You should be!
Building an author platform prior to the launch of your book is overwhelming! Ask anyone who has taken on the task. After all, who has time for additional research and writing when you are pouring your heart and soul into your story? But the truth is, being a subject-matter expert in your genre is a powerful device that affects the success of your book.
This last fall, I attended an independent publishing conference where my head was filled with more information than I could possibly process . . . marketing, researching, editing, traditional publishing, self-publishing, laws, and copyrights . . . all crammed into my brain and my trusty notepad for future retrieval.
Despite the overload, there was one statement that stood out in my mind more than any other. One of the agencies that had presented said “today, many traditional publishing houses will not even allow a literary agent to pitch a book until they know how many followers an author has on their blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, etc.”
Wow! An agent could have the next New York Times bestseller in hand—and know it—but they are not allowed to pitch unless the author has built an audience.
So, how does one build an audience and become a subject-matter expert? Become a follower.
Follow your heart. Communicate your knowledge of a topic through any channel you can. You don’t have to be the expert. You are an expert. By being knowledgeable and passionate, your audience will grow.
Follow the plan. Before overextending yourself in all social media channels, research which is the best to engage your potential readership. Do your paranormal readers prefer short facts and links on Twitter? Do your Steampunk fans love Pinterest? Do you love to blog? Then blog away and drive readers to your blog via social media. Whatever channel best suits your needs, put your plan to paper and stick with it. Take a focused approach . . . and if you need help, ask your marketing gurus at Xchyler Publishing.
Follow other authors in your genre and comment on their work. I assure you, readers who are intrigued by your comments will look you up. Authors will appreciate your reviews.
Follow up. Talk to other authors in your genre. Ask them for a guest blog interview. Ask to contribute as a guest to their blogs. Ultimately, build relationships through regular interaction and learn from those who are pursuing the same dream as you within your genre. It’s highly likely that you will be tapping into the same readership.
Follow trends. Seek out interesting information and create conversations. For example: if you are writing a story about Australian cattle dogs, blog about their unique behaviors, ask people to contribute stories about their cattle dogs, find fun facts to share and connect with others who are discussing the same topic. This allows you to build a readership outside of those who would solely read your novel because of its genre.
Follow your local bookstores and any local-first advocates in your area. Be sure to comment on their social media sites. Engage early and often so they get to know you as a local author. By the time your book is near its release date, you will have built a connection that allows you to have a warm pitch for your newest work.
Follow the rules . . . of social media etiquette. Retweet often. Give credit where credit is due. Don’t inundate people with posts about buying your book. Rather, entice them and excite them. Don’t abuse #hashtags. Don’t ignore legitimate comments and questions. You get the point of this list, but if you need a refresher there are a million websites that offer social media do’s and don’ts.
Follow through. Consistency in your communications is critical to building awareness of you and your masterpiece. Spend ten minutes a day communicating. Add a Facebook post. Add a blog post. Comment on a blog. Comment on Goodreads. Tweet. Ten minutes is easy and doable. It does not detract from conceptualizing, writing, or editing your book. It does allow you to complete over an hour of CONSISTENT communications throughout the week.
Don’t be afraid to be the first to reach out. When you engage with others, they will engage with you. By being a “follower” you are creating a following of your own.
The newest member of The X Team, Amanda Elliott infuses the company with her fun, vibrant personality, her extensive marketing experience, and her love of literature and writing. Amanda lives in Phoenix, Arizona.