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Hi Lexi — okay, breathe. That’s the first step. 🙂
Both Alexa and I have tons of helpful advice on our blogs (read through this entire month of #NaNoProMo posts alone to read tons of great expert advice as well from lots of experts).
My book The BadRedheadMedia 30-Day Book Marketing Challenge gives you 30 days of assignments which will help you set up your author platform in easy to understand steps (in both ebook and print form).
Don’t panic — you still have time to start connecting with readers and create your author brand. You CAN do this. It will be work yet it’s totally doable!
ReplyD., that’s really why I started this entire month of #NaNoProMo — here are tons of experts with amazing advice that WORKS. They are even offering their books, guides, tips, and giving away their time FREE. I mean, wow, right? And yet there are many authors who aren’t participating, or who simply tell me it’s just too overwhelming so they aren’t getting involved.
It’s not easy work to succeed as an author. It’s a business, and to succeed we must be smart about it. Writing a book is hard work — yet it’s only one small part of it. Book marketing has always been part of the publishing BUSINESS. That’s the reality.
ReplyRachel and Alexa, thanks for an extremely helpful post. Just writing that first novel is a huge endeavor-it’s tempting to put off promotion entirely. Your post helps to explain why this is a bad move and also gives practical steps for creating a plan that works.
ReplyI’ve already learned a lot from hanging around where Alexa is. I always appreciate her straightforward, no-fluff approach to doing things. Simple and practical works for me.
And this bit is really encouraging – You don’t have to be EVERYWHERE but you do need to put down some roots and start growing something. That’s comforting to me because having ALL THE SOCIAL MEDIA feels very overwhelming. Concentrating on just one or two to start helps ease that feeling.
With so many programs and social media platforms, it is unlikely that you will just find a critical mass of supporters on just one. You need to spread yourself out without spreading yourself too thin. Do a few things well rather than too many things poorly. I am very active on Twitter and a couple professional platforms. I have LinkedIn, but I am not managing it well presently. I’ve gotten my newsletter back on track and have started a series of monthly webinars. For now, I’m staying away from other platforms until I get LinkedIn chugging along properly. Sure, I have podcasts, special webinars, targeted outreach, and many other things in the plan. And I am bringing along some help now. Target is to get LinkedIn functioning more productively before opening new avenues.
ReplyI’m starting on my 5th book and thinking and planning the marketing for this currently untitled work. This article was so timely, thank you.
ReplyWhile I have a good idea of my target audience, I definitely need to spend more time cultivating readers in that group. Thanks for the article, great advice!
ReplyI’m not yet published, and I’d definitely echo the importance of focusing on target reader (or genre – one is often an approximation of the other).
I’ve taken part in a couple of list-building promotions, but continue to find the people who’ve signed up directly on my website are the most engaged. So I’d definitely echo your final point – there is no point in paying for likes or follows. Organic growth is better.
ReplyAs with most things related to writing, I’m doing everything backwards. I’m in the process of reverse-engineering this strategy to fit the project I’m working on now. At least I can focus on engaging with my target audience now that most of the other platform pieces are finally coming together. Oh and btw the link to your target audience video is broken but is this the same video? http://writepublishsell.co/growing-your-target-audience/
ReplyHi Lissa — the link provided leads to her sign-up form: http://writepublishsell.co/5-day-to-grow-your-author-platform/
I’ll ask if she wanted to link to any videos, though. 🙂
ReplyGreat article, but the link for the video on how to find your target audience doesn’t work! I’m very interested in this information. Can you help?
ReplyI’m afraid that I am the author who writes a little bit of everything in the romance genre. AND I don’t write series. I find it difficult specialize my marketing because my audience varies with each new book. *sigh*
ReplyThanks for this information! Can’t
wait to read more from you.
Thank you for the insight and advice. I’ve been working on platform for a few years and haven’t made much traction. This is very helpful! Sincerely, Tammy
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