Category Archives for "Branding"

My suitcase on wheels clacked behind me as I followed my boss’s determined strides. Like most business trips with her, we traveled frugal and opted to walk to our hotel from the airport. She opted. In fact, this trip was all about her wanting to leave a legacy for her thirty-plus years as general manager […]

At some point during my weekly #BookMarketingChat (every Wednesday, 6pm pst/9pm est on Twitter — join us), I discuss branding (no matter the topic), and I will make this statement: In publishing, we brand the author, not the book.  It’s even become a running joke at this point with my chat community as if they’re […]

Updated 9/9/2018 I’m constantly amazed by the sheer number of writers who are about to release their first book, or have already released their first book, and have zero marketing in place. Nothing, nada, oftentimes less than zero. They remind me of the college kid who walks into a final with a hangover and a […]

Exactly what is Snapchat? Simply put, Snapchat is a mobile messaging app in which the format consists of short-form photos and videos. You can send your “snaps” to friends or add them to “stories.” How do you get started on Snapchat? Snapchat offers a fantastic support menu, which details all of the features and how-to’s, […]

  During a recent #BookMarketingChat (join us any Wednesday, 6pm pst/9pm est), we discussed “ebook metadata” and the importance of using keywords. A few folks asked what exactly that term means. While we were able to give a brief answer to that question during the chat, I figure we could certainly expand on what metadata is, and how […]

(Updated March, 2018) I want to discuss a basic concept that seems to confuse most authors: branding. Branding sounds like one of those scary, nebulous marketing terms that threaten to suck out your soul or turn you into The Borg. It’s not. Branding really comes down to managing expectations.  Let’s deconstruct. **Note: This discussion does […]

  Three Reasons Why Branding Shouldn’t Make You Lose Your Sh*t If you’re like me you were probably resistant to the idea of “building your brand.” A lot of writers are – no judgment here. In fact, tell me if any of this sounds familiar: “I don’t want to become fake to my readers.” “I […]

Please welcome author and editor Jessica West to the blog today as she shares about branding and social media, the must have tools for author success.  I run across a new article nearly every day where a writer complains about or derisively laughs at a friend/co-worker/family member who says, “I’d write a book if I […]

Please welcome my fellow Booktrope author and speaker Daryl Rothman to the blog as he shares about why authors should build their writer platform.  I hear it less frequently, but I still hear it: I don’t need to mess with any of that stuff—that’s an agent’s job. Let me just write. The “stuff” in question […]

  *Updated December 2016* I asked my Facebook friends last week what confused them the most about author marketing and social media. So for the next several weeks, myself and several esteemed guests will be answering those questions for you! Thank you to all who answered. Here’s the first question: Many aspiring authors or bloggers […]