What happens when February is over. Black History Month posts are done. The temporary spotlight has moved on. And if you're an indie author who went hard on visibility this month, you might be wondering: Now what?

Here's the thing most people won't tell you: Visibility without value is just noise. And if your entire marketing strategy was built around one month, one hashtag, or one trending moment, you're not building momentum: you're chasing crumbs.

In this week's BTA Fridays episode, I broke down exactly how to turn February's attention into March momentum that actually lasts. Because the goal was never to show up for 28 days and disappear. The goal is to build long-term traction that carries your work, your message, and your books forward.

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/AEUIneQO3bM 

Black History Month Is a Doorway, Not a Destination

Let me be blunt: If you treated February like a finish line, you missed the point.

Black History Month isn't the destination. It's a doorway. It's an invitation for people to discover you, your books, your voice. But once they walk through that door, what are they finding? Are you ready to keep them engaged? Do you have a plan for March? April? The rest of the year?

Too many authors (and brands, honestly) show up hard in February and then ghost. They post every day, share their work, lean into the cultural moment: and then March 1st hits and they go silent. That's not momentum. That's a sprint followed by a collapse.

Real momentum requires consistency. It requires thinking beyond the calendar, beyond the hashtags, beyond the trend cycle. It requires building systems that keep you visible, valuable, and connected long after the spotlight moves on.

Visibility vs. Value: Know the Difference

Here's where a lot of people get stuck. They think visibility equals success. They think if they just get in front of enough people, the sales will follow. But visibility without value is like showing up to a party and having nothing to say. People notice you: and then they move on.

Visibility is about being seen. Value is about being remembered.

When you focus only on visibility, you're constantly chasing the next post, the next feature, the next opportunity to be seen. It's exhausting. And it doesn't build loyalty.

But when you focus on value: when you show up consistently with content, insights, resources, and stories that actually help people: you create something much more powerful. You create trust. You create community. You create readers who don't just buy your book once: they follow your entire journey.

So ask yourself: What value am I bringing to the table? What do people walk away with after engaging with my content? Am I teaching them something? Entertaining them? Giving them a reason to stick around?

If your answer is just "I'm promoting my book," you need to dig deeper.

The 2-Month Marketing Plan You're Not Using

Most authors think in terms of single posts or single weeks. They'll plan for a book launch or a guest appearance, but they're not thinking strategically about how each month connects to the next.

Here's what I want you to try: Think in 2-month blocks.

February was Black History Month. March is Women's History Month. April is National Poetry Month. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. You get the idea. But instead of treating each month like a standalone event, start thinking about how they connect.

For example:

• If you promoted your work heavily in February and gained new followers, what are you offering them in March to keep them engaged?
• If March is Women's History Month and your book centers women's stories, how are you bridging February's momentum into this new theme?
• What content are you creating in March that sets you up for success in April?

A 2-month marketing plan means you're always thinking one step ahead. You're not scrambling on the 1st of every month trying to figure out what to post. You've already built a bridge. You've already set the stage.

And here's the secret: When you plan in 2-month blocks, you start to see themes that last. You're not just reacting to the cultural calendar: you're creating a cohesive narrative around your work that carries people from one month to the next, building deeper engagement as you go.

Themes That Last Beyond the Calendar

Let's talk themes. Not hashtags. Not trends. Themes.

The authors who build sustainable careers don't chase every viral moment. They build around core themes that matter to their work, their readers, and their mission. And those themes don't expire on the last day of the month.

For me, those themes are community, representation, indie author empowerment, and breaking through traditional gatekeeping. Those themes show up in February. They show up in March. They show up all year long.

Your themes should do the same. Think about what your books are really about. Not just the plot or the genre: but the deeper ideas, the questions, the conversations your work invites. Those are your themes. And those themes should drive your content, your partnerships, and your marketing strategy every single month.

When you operate from a place of clear, consistent themes, you stop feeling like you have to reinvent yourself every 30 days. You're not starting from scratch. You're deepening the conversation.

From Attention to Momentum: The Action Plan

So how do you actually make this shift? How do you take the attention you earned in February and turn it into momentum that lasts?

Here's your action plan:

1. Audit February. What worked? What posts got engagement? What partnerships or platforms brought you new readers? Don't just move on: capture the data. Understand what resonated so you can do more of it.

2. Map out March. What themes are you leaning into this month? What content are you creating? What partnerships or opportunities are you pursuing? Plan at least 2 weeks ahead so you're not scrambling.

3. Bridge the months. How does your February content connect to your March content? Can you reference something you talked about last month and build on it? Can you continue a series or a conversation? Create continuity.

4. Focus on value, not just visibility. Every piece of content you create should offer something: education, entertainment, insight, inspiration. If you're just saying "buy my book" in different ways, you're not adding value.

5. Build your systems. Momentum doesn't come from hustle. It comes from systems. Batch your content. Create templates. Build a content calendar that actually works for your life. Make it sustainable.

6. Think in themes, not trends. What are the 3-5 core themes that define your work? Let those guide your content strategy. Don't abandon them just because the calendar changed.

The Long Game

Look, I get it. It's tempting to ride the wave of a cultural moment and then rest. But rest isn't the same as disappearing. And momentum isn't the same as hustle.

Building long-term traction means showing up consistently, adding value consistently, and staying connected to your core themes consistently. It means treating every month like part of a larger story: because it is.

February opened a door. March is your chance to walk through it and keep building. Don't waste the momentum you've created. Don't let the attention fade. Turn it into something that lasts.

Because your work deserves more than 28 days of visibility. It deserves a lifetime of readers who see the value you bring: and stick around for the long haul.

Connect with Me & Access More Resources

• Want to be a guest? I'm always looking for bold indie voices. Apply to be on The Author's Mic™ here. 
• Ready to Write? Grab my free guide: So You Want to Write a Book to get starte d today.
• Support my books: Pick up your copies of Weight For It and You Sound White directly from the shop. 
• Join the Community: Become a member of the IRS – Indie Reader Society for cozy, no-pressure book chats.
• Visit the Website: Find everything you need at brightheadedpublishing.com. 

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