How to entice your audience with author branding?
Just as you would brand your company with a logo, brand yourself with a logo.
Think about a popular company like Google, ask what this company’s brand represents? The same goes for you as a writer and the self-published author.
How do you want your readers and the media to interpret you as a writer and author?
Get your message as a writer across and the book sales will follow.
This is a good building block to your Author Platform strategies.
Your brand is not just a mark, it’s a distinctive identifier to your name i.e. your author branding.
1. A presentable look
Looks
Pay attention to your appearance. Take the time to dress up when attending seminars, workshops, book launchings and public speaking engagements.
Give yourself a poised, finished and polished look.
Dress well, casually in clothing that makes you feel confident and comfortable.
Ask for advice; don’t let someone else dress you.
Stick to your style and be yourself. Refrain from hiring expensive image consultants promising you instant success. The generous DIY’s on You-Tube, your friends on Twitter and the Internet are there for you for free, with current trends waiting to transform you.
Look, speak and act with self-assurance. Carry yourself well.
Headshots
Invest a little time and money in taking great headshots. Don’t use selfies, party photos, old pictures, or your young, pretty look-alike cousin’s photo.
Take pride in looking aged and wise. Update your photos every one year if not sooner. You want to be recognized on the streets.
2. Be approachable
Treat your fans with agility, kindness and humbleness. Take the time to answer questions if you’re caught off-guard with a personal question and in return be interested in your fans. Word travels faster when spoken with kindness.
New self-published authors stop sitting behind the table during your book signings. Smile and start introducing yourself. Strike up a conversation and start introducing your book. It starts with a smile. You need your fans more than they need your book. You can’t please everyone but at least you can try.
3. Contacting the media
How to speak when engaging the help of the newspaper, radio and TV stations?
Media people are one of the most busiest people on the planet so don’t waste their time.
Keep a pen and paper handy and make the call. Always start by introducing yourself first. Speak slowly and build your story leading up to the questions.
“Hello, my name is … I’m a writer. My new book is titled…
I was wondering if you would be interested in an interview on”…
Don’t sound rushed.
At this point you may be transferred a few times or your line may be cut off accidentally. Be persistent but not pushy and call back.
Request for the contact’s e-mail so that you can send the reporter the link to your media page on the website. Do as much as you can to make things easier for everyone.
Remember to say thank you to the person you were speaking with even if they were not helpful.
4. Media Interviews
Television
How to speak and behave when calling the media and during interviews?
Blue is a good color for TV. It’s true; the camera does add ten pounds to your looks. Watch interviews done by your favorite actors. Practice answering questions firmly. Sit comfortably and be at ease.
I’m the person with the video-cam on someone’s face so I do feel a little weird being on the other side of the camera during interviews. If you’re like me, you’ll have fun.
I learned this trick in law school- practice, practice, practice in front of the mirror.
Practice your smile, your poise and your speaking in front of the mirror.
Skype
Clear the room of noise and distractions during Skype interviews. Stop moving your head too much while speaking; the camera sees you so don’t move too close to the camera. Spruce up a bit before going live online.
Radio, Phone, Newspaper and Blog interviews
Speak slowly and clearly on air. Think before answering questions.
Be true to yourself and stay firm in your beliefs in answering sensitive issues. If you don’t want to take any sides, than by all means stick to a neutral answer and stay out of trouble. Say, “I would love to answer the question, however I don’t believe I‘m the right person.”
Look up commonly asked author questions and practice answering them in front of the mirror.
My interview with IdeaMensch is scheduled for January 8th, 2014. Have a read.
5. Personal visit to stores and libraries
Do some research and call ahead to contact the right librarian or purchaser.
Never ever leave your books in a library. It’s extremely rude to do so.
Make an appointment to see the person in charge of the adult section if you are a novelist. You don’t want to give your book to the person in charge of children’s section. People do forget and misplace items.
Again, be humble in your approach and introduce yourself first. Don’t ask the librarian to read the book or ask for a review on the spot. Donate the book to the library. I’ve had instances where librarians tried to keep a copy of my book for themselves. They could have simply asked me for a copy.
At bookstores, call ahead and make an appointment to see the purchaser.
Be prepared to part with your book. Leave your contact information and sell sheet.
Keep calling to follow up because persistence does payoff.
6. Writing e-mail
- Write prim and proper e-mail.
- Keep sentences short and simple.
- Use upper and lower case letters properly.
- Address an issue or question quickly and get to the point.
- Use bullet format if several matters are approached at the same time.
- It’s easier and faster on the eyes to read short sentences.
- Pay attention to grammar and spelling.
- Bad e-mail writing does have an impact in the reader’s mind.
Start with a, “Hello Mr. or Mrs., Ms. so and so.
End it with a simple “Thank you, signed by…”
These small words carry a lot of weight.
In our quest for success and money, lets not forget to be polite.
Until the time comes when you’ll have a staff working for you make it a habit to answer e-mail and phone calls immediately.
Send outgoing e-mail with a personalized signature like below:
The Author’s Name
Author of Bunica’s Tomatoes
Self-Publishing Consultant
Public Speaker
Writer
Company Name
Address
Phone
Website
Tagline (it’s good to have one)
7. Business cards
I know it’s impossible to carry our books as calling cards with us everywhere, all the time. For that reason, keep some business cards with you at all times. You never know who you’re going to meet in the parking lot of a shopping mall.
Make it a habit to keep some books, sell sheets, cash, postcards, and business cards in the car just in case someone is interested in buying some book.
I’ve sold quite a number of books this way.
Keep business cards simple with:
– Your name
– Designation as a writer or author
– Address
– One main phone number
– One e-mail address
-A website
– All printed on one side of the card.
Use the reverse for your company’s name or services but keep it to a minimum.
A must have business address on the business card shows seriousness and credibility.
Website
Upon reaching your website a person will have access to all the other social media networks so refrain from crowding your business card with too many items; a common mistake that I see far too often.
You don’t have to show up on all social media networks if you don’t want too.
All writers and authors should have a website, however it’s a different story if you don’t have one.
A non-Internet user can reach you by phone or by ordinary mail.
Trust me, in todays’ day and age if someone wants to reach you, they will find you and your book.
8. Me, me, me
Met someone new and you’re dying to tell them about your new book! Well, don’t. It’s not all about you. Wait! Let the other person speak. Ask questions and seem interested. People in general like to talk about themselves, so take your time to listen.
Just when the moment is right, politely interrupt and say, “that actually happened to me while I was writing my book.” A little white lie here and there does the trick.
You’ll probably hear “Oh! Really.” Perhaps you can suggest…
So, wait for the moment and start introducing your new book without monopolizing the conversation.
9. Meticulous organization
No time for anything, too busy and overwhelmed. Aren’t we all?
Make a to do list on a paper with a pencil.
Cross the items off, upon completion and see magic happen.
I have attended seminars where the presenter didn’t care much about his audience.
Now is the time to poke your nose into things to make sure the electronics are working, if there are enough furniture and stationary for the audience during workshops and seminars and that everything is running smoothly. Bring enough printed material to go around. Stand at the entrance and start welcoming everyone.
Get down and get personal.
People have paid good hard earned money, taken time off to see you because you have something important to say. It’s your responsibility to make sure they leave informed and happy. Treat your audience with respect and kindness.
Start caring.
Do not complain or rant about current events. Don’t take off in a tangent. Stick to the topic to be presented. Try to answer all the questions presented to you. Go in with a positive attitude and bustling energy. Show enthusiasms of a successful writer even if you’ve sold just a few copies.
And remember… to bring your books along.
10. Be generous in your journey
It’s not all about the money all the time. It’s about helping a fellow writer.
I’m not afraid to share and provide information because I’m not threated by anyone else. I’ll link another writer or illustrator’s website to mine to help them get more traffic just as I would easily feature a writer’s blog posting.
Going above and beyond to help someone is your own achievement.
Need I say that people are usually threatened by their own insecurities?
Decide what kind of person you want to be.
Buddy the Cake Boss is hugely successful not only due of his talents, creativity and passion for his beautiful cakes.
His biggest assets are his kindness, respect and going that extra mile for his customers.
The nitty-gritty to a successful author branding:
- Be nice to everyone while being you and… don’t over do it.
- Some may call it a weakness but I believe it to be strength.
- Don’t say or make promises you know you can’t keep.
- Everything you do is “your brand”.
- As a self-publisher you have to work smart at promoting yourself, your books and your image.
- It starts with a few simple, small, achievable steps helping you every step of your career.
- Author branding is a representation and perception leading to book sales.
- These are crucial steps towards building your author platform.
- Stick to the positives; invest a little in yourself to create the writer and author in you.
Keep writing and ask me how I can help you.
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