One-on-One Consulting is where I become your co-pilot to grow your author platform, create meaningful connections with readers, or prepare for your big book launch.
If you are looking for a transformation in your creative work — to finally launch your book, to once and for all have complete clarity on what you create and why, to know in your bones who your work is meant to reach, and how to do it — then you know that right now is your big chance.
Over the years, I have worked with thousands of writers and creative professionals to do the work necessary to successfully connect their vision to an engaged audience. They took action to ensure their message was heard, and it paid off.
Let’s Solve Your Biggest Problems
I offer three packages focused on providing a creative transformation in your life. In each, I work with you to solve your biggest problems. I become a part of your team as a strategic advisor, and side-by-side, we work together to ensure your work has an impact. Each package is a three-month commitment which has me working with you step-by-step through it all.
Keep in mind, I am happy to customize a package to fit your exact goals and challenges.
Get Clarity Package
Are you driven by a desire to pursue your creative work, but don’t know where to begin? Are you unsure of how to choose which of the many projects you are passionate about? Do you struggle to make this process feel like a positive and realistic? Then the Get Clarity Package is for you.
Imagine if you felt clarity instead of overwhelm each day, and that this clarity fueled how you are known for your creative work.
- Craft a mission statement
- Define clear goals
- Write your bio
- Create a strategic plan
- Develop rock-solid habits
Find Your Audience Package
Are you unsure of how to reach your audience and readers? Wait — are you unsure of who your ideal audience even is? Does your platform fall flat?
Your creative work deserves better than that.
Imagine if you finally understood who your audience is, how to reach them, and knew how to use the tools by which to do so. What if it all felt clear, fulfilling, and fun?
- Identify your ideal audience
- Conduct marketplace research
- Create authentic messaging
- Make your website awesome
- Create a social media strategy
- Plus so much more!
Your Best Launch Package
Are you preparing for a big book launch, or to release your work to the world? Whether you are traditionally publishing or self-publishing, you know that this is your one chance to ensure that your work has an impact, that it reaches the right people.
Your Best Launch Package ensures you take the right actions ahead of launch to ensure your work reaches your ideal audience.
Imagine if you knew your launch was the best it could be, strategically leading you to true connections with your ideal audience.
- Create a launch timeline
- Develop your marketing plan
- Identify influencers
- Create an outreach strategy
- And so much more!
Take the Next Step
Ready to take action? Questions? Email me directly at dan@wegrowmedia.com and let me know what you are working on, the big challenge you are facing, and how you hope I can help.
(Bonus points if you add the subject line: “Dan, I’m ready to get it done.”)
I will send you a 12 page PDF that outlines my consulting process. If you are interested, we will schedule time to talk via phone and explore a customized plan for you.
I only work with a very limited number of clients per quarter. This is your chance to take meaningful action.
What Is It Like Working With Me?
- You are a part of a 100% personalized collaboration. You will be working directly with me on every call and in every email. This is a customized process of discovery where we work one-on-one so that you are no longer alone in this work. What this means also is that at every step of the process, you are guided by me, but we move in the direction that makes the most sense for you. We go where we need to to make your experience great.
- You get total access. We will meet via phone regularly, and you also have total access to me via email. I reply right away because I know that waiting for an answer delays the sense of momentum that we all seek in this work. I often send video replies where you can see me walk through a process in detail. I share screen captures so you can see exactly what I do, as well as see me talk through it. This almost brings you into my private studio and you get to see how the work gets done to meet your goals.
- Receive a customized plan. You will get access to the system I have develop working one-on-one with writers for more than a decade. One deliverable here is a spreadsheet that takes you step-by-step through my process. We both work on together, and you can use for your career for years to come, long after we stop working together.
- Define your marketing strategy. We will map out a clear strategy for how you will grow your platform, reach your goals, and market your writing. This resource will ensure you know exactly the actions you will take, how to do them, and how each individual tactic adds up to a compelling overall strategy. What’s more, the work we do will allow you to clearly communicate your plan to others, whether they are partners in your publishing process, or those who support your work.
We Are a Great Fit If…
We are a great fit for working together if one or more of these scenarios seems to speak to your situation:
- You are a writer who wants to move to the next level and is tired of waiting for ‘someday’ to make it happen. You know what you want to do, but feel stuck in the middle, overwhelmed by all you are told you “have to do.” You’re ready to get this show on the road and you need someone create a plan personalized to you, give you clear steps, and provide encouraging accountability.
- You are looking to develop your author platform. Perhaps you’ve heard that agents and publishers are passing on your writing because you don’t have a platform. They ask you where you are engaging with your audience, and you don’t have an answer. You want to know and create an author platform that creates meaningful connections with readers.
- You are launching a book, whether it is a novel, nonfiction, memoir, or something else entirely. You have spent hundreds of hours crafting thousands of words, and now is the moment you want to ensure it truly reaches readers. Whether you are traditionally publishing or self-publishing, you’re ready to double-down.
- Your writing and creative work is also connected to a business you want to grow. You have a vision for developing a full or part-time business of your own related to your writing. To take your creative work to the next level professionally, and use this as a springboard to a new career. This is about building the foundation for a new brand, a new phase in your career, a new profession, or a new entrepreneurial venture.
“Dan blends his years of experience in the publishing industry with a calm and engaging style, helping authors to develop their voice and reach readers more effectively.”
– Joanna Penn, New York Times & USA Today bestselling thriller author
“Dan Blank is a savvy strategist whose insights really helped me to stay much better connected to my readers and spread the word about my books.”
– Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author
“Dan is the best kind of guide in that he helped me find one simple thing: how to be me. Whether I’m tweeting, speaking or posting, I now know why I’m doing it. More importantly, I also decided what I’m not doing. And that leaves more time for writing.”
– Claire Cameron, bestselling author
Hands-On Help? Yes, I Do That Too
- Website development
- Graphic design
- Podcast pitch strategy
- Social media management
- Email newsletters
- Blogging
- Online courses
- Webinars
- Online video
- Book proposal development
- Social ad campaigns
- Podcasting
- Online events
- Sales pages & copywriting
- Technical training
- Presentations
- Lead magnets
- … and more!
Why Work With Me
If you are wondering if I am the right fit for your needs, here is a little bit of my background:
- I have worked with thousands of writers and creative professionals. My days are spent in the trenches with these people – none of this is theory to me – it is always framed in the everyday reality of what truly works for connecting with an audience.
- I work with authors from every publishing path, including self-published, hybrid, and traditionally published, including Penguin Random House, Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, She Writes Press, Workman publishing, Abrams Books, New Harbinger, Mango, Columbia University Press, Beacon Press, Greenleaf Book Group, McGraw-Hill Education, and many others.
- I have worked with amazing organizations who support creative people, such as Sesame Workshop, J. Walter Thompson, Writers House, The Kenyon Review, Writer’s Digest, Library Journal, and many others.
- I have helped launch hundreds of email newsletters and blogs; I’ve built dozens of websites; developed podcasts, videos, and even Kickstarter campaigns; and I’ve consulted on marketing strategies with huge publishers and organizations that serve creative professionals. Plus, I have run my own company for years, meaning that I have had to become the master of hundreds of tiny technical details for “getting out there.”
I think what is equally important is that my days are spent with creative professionals, and my entire life has been spent surrounded by creators hoping to make their mark. As for myself, I have been an artist, a poet, a musician, a paper sculptor, a writer, a publisher, a photographer, a teacher, a radio DJ, a cartoonist, and an entrepreneur.
If you want to get a sense of my work? Here are some examples:
- A Book Launch Infused with Meaning and Joy: A Case Study Featuring Jessica Elefante
- A surprising book launch case study
- Case Study: Book Sales, Audience Growth, and Earnings from an Email Newsletter, with Melinda Wenner Moyer
- Case Study: How an Author Turned a Newsletter Into Big Publicity, with Melinda Wenner Moyer
- Case Study: Finding the Joy in Sharing Your Writing, with Meera Lee Patel
- Case Study: Behind the Scenes of a New York Times Bestselling Book Launch, with KJ Dell’Antonia
- Case Study: A Book Marketing Case Study, with Amanda Montell
- Case Study: How Julie Ryan McGue Sold Thousands of Books in 6 Months, and Found Joy in the Process
- Case Study: How Three Authors I Worked With Launched Books in a Manner Authentic to Who They Are
- Case Study: The Transformation of Building an Author Platform
- Case Study: The 12-Month Book Launch, with Leigh Stein (plus, Part 2 of the Case Study!)
- Case Study: Launching a Bestseller, with Miranda Beverly-Whittemore
- Case Study: How I Helped This Author Grow Her Platform From Scratch
- Case Study: How I Helped This Writer Grow an Engaged Social Media Following
- Case Study: I Helped a Writer Create Her Podcast (with a 30-Episode First Season)
- Case Study: How I Helped an Author Create a Series of Summits that Attracted Hundreds of People and Famous Speakers
- Case Study: How I Helped One Author Prepare for Book Launch 8-Months Ahead of Publication Day
- Case Study: Successfully Funding a $40,000 Kickstarter Campaign, with Sarah Towle
- Case Study: Establishing the Habits that Led to the TODAY Show, with Teri Case
- Case Study: Clarifying Voice and Moving a Career to the Next Level, with Kelly DuMar
- Case Study: Finding Time to Create with, Vanessa M.
- This is my story of building a successful career as a creative professional
“Dan helped me find focus my goals, determine my target audience (and how to reach them), and try new social media approaches that paid off right away. I feel like I’ve regained control of my schedule: I now know what marketing I want to accomplish each day, and have clear goals for the months ahead. The best part: I have more time to write.”
– F.T. Bradley, author
“Dan provided a framework and roadmap to help me move beyond my inaction and panic, to develop my platform and grow my readership. By breaking the work down into chunks, it became manageable instead of insurmountable. What I gained was a sense of control, and I no longer felt overwhelmed.”
– Beth McMullen, author
“Dan not only helps you find out who you are as an author, but who your readers are and how to make that special, magic connection.”
– Thomas Greanias, New York Times Bestselling author
PEOPLE COME TO ME WHEN THEY ARE READY TO TAKE ACTION AND TRULY TAKE THEIR WORK TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
Take the Next Step
Ready to take action? Questions? Email me directly at dan@wegrowmedia.com and let me know what you are working on, the big challenge you are facing, and how you hope I can help.
(Bonus points if you add the subject line: “Dan, I’m ready to get it done.”)
I will send you a 12 page PDF that outlines my consulting process. If you are interested, we will schedule time to talk via phone and explore a customized plan for you.
I only work with a very limited number of clients per quarter. This is your chance to take meaningful action.
“I hired Dan to help me with the marketing strategy for my next book launch. This is my fourth book and already I can see the difference: not only do I feel confident about the message of my book, and who my audience is, but I was able to bring innovative ideas for marketing and promotion to my publisher and they took off running. I don’t think I would have gotten this much support from my publisher if I hadn’t jumpstarted my marketing with Dan!”
– Leigh Stein, author of Self Care
“Dan guided me to take the steps that I needed to find my authentic voice as a writer, speaker, and to help me develop an online presence. I appreciated the depth of his knowledge, the kindness of his guidance, and the solid process in which to follow. I now recommend Dan to every writer that I meet.”
– Susan Chritton, author of Personal Branding For Dummies
“Dan made connecting with readers—aka marketing—a joy instead of a chore. He changed the way I look at the business side of writing for good.”
– KJ Dell’Antonia, New York Times bestselling author of The Chicken Sisters
“Dan has helped me develop my website from scratch, solidify my platform strategy, and start the ongoing work on my book proposal. I am writing my first book, and authorship is a brand new world to me. Dan has helped remove my fears and insecurities about the unfamiliar realm of the business side of writing. He has shifted my focus from gaining random ‘followers’ and ‘likes’ to forming more meaningful connections with individuals. His approach to ‘human-centered marketing’ feels much more enjoyable and authentic to me than any number-centered forms of promoting my work. It has been quite a joy working with Dan. He has an honest, gentle approach to teaching and guiding me in the right direction. Dan is always cognizant of my goals and what I wish to accomplish, and I feel that in every step of the way, he is holding my hand and supporting me through my journey.”
– Sayeh Beheshti, M.D. – writer and physician
“Working with Dan Blank has been one of the best investments I’ve made in myself as a writer. Reading his book was a revelation; working with him one-on-one gave me the chance to really put the ideas into practice. When we started working together, I felt overwhelmed and confused about where to focus my efforts and time. The list of “must-do’s” felt endless and not remotely exciting. Dan inspired me look at marketing in a totally new way. What I loved best about our collaboration is that it grew out of my own interests and passions. He helped me map out a concrete plan and then challenged me to work through it on a weekly basis. To anyone looking for clarity and purpose, as well as actionable steps to support their writing and creative goals, I recommend Dan with complete confidence and great gratitude.”
– Jasmin Darznik, author of The Bohemians
“Working with Dan changed my life and work forever. As a Mayo Clinic and Nationally Board Certified Health Coach, I am duty-bound to focus on the health and well-being of everyone I work with. The idea of “sales and marketing” always made me squirm, even when I was getting the word out about my books, which I knew would be helpful for readers. When my third book was coming out, I knew I needed to change the way I approached marketing and the way I thought about it too. Dan taught me how to help people feel better through my marketing. From there, I have been able to grow sales, social media, my mailing list, speaking engagements, and client base. His podcast began to shift my thinking, and working with him one-on-one cemented the way I’ll approach professional outreach for the rest of my career. It’s such a relief!”
– Sarah Hays Coomer, author of The Habit Trip
“Dan is an awesome strategist. His thoughtful guidance helped me develop an author platform and captivating speaking engagements. I am grateful for his phenomenal insights. Dan can see around the corner. He’s helped me get so much done!”
– Yasmine Mahdavi, writer and Founder of Roots in the Middle East
“Dan encouraged me to find new avenues to connect with my ideal readers. He helped me craft the messaging around what I write and who it is for, which is bridging the gap between my first book and second. With Dan’s support and inspiration, I started a newsletter which has become a marvelous tool for engaging my audience. He also helped me expand my network through outreach and those connections have turned into opportunities. Working with Dan has been a pleasure.”
– Corie Adjmi, author of Life and Other Shortcomings
“Dan helped me develop clarity about my message, taught me how to authentically connect with an audience, guided me to start my own podcast, and encouraged me to dive into my creative writing with a plan. Dan is dedicated to helping writers and creative people develop their craft and excel from the ideas stage through to truly reaching their ideal audience. I could not recommend him more highly.”
– Shannon Connery, PhD., writer and psychologist
“An invaluable, eye-opening crash course in book marketing, self-branding, and how to shout your message to the world. My three months working with Dank Blank not only taught me what marketing is in the first place, they also gave me a better understanding of my own work, audience, and core message. Dan helped me take my book launch process into my own hands and focus on which strategies would be the best use of my time; the social media campaigns he helped me conceptualize have opened me up to new readers and opportunities in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Part therapist, part sensei, part consultant, Dan Blank is not just an expert, he’s also a kind and generous human. I couldn’t recommend him highly enough!”
– Amanda Montell, author of Cultish and Wordslut
“Working with Dan didn’t just lead me to find my readers — he helped me clarify my creative purpose. I went from writing alone in my little hidey hole to creating and sharing every day, launching a website, and sending out a longer piece of writing once a week to a couple hundred subscribers. We may be in the middle of a pandemic, but (guiltily), it’s the most exciting time of my life. Without Dan’s guidance and expertise, none of it would have been possible. I highly recommend him.”
– Elizabeth Heise, writer
“It is hard to overstate the impact Dan’s thinking has had on my work. He helped me completely re-think my business model, develop a new way of communicating with others, and understand how all the elements of a marketing plan create a mutually-reinforcing feedback loop. Dan provides clear, direct, and specific instructions about how to complete each task. He responds quickly, with humor, patience, and generosity. He is immensely curious about each person with whom he works, listening carefully, asking questions, and striving to bring their particular voice into the world. Now that I’ve worked with Dan, he’s changed my brain. I use his system every day. I know how to build community and connection, and how to reach others who share my passions and interests. I am immensely grateful for his help and support.
– Rebecca Hyman
“Any author, no matter how they choose to publish, needs to coordinate a book launch. Dan gave me the tools to both plan an effective launch and to hone my author messaging to better reach the target audience. His passion for working with indie authors like me allowed me to feel the utmost confidence in my author platform and book campaign.”
– Julie Ryan McGue, author of Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, and Belonging
“When I first heard about Dan, I signed up for his newsletter, and soon after, I started signing up for his marketing courses. Each new teaching helped me develop my following. Yet something was missing in my quest for my writing style and my ‘why’. Finally, I worked with Dan one-on-one. Through this collaboration, I spruced up my platform and clarified my life purpose. I continue to use gleanings from Dan’s mentorship to fine tune my message. Today, I’m starting to attract my perfect readership.”
– Dawn Anderson, writer
“Dan took me back to the basics – why do I write and what am I trying to say and who do I want to read what I write. He kept me focused on what really matters – that magical moment when you feel you have finally managed to say what you wanted to say, that magical moment when a reader finds pleasure and value in something you have written. If I had to pick three adjectives to describe Dan, I would choose these: authenticity, integrity, and connection. He is who he says he is and does what he says he will Dan is all about connection, the bond he forms with you and the bonds he helps you form with other writers and readers.”
– Judith Fetterley, writer
“Dan not only helped me hone my message, but also focus my social media. He inspired me to chart a path in publicizing my memoir that is not at all traditional, and which I think will be fun, useful to my audience, and lasting, giving this book a “long tail” and leading into the next one as well. Dan has heart and vision and smarts, and he uses them to guide his clients to recognize their strengths and use them in creative ways. He helped me see myself more clearly, and to imagine a whole new chapter for my work. Dan helped make marketing not only comprehensible to me, but fun!”
— Susan J. Tweit, author of Bless the Birds: Living with Love in a Time of Dying
“Dan is a literary therapist and surgeon in one: He offered supportive guidance and thoughtful questions while giving specific, actionable advice. His strategies helped me look critically at the work I was doing, strengthen my connection with my audience, and move forward with projects that were creatively fulfilling.”
– Andy Dehnart, writer
“When my second book was under contract but not yet finished, I engaged Dan as a coach/consultant to help me think about marketing early in the process in order to begin building an engaged community before publication. Dan helped me understand social media and strategies of engagement. Most of all, I appreciate Dan’s philosophy of marketing as a form of helping others. His own gentle voice and quiet humor calm the writer’s anxieties and make the work more fun.”
– Shirley Hershey Showalter, author of The Mindful Grandparent
“I first met Dan years and years ago, when he spoke at a publisher conference on digital marketing. He made marketing seem manageable, even (almost) appealing, with his focus on connecting with your audience above all else. Since that conference I’ve taken several of Dan’s classes, joined his Mastermind sessions, worked with him one-on-one, listened to his podcast episodes, and religiously read his newsletter. His insights have helped shape my approach not just to marketing, but also to productivity and creative endeavors more broadly. I don’t think you can go wrong working with him.”
— Julie Sternberg, author of Summer of Stolen Secrets
“What a pleasure it was to work with Dan Blank! Foremost, Dan asserts that effective promotion is human-centered. It’s no surprise then, that he is not only an expert marketer but is also wise and kind. Dan helped align my focus on tasks that will have far-reaching consequences and unlimited possibilities. I never believed I’d have the temerity to reach out to professional podcasters, yet by conducting the marketing research and campaigns, I’ve written two articles for podcast blogs and recorded guest spots for two shows. I have the confidence to continue this outreach and even plan to develop a podcast of my own! After working with Dan, I feel assured that I can not only conduct a smashing launch for my next book but continue to promote my work in personal, fun, and innovative ways. If you are a writer who is determined to market your work independently, time spent with Dan Blank will prepare you to soar.”
– Elizabeth Sumner Wafler, author of Georgie Girl: A Novel
“I hired Dan to help me focus my author platform, up my game, and establish a system to deal with the overwhelm that came from managing social media. After working with him, I can say I feel a deep sense of confidence, and I have found incredible enjoyment in the process. Dan helped me realize that a smaller audience can still be engaged and thriving, and how to talk about my work in a way feels more authentic. My understanding of marketing took a huge leap. He even taught me a system to deal with the overwhelm! I’m finding meaning in the process, and that makes all the difference.”
– Mary Cronk Farrell, author of Close-Up on War
“It was amazing to have Dan as a strategist in the trenches with me as I plotted out the size and shape of my author platform and figured out how to start construction. Once we framed it all out, I felt like I had a system and a plan. I also appreciated how Dan encourages creators to maintain their commitment to their craft. He helped me discover how Instagram could become an outlet for my writing, as well as a place where I could begin to connect with an audience. Thanks to Dan, I now see an author platform as a real opportunity for connection instead of as just another must-do item on the to-do list.”
– Joanne McHugh
“Dan was a crucial part of my successful book launch. As a first-time author, he created a marketing strategy and launch timeline that stayed true to the brand and messaging of my book. He listened to what was important to me and applied his industry knowledge to my launch. He worked really well with my assembled strategy team and always brought great ideas and creative energy to every meeting. His steady support was invaluable in navigating the many options and directions a book launch provides and the stress it can engender. The result was a book launch that felt authentic, was exciting and has “legs” into the year ahead.”
– Ellen Snee, author of Lead
“I’ve taken many workshops and read countless books touting the very best ways to market a book. Each time I’d leave feeling overwhelmed and panicked about all the things I wasn’t doing. Dan helped me to quiet the noise of all the book marketing “should dos” and focus on the strategies that felt right for me. Together, we put in place the foundational elements of a solid author platform and created a manageable system for connecting with my readers. Dan not only helped me build an actionable plan for my next launch but devised small ways for me to practice so that I can show up for the main event prepared and confident.”
– Lisa Manterfield, author of The Smallest Thing
“Dan Blank generously guided me through the challenging process of stepping out as a debut author. His roadmap helped me to focus and clarify. Dan is effective because he does his homework and is deeply knowledgeable about “marketing.” For Dan, marketing means sparking people’s curiosity through meaningful communication and loving connection.”
– Martha Anne Toll, author of Three Muses
“Dan is a terrific coach and advisor. Dan’s insights were incredibly valuable; he is knowledgeable, he listens and he provides thoughtful, tailored advice. I look forward to partnering with him in the years to come.”
– Tim Calkins, author of How to Wash a Chicken
“Working with Dan Blank is one of the best decisions I ever made, and the best gift I could give myself. He helped me transition from a technical writer to a personal essay writer. He helped me bring heart and soul to my writing. Dan is amazing and brilliant, and knowledgeable about every aspect of the create-and-share-it process! If you are looking for creative help, there is no better choice than Dan.”
– Jan Sheehan
“Dan brings clarity, creativity, compassion and companionship to the scariest, and often loneliest, part of the writing process for any writer: the “now what” moment once the book is done. It is at this moment that writers can be overwhelmed by the churn and chum of the business of publishing with its limited attention span and its author driven marketing demands. Dan basically hits reset for a writer at this moment — whether it’s your author platform, a book launch, a podcast or one’s social media presence — to see marketing as making meaningful connections to readers, the writing community and a wider audience. It is indeed a human-centered approach and it makes all the difference in the world because the business of writing becomes part of one’s creative life, not separate from it.”
– Elizabeth Bailey, author of The Patient’s Checklist
“Getting my book out to the world was scary and challenging on so many ways. I didn’t know where to start. I didn’t know how to reach people beyond my circle of family and friends. I’m an unknown author with a complex story to share. I had no idea where to start until I met Dan Blank. Not only is he the loveliest to speak with, he is so knowledgeable on how to get a published book out to the world. Dan will help you get there. We focused on defining my message, developing an audience persona, identifying my core values and themes from the book, conduct marketplace research, and much more. We worked on all of this together, connecting regularly to make sure I’m on track. Dan made this process so easy and fun because he has such a big heart to help, an ear to listen to what’s on your mind whether it’s positive or negative, and he is so flexible in making the process work for you as he did for me. I can’t thank Dan enough and I look forward to working with him again in the future.”
– Mai Kim Le, author of World’s Apart
“I had heard Dan speak at a conference and read his excellent book, Be the Gateway. His message of building human connections instead of a soulless platform resonated with me immediately, but I couldn’t quite figure out how to apply the lessons to my particular situation as an as-yet unpublished writer. So I decided to go to the source. And, boy, was it worth it! If I had to choose a one-word theme for my work with Dan, it’s “clarity”. I’ve gained clarity about what is important to me on the macro level, and Dan has guided me to a detailed and actionable implementation plan that lets me see the path ahead just as clearly. Dan is the ultimate professional, and the joy he derives from his work shines through every interaction. I am very much looking forward to working with him again in the future.”
– LK Lohan
“After hitting a plateau in the marketing of my book and workshop, I engaged Dan to help me take my program to the next level. Dan’s marketing expertise, creativity and emphasis on relationship building did the trick. I’m more focused, my messaging is more aligned, and I’m branching out into new areas I never would have before. One thing is for sure: I know now that I’m giving it my very best shot.”
– Kern Beare, author of Difficult Conversations
“Time is probably my most coveted commodity, which Dan understood immediately. He put in place a system to keep me organized and accountable, with weekly targets and check-ins that served to keep us both on track. His mid-week email prompts gently reminded me that he was out there in NJ keeping an eye on me. He often jumped in to do tasks on my behalf knowing my responsibilities at home and at work. He skillfully edited early content I would develop. He was honest, but more importantly thoughtful, in his comments. From the beginning Dan encouraged me to think about outreach as an authentic way of communicating with people. Dan was able to show me how: from the smallest details of how my newsletter looked, to the added personal touches of photos. There is not a single newsletter sent now that that doesn’t prompt a reply from someone. Without Dan’s coaching I may have found my way, but it would have been much messier, more lengthy and probably with considerable heartache. I can’t say enough about what he did for me, and with me.”
– Rachel Perks, author of The Little A to Z
“Dan helped me discover my deepest intentions for my creative work and develop a framework for sharing those ideals with the world. Dan was gentle yet clear with his feedback, expertly ushering me past self-promotion hang-ups as he taught me how to build an authentic enriching connection platform that provided marvelous results in a few months!”
– Dr. Melissa Booth
“Dan provides smart, creative, and meaningful marketing solutions. I appreciate his knowledge, authenticity and true desire to help. He kept me focused, moving forward and aligned to my message and goals. My websites, newsletter, Instagram, magazine column, book proposal and manuscript are leaps and bounds improved because of time spent working with Dan.”
– Allison Bruce
“Since completing a 90-day engagement with Dan and learning his system, I feel liberated from my own limiting beliefs about what marketing is and what it means to my freedom as a writer. I have a unified platform and know what I want to say. I feel safe in the social media world because I know what I share, what I don’t, and when. I have a path forward that gives me confidence for pitching my work. I have a foundation beneath me that no one else dictates. I have a path to identify and engage my target audience. Most importantly, my platform belongs to me because it’s a reflection of who I truly am and the relationships I’m creating. Thank you, Dan, for helping me build a system so that I can focus on what I love—writing and connecting with people who identify with and find value in what I share.”
– Naya Elle James
“With Dan’s gentle and encouraging guidance, I ventured into marketing territory I’d been afraid to explore. As a result of our deep dives and Dan’s expansive knowledge, we created a solid foundation for my author business and message, and identified the areas where I want to focus my energy. The relief is huge. Now I have a much better sense of what to say and what my goals are for connecting with people on the issues I care about and write about.”
– Alice Archer
“Working with Dan is a joy. He knows his stuff, but more importantly his approach to marketing is “human-centered” – that is, I don’t have to feel like a saleswoman. When we started working, I was all over the place with what I was trying to do. Dan helped me set up a system that I can carry forward, with relevant templates and detailed instructions. In other words, he is the best kind of teacher, helping me to understand the marketing system going forward. I’ll use his methods from now on with pleasure. Add to that – he’s incredibly kind!”
– Janet Fox
“I started working with Dan three months before the pub date of my first book. I knew nothing about marketing, including how it differed from publicity. And, then, social media was pretty much of a foreign country to me, as well. Dan was both a wonderful guide and a one-man support system. No question was too silly or far-fetched. He broke it all down to something I could get my mind around and helped me see what was worth doing and, most importantly, what was a good fit for my personality and aspirations. Best of all, he suggested goals that seemed way beyond my capacity–“Write on essay a week on the subject! You can do it!” when I’d previously struggled to write one every three months–but which I discovered I was able to meet. I can’t thank him enough — or recommend him more highly.”
– Elizabeth Marcus
“Working with Dan was a great way for me to gain clarity regarding my key messages. Previously, my messages and content were too diffuse to have enough impact. Our work together helped me focus on the most important information to convey to my audience. In addition, Dan helped me define my target market and perform a market analysis. I was left with a better understanding of my readers, an analysis of my role models, and informative marketplace research. Dan gave me clarity and direction where I lacked it previously. I appreciated Dan’s structured approach to the creative process and always felt like I knew what to expect. His communication was prompt, and his feedback was extremely helpful in taking my work to the next level. I’m proud of the work we did together and recommend him to anyone who needs help honing their creative work.”
– Melissa Lewis-Duarte, Ph.D
“Dan is an anchor in the sea of social media and marketing. He helped me change what I saw as tasks into the pleasure of sharing things that mean something to me. Working with Dan keeps me focused on connecting with others rather than checking boxes, which makes me feel grounded and keeps me calm. And, bonus, he loves what he does.”
– Cynthia Newberry Martin
“I describe Dan as a heart-centered marketing strategist/coach. As a debut memoirist with multiple threads in my story, I was struggling with which aspects to focus on when talking about my book. Working with Dan helped me clarify my essential messages, as well as think in detail about who my ideal readers are. Matching these key messages with the right audience was immensely helpful; I felt like clouds lifted from my mind, and I can now talk about my book with greater confidence and clarity. Further, Dan offered concrete techniques to find potential readers and bring my message to those who might most want to hear it. Dan was affirming throughout, a delight to work with, and I felt very supported. He provided the guidance, but I had to do the work, which moved me from the conceptual to the concrete and made it my own. I now have valuable skills that I can use into the future. Thank you Dan!”
– Liz Kinchen
“Working with Dan provided a strategic point of view that goes beyond the obvious. By turning themes in my work into messaging, I’ve been able to connect with readers more organically. His approach really is a new and different way of facing the dreaded tasks of promoting and selling.”
– Michael Mullin
“As someone who would happily delete all social media apps permanently from my life, Dan helped me figure out a way to build and nourish my author platform on social media and my email newsletter that felt authentic, manageable, and significantly less painful than it would’ve been without his humor, empathy, and strategic counsel. Dan is also a master of organization, and facilitated moving the swirl of plans and ideas living in my head into organized, actionable strategies. Dan is a delight!”
– Sara Petersen
“Working with Dan has given me deeper insight into what the word ‘clarity’ means in my creative work. It means perspective, being close enough to articulate it powerfully but enough distance from it, that it’s able to stand on its own and present universal significance and resonance. Dan is patient and often would challenge me to reframe my negative ‘cave trolls’ that often discouraged me from moving forward with my writing. I realized by working with Dan in a very collaborative sense that just showing up every day is the most important and valuable aspect of my work. This also easily translates into other areas of my life and has helped me think more honestly about what I do, why I do it, and even who I am.”
– Jeannie Ewing
“When I started working with Dan, I felt overwhelmed by all of the things I thought I should be doing to market my books. Dan helped me focus my energy and pinpoint what strategies would work best for me. He also gave me the confidence to pitch myself and my work in ways I might not have before. I now have tools I know I’ll use throughout my career.”
– Kathryn Holmes Marshall
“Dan works his magic by shifting your mindset. When I first came to him, I had zero knowledge of social media and felt vaguely terrorized by it. I also had rather shapeless ideas of how to reach my audience. Dan was a wonderful teacher, not only guiding me on how to share my work with readers but, most importantly, encouraging me to home in on who my readers are and why I want to share my work. His patience, insights, kindness, and great sense of humor made our sessions a delight. Dan helped me understand the many tools to building a platform and taught me to approach each with focus and intention.”
– Leah Redmond Chang
“I started working with Dan Blank in the months leading up to my book launch, as I had no idea what I was doing or where to focus my energy. Dan quickly centered me and helped me identify, connect with and build my audience. But more than that, he helped me figure out *myself* — what I stand for and why and how to share my core messages and values with others. Every time I connect with Dan, I learn from him and grow as a writer, which is why I have continued to work with him — for nearly two years. He has helped me understand and embrace social media, grow my newsletter and my brand, and even develop a second book idea. I am constantly recommending him to other writers I know, as he is a wealth of wisdom and a joy to work with.”
– Melinda Wenner Moyer
“Dan Blank offers an authentic, fresh set of ideas for navigating today’s social media landscape. He taught me that marketing is sharing experiences through conversations that connect with others. This new perspective on an old practice helped me see how to make it meaningful to me, how to present what I really care about, and the importance of connecting with individuals, not an audience. His low pressure, “do what feels right to you” way of mentoring clients was just what I needed.”
– N.J. (Nancy) Mastro
“I came to Dan equating “platform” with social media, and I had already decided I wanted nothing to do with the latter. Dan provided a framework that demystified both and helped me navigate this unfamiliar landscape. More importantly, his guidance empowered me to clarify my priorities, both as a writer and a human being. That clarity is essential to developing sustainable and effective marketing strategies. What I viewed as obstacles, I now see as opportunities for meaningful engagement with potential readers.”
– Margaret Whitford
“When an independent press that was considering my novel requested a marketing plan, I was thrilled about their interest but also unsure what to submit. Dan led the way like Virgil through the underworld. He had a detailed process mapped out for us to follow but was also flexible in adapting it to fit my specific situation. As we worked through each step, Dan’s expertise and creativity was apparent. He helped me identify my audience and understand how to reach them as well as how to communicate my ideas in a way that would impress the publishing team. When I had questions or got stuck, Dan was readily available to help, and every step of the way, he gently encouraged me to delve a little deeper than I would have gone on my own. Overall, Dan was kind, supportive, and honestly just fun to work with. Our final product turned out fantastic, and in the end, the press offered me a contract!”
– Jeanette Horn
“Dan was a beacon of kindness in an industry which is so often tough. He was so approachable and down to earth, and his professionalism is second to none. He never fails to respond to an email, and his responses are prompt, in depth and thorough. His wealth of knowledge is exemplary, and he has a way of encouraging you to put yourself out there whilst holding your hand in his very own gentle, supportive way. It was such a comfort to have someone to brainstorm with and bounce ideas off, someone who was really, genuinely rooting for me and was in my corner. Dan truly cares. It’s like your book is his book, he’s truly invested, and he’s constantly working away for you behind the scenes. I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today without his help and guidance.”
– Ingrid J. Adams
“As I was getting ready to push out another novel, I felt like I had grown out of touch with social media. I needed to update my sites or risk never reaching my readers. I had no clue where to start. Dan gave me a plan, helped me develop the key messages I wanted to share, and showed me all the aspects of marketing I needed to consider. His plan is ongoing, and I continue developing my marketing goals. Now I have a handle on what I’m doing and my confidence is soaring. I feel like I’m presenting my authentic self to my readers.”
– Josephine DeFalco
“Dan’s greatest gift is to persuade you that marketing is not some demeaning job you must do but is instead a way to give people the chance to walk into your garden. He’s a great strategist and offers detailed and personal advice. But what I appreciate most is how he changed my mind about marketing.”
– Catherine Hiller
“I began working with Dan almost two years after publishing my memoir, Crash, How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver. Sales had slowed and I felt stuck in the marketing strategies I was implementing. Working with Dan opened my eyes – and my curiosity – to all of the possible avenues to reaching my potential readers. He encouraged me to constantly think outside of the box by broadening the scope of the key messages in my story. Plus, he’s a really great guy. I genuinely looked forward to our conversations!”
– Rachel Michelberg
“I’ve spent the last few years puzzled about how I fit into the ever-changing social media landscape, but within just a few short weeks of working with Dan, I found clarity. I was not so much focused on a particular book launch, but on taking the time to discover what I believe in, what to share with the world, and how to create a fresh set of goals that aligned with it all. Through conversations and soul-searching tasks, Dan helped me collect my thoughts enough to make the mental shift from being an “author and illustrator” to “business owner.” It was a lot of hard work, but Dan’s quick response time in between calls meant having the support I needed to get through it. I feel as though I am on the right path now and would definitely reconnect with Dan if I once again find myself lost.”
– Renée Kurilla
“Dan is a true content genius and guides his clients with sincerity, passion, and editorial acumen. Dan’s creative pyramid not only works, it inspires action! I’d nudge anyone who wants to get started or is stuck in inaction for whatever reason, to reach out to Dan and simply get started. It’s sure to be the best time and resources spent in your creative journey.”
– Anu Prabhala
“Working with Dan quickly had two distinct benefits: first, he helped me assess and optimize how to best incorporate platforms like Instagram and Substack into my content sharing strategy. Second, I made more progress defining my book idea and developmental timeline in three months with Dan, than I had in three years. That was an unexpected benefit that showcases how he is all about finding clarity then taking action to help you reach your goals.”
– Gordon H. Hensley