Using Grok as a Marketing Tool (Book Marketing)

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Maybe I’m onto something — maybe I’m not.

Over the past few days, I’ve been using Grok to coach me as an independent author over a time span of 5 years. From now on, I plan to use it not only to help me become a better storyteller, but also to connect with readers. In principle, I can ask the AI any question, and it delivers thoughtful, useful advice.

But there’s another aspect to this.

By using Grok publicly as my writing coach, the content also becomes valuable for anyone visiting my X profile and my website. So Grok isn’t just coaching me — it’s marketing me as well.

There hasn’t been much activity on my X feed. I still have some followers from earlier days when I occasionally commented on politics. But those followers don’t engage with my posts about writing books. Usually, when I share a link to a blog post, it gets no likes, shares, or comments. Even promotional tweets announcing free digital books on Amazon rarely receive engagement.

Since I started using Grok, I’ve seen a small increase in interaction. It’s still modest — but it’s a beginning. And as far as I can tell, the engagement feels genuine and organic, coming from people who are actually interested in my author journey.

That’s another benefit of using Grok: besides helping me grow as a writer, it makes my X feed more interesting. And that might eventually attract readers to my stories.

After only a few days, it’s obviously too early to draw conclusions about the entire five-year project. But the start has been promising. Let’s see where this leads.

You can follow the Grok project in real time here: @michael_brig

Untamed (Movie/Show Review)

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Eric Bana, Sam Neill, stunning natural scenery — I was in.

The six-part series is well made: strong performances, solid direction, and, obviously, breathtaking landscapes that steal the show. But overall, Untamed suffers from the same problem as many streaming productions today — it’s interchangeable.

Aside from the nature shots, it’s just another crime drama about a burned-out detective character solving a murder case. Eric Bana is a great choice for the lead role, no doubt, but there simply isn’t much material for him to work with. The plot follows a familiar path, the story never shows us anything we haven’t seen before, and you can spot the final twist coming from a mile away.

Don’t get me wrong — Untamed isn’t bad. It’s just not special.

With so much content being released across dozens of streaming platforms, being “just okay” isn’t enough anymore. You’re either the next Stranger Things or Squid Game — or you’re forgotten within a week. Sadly Untamed falls into the latter category of streaming entertainment.

Trying to Become an Author With Grok

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I had this idea yesterday.

On X, I saw one of those trader bros using Grok to find new investment opportunities. All he did was post a tweet in real time:

“Hey @Grok, what’s the best investment opportunity right now?”

He also had other tweets about specific sectors and income streams. But the format was always the same: he asked the AI a direct question, and the answer was what made people stop and read — including me. I forget his name, though. Once I stumble over him again, I’ll link out to his profile.

However, it kinda clicked for me. And I asked myself: Why not do the same thing for my author journey?

What if I simply use Grok to create a 5-year plan to become a successful indie author? I could have it generate specific daily tasks to help me improve my writing, find readers, and grow my platforms.

It’s hard to say whether this will lead anywhere. But my own efforts haven’t produced the results I hoped for so far, so why not test the ideas and guidance of an AI model that already knows more about the topic than I do — and will likely keep improving over time?

To start, I asked it to give me a broad 5-year roadmap. From here, I’ll break it down further and further until I reach concrete daily tasks and lessons to focus on.

Again, I don’t know if this will work. But if you’d like to follow the project in real time, follow me on X — I’ll be posting daily updates there. I’m also considering creating a weekly summary on my blog.

To begin, here’s the 5-year roadmap I’ve received so far:

Year 1: Build the Foundation – Focus on Craft and Presence (Setup Phase, Organic Growth)

Goal: Sharpen writing skills, optimize existing books, and establish a basic author platform. Expect 50–200 total sales, first 100–500 followers. Budget: €0 – everything free.

Generate Ideas: Brainstorm 10 minutes daily (e.g., with prompts in free AI tools like Grok or ChatGPT). Collect ideas in a free Notion doc. Focus: Develop 1–2 new book ideas based on market demand (research via Amazon bestseller lists).

Writing: Build a routine (e.g., 500 words/day). Improve skills through free resources (YouTube channels like Brandon Sanderson lectures, Reedsy prompts). Write 1 new book or revise existing ones. Personal development: Weekly reflection (journaling) to prevent burnout.

Publishing & KDP Upload: Revise 2–3 of your existing books. Pay attention to formatting (free Vellum alternatives like Atticus free trial). Optimize uploads: Research keywords (free via Kindlepreneur tools), enroll in KDP Select for free promotions.

Book Cover Design & Blurbs: Create covers with Canva (free templates). Improve blurbs: Write hook-driven versions (e.g., “Problem + Hook + Stakes”), test via writing communities (Reddit r/Writers).

Marketing & Building Followers: Start a blog on your domain (WordPress free). Post weekly teasers/tips. On X: Daily posts (e.g., #WritingCommunity), follow 50 relevant accounts/week (e.g., @TheCreativePenn). Instagram: Start with behind-the-scenes stories. YouTube: No own channel yet—comment on author videos for visibility. Networking: Join free groups (e.g., Facebook Indie Authors).

Additional Categories: Track metrics (KDP dashboard, Google Analytics for site). Diversification: Explore free audiobook options (e.g., ACX revenue share). Milestone: 1 new book published, mailing list with 100 subscribers (free Mailchimp).

Year 2: Expand Content and Build Community – Focus on Output and Relationships

Goal: Publish more books, leverage networks for organic reach. Expect 200–500 sales, 500–2,000 followers. Reinvest first small earnings (e.g., €50 into Canva Premium).

Generate Ideas: Build an “idea bank” (e.g., 5 outlines monthly). Use AI for plot twists (free tools).

Writing: Increase to 1,000 words/day. Write 2 new books (e.g., start a series for read-through). Feedback loops: Find beta readers via X or Reddit.

Publishing & KDP Upload: 2 uploads/year. Optimize with A/B testing (e.g., different keywords). Explore print-on-demand (free setup).

Book Cover Design & Blurbs: Improve with feedback (post drafts on X). Use AI tools for blurb variations (e.g., Grok generation).

Marketing & Building Followers: Blog: 2 posts/week (e.g., “My Mistakes as an Author”). X: Cross-promotions with others (shoutout swaps). Instagram: Reels for book teasers (free editor). YouTube: Start simple videos (e.g., writing tips filmed with phone). Marketing: Free giveaways on Goodreads, host X Spaces.

Additional Categories: Networking: Monthly collaborations (e.g., guest blogs). Metrics: Analyze what works (e.g., which posts convert). Personal development: Set weekly goals, reward achievements. Diversification: First AI-assisted audiobooks (e.g., Google Translate for ENG–DE). Milestone: First €100 revenue, community event (e.g., X thread series).

Year 3: Intensify Marketing – Focus on Visibility and Data (Growth Phase)

Goal: Use feedback for optimization, build audience. Expect 500–2,000 sales, 2,000–5,000 followers. Reinvest €100–300/month (e.g., small ads).

Generate Ideas: Market analysis (free tools like Publisher Rocket Lite). Generate 3–4 ideas/year, focus on trends (e.g., AI-integrated stories).

Writing: 2–3 books/year. Integrate AI for research (free).

Publishing & KDP Upload: Regular updates (e.g., box sets). Use Kindle Countdown Deals.

Book Cover Design & Blurbs: More professional designs (free stock images + AI enhancer). Blurbs: A/B test via X polls.

Marketing & Building Followers: Blog: SEO optimization (free Yoast). X: Daily engagement (replies, polls). Instagram: Collaborations with Bookstagrammers. YouTube: Weekly videos (e.g., reviews). Marketing: Free influencer outreach, promotions via BookBub free listings.

Additional Categories: Networking: Join alliances (e.g., Indie Author Alliance free tier). Metrics: Monthly reports (Excel free). Personal development: Coaching sessions (e.g., with me here). Diversification: Test direct sales (free Shopify trial). Milestone: €500/month revenue, 1,000 mailing list subscribers.

Year 4: Monetization and Scaling – Focus on Investment and Efficiency

Goal: Stable income, scale through tools. Expect 2,000–5,000 sales, 5,000–10,000 followers. Reinvest €500–1,000/month (e.g., ads, tools).

Generate Ideas: Collaborative brainstorms (e.g., with X community). AI for rapid prototyping.

Writing: 3–4 books/year. Outsource editing (start with free swaps).

Publishing & KDP Upload: Expanded formats (e.g., hardcovers via IngramSpark free setup).

Book Cover Design & Blurbs: AI tools for custom designs (e.g., Midjourney free tier). Blurbs: Professional feedback.

Marketing & Building Followers: Blog: Guest posts. X: Small paid boosts. Instagram: Ads (from €5/day). YouTube: Monetization (at 1,000 subscribers). Marketing: Crowdfunding (Kickstarter free), AI translation for more markets.

Additional Categories: Networking: Events (virtual cons free). Metrics: Advanced tools (free Google Data Studio). Personal development: Balance (e.g., sabbatical weeks). Diversification: Merch (print-on-demand free), courses (Teachable free tier). Milestone: €2,000/month, plan full-time transition.

Year 5: Sustainability and Full-Time – Focus on Establishment and Legacy

Goal: Make a living from it with multiple income streams. Expect 5,000+ sales, 10,000+ followers. Reinvest €1,000+/month.

Generate Ideas: Community-driven (e.g., fan polls on X).

Writing: 4+ books/year, focus on bestsellers.

Publishing & KDP Upload: Global expansion (e.g., via Babelcube free).

Book Cover Design & Blurbs: Professional designer (funded from revenue).

Marketing & Building Followers: Blog: Position as authority (host podcasts). X: Large campaigns. Instagram/YouTube: Collaborations with influencers. Marketing: Agentic commerce (AI-supported).

Additional Categories: Networking: Provide mentorship. Metrics: Annual review. Personal development: Legacy building (e.g., turn your X journey into a book). Diversification: Patreon, events, AI-narrated audiobooks. Milestone: €3,000+/month, stable career.

Yes, some of the advice is very generic: “Focus on writing bestseller.” Some may also just be wishful thinking: “Expect 5,000+ sales”.

But it’s a good outline to use in the beginning and adjust as I learn more from mistakes. Grok will also help me learn from mistakes that others made, as it goes through basically everything that is posted on X and beyond.

We’ll see where this project goes, but I’m excited to try it out. And I hope you’ll follow along.

A Lesson from Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

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I’m a Trekkie. I fell in love with the franchise during the Next Generation era and regularly went to the theater to see the feature films in the 1990s.

However, during J.J. Abrams’ reboot films, I gradually lost interest. When Discovery was announced, I decided to give it a try—but I stopped watching after two episodes. I never even checked out the other “new” Star Trek iterations. Maybe I will someday.

Even though I haven’t seen the latest attempt to revive the franchise—the Starfleet Academy series—I can already understand why so many people seem upset about it.

From the clips I’ve watched and the reviews I’ve read, it appears that the established brand has once again been used as a mask. Behind that mask is something that doesn’t feel like the Star Trek many fans once knew. Instead, it seems to contain stories the creators wanted to tell anyway—stories that might not attract much attention without the Star Trek label attached.

The problem with this approach is that it may buy you a season or two, but eventually fans recognize that, despite the branding, they aren’t really getting Star Trek. At that point, interest fades, and the show gets cancelled and the movies become busts.

We’ve seen this happen before—not only with Star Trek, but also with other major franchises. The pattern feels familiar enough that it’s easy to predict where Starfleet Academy might be heading.

That said, I hope I’m wrong. I still love Star Trek and want future series to capture what made it so special in the 1990s. But again, I haven’t watched a single episode of Starfleet Academy, but the online discussions surrounding it seem to echo the same concerns seen in other modern franchise shows.

The broader lesson for storytellers is: Write your own stories. Create your own worlds. Develop your own characters. If a story can’t generate interest on its own, attaching it to an established franchise won’t magically make it compelling. It will just expose weak writing and destroy the fans’ love for the franchise itself.

Brands like Star Wars and Star Trek have endured for decades. Whether they can fully recover from this era of horrible storytelling remains to be seen.