't worry about the platform.’ That set me free. If the platform builds, great. But if not, I don’t feel pressured.”

What a refreshing perspective for authors feeling overwhelmed by the demands of marketing.

The Emotional Roller Coaster of Writing

Kim and Healey further explore the emotional vulnerability of writing and releasing a book. Healey equates writing to serving a deeply personal part of yourself, making external validation a tempting yet dangerous pursuit. She recounts her internal battles with self-worth tied to her book's success or failure.

“I had a lot of ‘what ifs’ — What if people don’t like it? What if it gets bad reviews? It created a lot of anxiety and self-doubt.”

However, through prayer and reflection, Healey found peace in the inherent value of her work, independent of external success markers.

Healey emphasizes that every writer’s journey is unique. She encourages fellow writers to focus on their motivations and the truth of their personal story rather than getting lost in comparisons. Coming back to the core of why you started writing can realign your efforts with your true purpose.

“Remember the why. Focus on the truth of the situation. Comparison is a joy stealer.”

These powerful words remind authors to stay grounded and true to their unique paths.

Practical Tips for Overcoming Self-Doubt

Kim asks Healey for practical tips for listeners dealing with similar anxieties and self-doubts. Healey highlights the importance of truth and encouraging self-talk.

Focus on truthful, positive thoughts to counteract negative self-perceptions and doubts.

“Always go back to truth. It’s our self-talk that’s the killer. Encouraging and helpful self-talk, aligned with God’s truth, can help us overcome those fears.”

By rooting actions and thoughts in truth, authors can navigate anxieties more effectively.

Healey reminds us that it’s okay to struggle, and that staying true to one’s purpose and faith can guide you through the overwhelmed.

From Writing to Podcasting

Has Healey ever thought about starting her own podcast? Healey recognizes the opportunity but emphasizes the importance of heart-checks and ensuring her actions align with her values. She prefers to engage in tasks that feel led by a higher calling rather than pressured by trends or comparisons.

“I just want to pursue Him with all my heart and nothing else. I have to make sure my heart’s in check and that I’m doing things for the right reasons.”

This approach ensures that whatever Healey pursues, it remains aligned with her faith and values.

Healey's experience with PodMatch

After hearing about PodMatch on Book Marketing Mania, Healey signed up, calling it “the best invention ever“.

She's matched up with podcast hosts and recorded several interviews already. She loves discovering new shows to listen to as well.

Sometimes she sees shows and thinks to herself “I probably don't have anything to lend to that audience“. We can all relate, right?

Healey remembers hearing on the podcast that you do have the unique perspective of just being you and that will resonate with listeners. That's something else she's loved about PodMatch, that she can get a few interviews under her belt to build up her confidence.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, let Healey’s story give you hope that peace and purpose are achievable, even in the often chaotic world of book marketing.

Thanks Healey for serving my listeners so well! 💛

Healey’s Changing Your Feelings workbook
Healey’s website
FREE Resource: Overcoming Anxieties, Worries and Self-Doubts when Marketing Your Book

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