Conversation with Dan L. Hays on Marketing, Promotion and Publicity, Part 2…
In an interview with published author Dan Hays in November 2010, we discussed the three hats of today’s author: Writer, Publisher and Publicist.
In this segment we touch on building brand awareness of a writer and his work. This includes branding, developing a blog, purchasing a domain name, and marketing. We also touch on the importance of being aware of scams and other less than ethical practices floating around the Internet.
Writer
This is your part. You write and polish the best manuscript you possibly can. But when it comes to marketing:
You should start marketing your book three years before you release it.
Publicity
Authors are required to do more and more of their own publicity; however, your skill sets may not be geared toward two of these hats. In fact, you probably just want to focus on one: write.
Unfortunately, in today’s marketplace, it is necessary for an author to have some form of branding in place to publicize themselves and their book.
Audience Development
Without an audience a writer is merely a diarist. Finding your target audience defines you as an author – building your brand and following. Anyone can write, but not everyone is able to get their work in front of an audience.
Everyone’s tool kits are different. While some have a natural ability for Internet promotion and marketing, others find the entire process daunting and confusing.
Here’s a short checklist
Blog or Website
You can set up a blog for free, set up a hosted blog or even have a professional Web site created.
Domain Name
Even if you do not plant to have a hosted website, you should purchase your name as a domain, and point the domain to the location of your free website or blog. People need to find you when they search your name.
SubDomains
A subdomain allows you to have separate sites for your books, without having to go to the expense of additional hosting. It is in the form of Book.YOURDOMAIN.com, and they are free and easy to set up.
Social Media
Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Stumble Upon. You’ve heard of them, go and sign up. Get involved in the communities and start building relationships that meet the readers emotional and intellectual needs.
Branding
When it comes to publicity the more the better. But if you promote yourself with a substandard quality product then you are doing yourself a disservice. It isn’t the book you are branding – it is you.
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Click below to listen to the Podcast Interview with Dan L. Hays:
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Resources discussed in this podcast
Richard Bach, The Bridge Across Forever
Blog Talk Radio
Life as a Human Magazine
Becoming a Novelist, John Gardner
