Growing without marketing

So many people I know say they want bigger followers, more readers, more sales, etc. However, I never see them do anything to attract new fans, except posting to their own social media walls. They do no marketing. They do no advertising. They do very few shows or promotions of any kind.

I have no idea how I would get more people to read my work without constant marketing and advertising.

I drive an average of 1,000 new subscribers a week to my mailing list, and still barely feel like I’m getting ahead most days. Before I did that, I was doing 30-40 shows a year. Before that…well, before that I had a very small audience that didn’t grow ever.

How does somebody who doesn’t do any of that stuff expect to build a following and sustain themselves?

Word of mouth?

Magic?

I am insanely curious about this because I am constantly trying new things, working new angles, and working to increase my marketing. Every time I think that my business needs a shot in the arm, I do some sort of promotion to drive in new fans.

I don’t know how I would survive without doing those things and making sure new people are always finding my work. I know I would never have been able to grow so fast. I would likely still be where I was four years ago, without any fans, barely able to survive.

The minute I figured out marketing, even a little bit, was the day everything else unlocked for me. There is nothing wrong with speaking to a small audience, but if you want to grow fast then you need a marketing plan, too.