Are You Engaging Your Readers With Your Marketing?
I posted before Thanksgiving about the 17 Tips to Becoming a Successful Freelance Writer. I received a lot of great feedback, which I thank you for, but there was also a feeling that what I was saying was for beginners, and didn’t actual pertain to published authors. I apologize for that, and while I agree with you, I wish I had stated that from the beginning so as to not waste anybodies time.
As a symbol of gratitude, I wanted to offer some tips to the published authors, who may have a few books under their belts, are still struggling to best market their works, and not only grab their readers attention but hold on to that attention and build a relationship. One single fan, if they are engaged and excited about your work, can potentially bring you thousands of readers.
When I made the decision to Lead by Example, and opened myself up to questions and free marketing advice, I didn’t really know what kind of response I would receive. However, after 8 months of speaking to independent authors, and building lasting relationships with honest people who just want to have their voice heard, I have seen many authors embrace my ideas and take these new directions to heart and expand their marketing, while looking deeper at how to connect with their customers.
These are authors who are expanding their readership through communication and simple marketing principles. Principles that most marketers take as common fare in direct marketing, but surprisingly, many authors neglect to leverage in their own brand building and book promotions. Even more surprising are the authors that have a built in audience, but only communicate with them indirectly through blogs, press releases, or industry newsletters.
So you might ask, “How else can I communicate with my existing fan-base?”
To some, this many seem like a stretch, but what if you spoke directly to your readers through email? What if your readers actually expected to hear from you, and looked forward to receiving your correspondence? What if you gave your readers a sample chapter from a yet unreleased book, not mass distributed through a download link on your website, but discreetly, intimately, in their in-box, as a thank you for their continued support of your writing. What if you called your readers by their first name, and treated them as a friend, a colleague, a confidant?
Do you think they would buy more of your books? Maybe… However, when a friend or relative asks them for a recommendation, what author is going to spring to their mind? The one whose book they read a few months back, or the author who sends them an email, every Thursday night, that talks about their upcoming book, and shares tidbits about the characters, or reveals inspirations behind the ideas. The author who loves their commitment, and rewards them for being fans. The author that raises questions, and invites their readers to the website to continue the conversation.
Which author are you?
Being a successful independent author requires that you reach out to your potential readers and speak to their needs and wants. Engage the reader, not just through your books, but the continued conversation that can explore the deeper ideas within your writing. Stop talking about yourself, and listen to what the readers like, what excites them about you or your writing.
I know, it sounds like a lot of work. There is the whole subscription process, mailing lists, and opt-outs. Regularly scheduled emails, and auto-responders. Who has the time to do all that, and still find the time to write? Not many people.
This is where a service like Aweber can come in. I mention Aweber, for one because I am an affiliate, but also because I use their service, and I honestly believe in their product. Aweber will not only provide you with the copy and paste code for your website to instantly incorporate your sign-up form, but they will also manage your mailing list, and allow you to create emails, that can be programmed to send when you want them to. You could easily take a day out of your busy schedule and assemble some great character sketches, inspirations, ideas or blurbs to be sent to your customers every week for the next three months? That’s pretty powerful, and Aweber can do it.
I am not saying this service is the only way to go, it is what I use, but there are plenty others out there that can do the same things. The important thing is that, as an independent author, you take the time to speak with your readership and embrace them. Make Your stories, Theirs.
Thanks for your time, and good luck in your marketing efforts.
Joshua Van Horsen
Want to involve your readers in your marketing efforts?
