Promote Yourself and Build a Brand
Say the name Stephen King to just about anyone, and an image comes to mind. It’s because he’s built a strong author brand. King’s brand has value in the same way Apple, Calvin Klein, or Coca-Cola do.
It instantly shows you why author promotion is important. It’s elemental to building a personal brand that promotes your books and can do much more. Promoting yourself opens doors, wins invitations, boosts your visibility, and helps position you as a thought leader.
The days are long gone when authors can remain in the background, given the competition in the book world today.
At Smith Publicity, we’ve seen the immense value of author promotion. We help our clients become visible, confident, engaging, and media savvy. It helps build strong, memorable author brands.
Why the Media Matters
When you are interviewed on a show or podcast or quoted in an article in print or online, it promotes your book and you. The goal is to do it in places where your target readers are in the audience. When you do, good things happen.
- Establish thought leadership
- Build a fan (or customer) base
- Win speaking/appearance invitations
- Promote your business
Just as good book marketing campaigns require a plan, so does author promotion and branding. Being clear about your goals, identifying your target audience, selecting the right tactics, and setting a schedule are all helpful.
The thing that’s different about media coverage from what you can do yourself is the stature it confers. When you’re on a show or quoted in an article, it shows you’re influential and enhances your reputation.
Why the Media Matters
When you are interviewed on a show or podcast or quoted in an article in print or online, it promotes your book and you. The goal is to do it in places where your target readers are in the audience. When you do, good things happen.
- Establish thought leadership
- Build a fan (or customer) base
- Win speaking/appearance invitations
- Promote your business
Just as good book marketing campaigns require a plan, so does author promotion and branding. Being clear about your goals, identifying your target audience, selecting the right tactics, and setting a schedule are all helpful.
The thing that’s different about media coverage from what you can do yourself is the stature it confers. When you’re on a show or quoted in an article, it shows you’re influential and enhances your reputation.
What is an Author Platform?
A strong and effective author platform helps with book publicity and personal promotion; they work hand in hand. Your platform refers to your network and the online resources you control to reach anyone interested in you and your book.
Your website, professional network of contacts, social media accounts, and pages on bookselling websites are all parts of your platform. You’re doing well when they are active, engaged, and growing.
Author websites
Are your online hub of information. They optimally contain pages about your book, your bio, and your headshot; links to media coverage and your social media accounts; and, most importantly, links to where your book is available for purchase.
Professional contacts
Are people who are in your corner. When you launch your book, they are people you can count on to help get the ball rolling. They can help promote you through word of mouth, email newsletters, liking your social media pages, and posting book reviews.
Social media
Platforms have value because they connect you with fans and followers. When your posts are helpful and entertaining, you’ll build a following of people interested in you and your book. When you’re covered in the media, post links for your followers to enjoy.
Book and author pages
On bookselling websites play a role in promotion. Take advantage of the space you’re given and provide interesting information with keywords to help you appear in searches.
Do Book Publicists Promote Authors?
Our experienced book marketers at Smith Publicity make author promotion services available to our clients. It’s often part of a working relationship that includes a book publicity campaign.
You’ll increase your visibility when we connect you with media that reaches your target audience. Author promotion occurs naturally and effectively as you build relationships and make appearances.
Want to learn more about related topics? Click here to access our free webinars on How to Become an In-Demand Speaker and How to Earn Money from Thought Leadership.
Book publicity campaigns have many long-term benefits, including promoting you personally. The media coverage you earn is always repurposed on the internet, where it lasts long term and comes up in online searches for years to come.
Author Promotion and Branding is an Opportunity
Regardless of your reasons for writing a book, becoming better known to your fans, the media, and the public at large is an opportunity. When you fully embrace author promotion and build your personal brand, you’ll boost your career and income.
If you’d like to learn more about how it can work for you, today is an excellent day to reach out and talk with our Smith Publicity PR pros.