The contemporary author does more than write and meet publishers. In the digital era, authors are expected to have a book writing coach, an online presence and market their work, too.
Writing is more of a business than ever before, with authors having to treat their online presence as if they owned a brick-and-mortar store, cafe or law firm, facilitating a winning strategy and getting their name out there for people to come across.
Given that books are typically purchased online whether in hard or digital copies, it’s easy to see why an author should take the time to market their work.
Here are five imperative tips for contemporary authors looking to market their work to the fullest effect:
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Create a writer’s website
You will see many contemporary authors who proudly showcase their very own website. Why? Because it’s a great place to learn about them, keep updated with their blog and find out about any new works they are creating.
Your writer’s website doesn’t have to have too much going on and it can even be made for free using platforms like WordPress. Just have a strong “about” section, a page for your works, a semi-regularly updated blog and that is the perfect start.
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And on that blog…
Authors keep blogs to update their followers with what’s happening in their creative lives as well as share tips and insights regarding their work. You might want to share interesting info about how you devise your stories, about how you come up with such interesting characters or give advice about your winning writing process.
A blog seems like an annoying thing to maintain on top of your regular fiction writing, but it is a great way to connect with your followers, maintain a constant online presence and impress the Google search engine trawlers who are looking for websites to place at the top of their search results!
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Build a social media presence
Sure, social media platforms like Instagram may be intrinsically visual, but that doesn’t mean a writer can’t build a following through them. Many writers use happening social media platforms like Instagram to share their insights, quotes they have written, creative travels etc. and this a great way of building an aura around your work.
Of course, the classics like Twitter are a great way for building an online presence as a writer, but don’t be afraid to try and make a name for yourself on others, too.
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Work that Amazon page
For better or worse, Amazon is key to the contemporary author’s success. Amazon is the place where you can buy books in hard copy, eBook and audiobook, and has thus created a comprehensive network for book buying and advertising.
You need a complete Amazon author’s profile to market yourself to potential readers. Your Amazon author’s profile should include your bio, photo, links to book purchases in hard copy, eBook, audiobook etc. as well as links to your website, blog and socials.
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Request reviews for your books
Quality and quantity work in harmony when it comes to online book reviews. Therefore, if you can get your readers to provide awesome book reviews so that your work stands out amongst the rest – do it!
This way, your work will be more visible and – importantly – those who see your work is available online will also see how much your readers love it. Once they see that other people have read – and loved – your work, they will be far more likely to read it themselves than if they just happened across an eBook with little-to-no reviews on it.