There has never been a better time to build your online presence, interact with and grow your fan base, and cultivate your brand. While stores are closed and events are cancelled, people are turning to social media more and more to feel connected. As authors you provide an essential service right now. With the world becoming a scary and strange place, people need distractions now more than ever – and you can provide that distraction.
So, while traditional marketing methods are somewhat curtailed, let’s focus on the digital. I would say that the most effective thing you can be doing is interacting with your followers. Take this time to engage with other people, ask them how they’re passing the time, for example. Perhaps they’ve decided to write a book, for which you could offer some of your own advice. Perhaps they’re publishing a book, which you could offer to review in exchange for a review of your own book. Go to LinkedIn and Facebook and join writers and readers groups – there’s a huge community of you, so start making some friends! Creating strong relationships with others is a really good way to get your name and your book out there. Try to post interesting content every single day – always make sure your copy is carefully written and concise, and that you use appropriate tags to reach a wider audience. Try to spend ten minutes a day just scrolling and liking and commenting on relevant posts – be active!
A giveaway is always a surefire way to get engagement on your posts and it’s a small thing that could help lift a lot of people’s spirits. A signed copy will definitely pique more interest, which is something to consider. You could host this on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and/or Goodreads. Remember to promote your giveaway as much as possible – maybe even do a paid post if it’s in your budget. Ensure that following you, or liking your page, is one of the steps to enter the giveaway. This just means that they’ll see future posts from you, which is always a good thing!
Why don’t you use this time to start a blog or build a website (if you don’t already have one). If you really like the idea of an author website but are struggling to create this yourself, then we can help you with that. Here’s an example of a website that we created for Tony Estrella: https://www.tonyestrella.com. If you’re interested in a website from us, then get in touch and we can certainly discuss it. Alternatively, you could create your own blog and share your author news, writing tips, behind the scenes and more!
Another thing you should focus on is developing your author brand. A website will really help your brand image, but you can take this time to work on your brand voice and how you’d like to be seen/heard as an author.
I hope that this small bit of information helps and encourages you. Don’t forget – we’re here to help!
Keep safe,
Shannon