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Digital Marketing for Writers: Grow and Sell More Books
Nearly 70% of self-published authors struggle to reach their ideal readers and grow book sales effectively. Without a clear marketing plan, even the best writing can go unnoticed. Understanding practical strategies for defining your audience, building an author platform, and using smart tools can help transform your book’s visibility and sales results.
Table of Contents
- Step 1: Define Your Target Audience And Author Goals
- Step 2: Build A Professional Author Platform
- Step 3: Craft Compelling Email Marketing Campaigns
- Step 4: Leverage Ai Tools To Boost Visibility
- Step 5: Automate Book Sales And Optimize Results
Quick Summary
| Key Point | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 1. Define your audience meticulously | Understand demographics and psychological traits to effectively target your book’s readers. |
| 2. Build a cohesive author platform | Create a professional website, active blog, and social media presence to connect with readers. |
| 3. Craft personalized email marketing | Segment your email list and create engaging content to convert casual readers into loyal fans. |
| 4. Leverage AI tools for efficiency | Use AI to automate tasks like content generation and ad optimization, freeing up your time for writing. |
| 5. Automate marketing processes | Set up automated systems for advertising and email marketing that work continuously without manual input. |
Step 1: Define your target audience and author goals
Successful book marketing starts with crystal clear understanding of who will read your book and what you want to achieve. This foundational step determines every subsequent marketing strategy you will develop.
Begin by creating a detailed reader persona that goes beyond basic demographics. According to research from digital marketing experts, effective audience targeting requires understanding not just age and location but deeper psychological characteristics like reading habits, interests, and pain points.
Ask yourself specific questions about your ideal reader: What motivates them to pick up a book like yours? What problems are they trying to solve? What emotional experience are they seeking? For instance, a romance novelist might target professional women aged 30-45 who want escapist literature after stressful workdays.
Align your specific author goals with your audience research. Are you aiming to:
- Build a loyal reader community
- Generate consistent book sales
- Establish yourself as an authority in your genre
- Create a sustainable author income stream
- Expand your readership internationally
Research indicates that authors who precisely define both audience and objectives are 67% more likely to create targeted marketing campaigns that actually work.
Pro Tip: Update your reader persona every six months as your writing career evolves and you gain more insights about your audience.
Next, you will map out a strategic marketing approach that speaks directly to your carefully defined reader persona.
Step 2: Build a professional author platform
Your author platform is your digital home base where readers discover and connect with your writing. It transforms you from an unknown writer to a recognized brand with consistent online presence.
According to digital marketing research from Elsevier’s marketing strategies guide, an effective author platform integrates multiple digital touchpoints to maximize audience reach. This means creating a cohesive online ecosystem that tells your unique storytelling narrative.
Start by establishing these core digital assets:
Here’s a comparison of the core elements of a professional author platform:
| Element | Purpose | Key Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Author Website | Main information hub | Clean design Clear branding |
| Blog | Showcases expertise and updates | Consistent posts Engage readers |
| Social Media Profiles | Builds community and discoverability | Focus on top 2-3 platforms |
| Email Newsletter | Direct reader connection and updates | Value-first Personal approach |
- Professional author website showcasing your books and biography
- Active blog demonstrating your writing expertise
- Consistent social media profiles on platforms where your target readers spend time
- Email newsletter for direct reader communication
Your website serves as the central hub. Make it clean, professional, and reflective of your writing genre. Include high quality author photos, book descriptions, purchase links, and ways for readers to connect with you.
Social media allows you to build personal connections. Choose 2-3 platforms where your ideal readers congregate. For fiction writers, this might mean Instagram and TikTok. For nonfiction authors, LinkedIn and Twitter could be more strategic.
Pro Tip: Consistency matters more than perfection. Regular small updates beat sporadic grand gestures.
Growing an author platform requires patience and strategic effort. Your next step involves creating compelling content that attracts and retains your ideal readers.
Step 3: Craft compelling email marketing campaigns
Email marketing transforms casual readers into loyal fans and consistent book buyers. Your goal is creating magnetic email sequences that readers actually want to open and engage with.
According to research from Automateed’s book marketing guide, successful email campaigns rely on personalized sequences that nurture readers through strategic touchpoints. This means designing emails that feel like personal conversations rather than generic broadcasts.
Start by segmenting your email list based on reader interests and behaviors. Fiction writers might create different tracks for romance versus thriller fans. Nonfiction authors could segment by professional interests or reading preferences.
Your email sequence should include:
- Welcome email introducing yourself and your writing
- Engagement emails sharing behind the scenes content- Promotional emails highlighting new book releases
- Value driven content that entertains or educates
Pay special attention to your subject lines. They are your first and sometimes only chance to capture a reader’s attention. Make them intriguing personal and specific to your reader’s interests.
As Automateed’s author email marketing research demonstrates, converting subscribers requires offering exclusive benefits. Think about providing special reader rewards like chapter previews bonus content or limited time discounts.
Pro Tip: Aim for an 80/20 balance. Spend 80% of your emails providing value and only 20% directly selling.
Effective email campaigns are an art form that develops with practice. Your next step involves analyzing your email performance and continuously refining your approach.
Step 4: Leverage AI tools to boost visibility
AI technology has transformed book marketing from a time consuming process to a strategic powerhouse. Your goal is using intelligent tools that amplify your reach while saving precious writing time.
According to Manuscript Report’s comprehensive AI publishing guide, AI can automate multiple visibility boosting tasks across different marketing channels. This means generating social media content email sequences and optimizing advertising with unprecedented precision.
Start exploring AI tools in these key areas:
- Social media content generation
- Email marketing optimization
- Amazon ad targeting
- Book description refinement
- Reader targeting analysis
For social media marketing AI can help draft engaging posts that sound authentically like your writing voice. These tools analyze your previous content and generate posts that match your style and resonate with your target audience.
In email marketing AI becomes your strategic partner. As Anyword’s marketing platform demonstrates, intelligent systems can generate email subject lines optimize send times and predict which messaging will most likely convert readers into book buyers.
When it comes to advertising AI tools can analyze complex data points to identify your most promising reader demographics. This means smarter ad spending and higher conversion rates.
Pro Tip: Always review and personalize AI generated content. The tool provides the framework but your unique voice makes it compelling.
AI book marketing represents the future of author promotion. Your next step involves experimenting with these tools and measuring their impact on your book sales and reader engagement.
Step 5: Automate book sales and optimize results
Automation transforms book marketing from a manual grind into a strategic growth engine. Your mission is creating systems that sell books while you focus on writing.
According to Automateed’s book marketing automation guide, successful automation requires setting up intelligent advertising platforms that monitor and adjust campaigns in real time. This means creating systems that work continuously without constant manual intervention.
Key automation strategies include:
- Setting up perpetual Amazon advertising campaigns
- Creating evergreen email marketing sequences
- Implementing retargeting ads for website visitors
- Developing automated social media content schedules
- Building reader acquisition funnels
Amazon advertising presents a prime opportunity for automation. Manuscript Report’s AI publishing analysis reveals that intelligent bid adjustment tools can dramatically reduce advertising costs while maintaining strong visibility.
Your email marketing should function like a silent sales team. Design sequences that automatically welcome new subscribers trigger follow up messages based on reader interactions and recommend books without constant oversight.
Track your key performance indicators religiously. Watch metrics like cost per click conversion rates and return on ad spend. These numbers tell you exactly how your automated systems perform.
Pro Tip: Review your automation systems monthly. Small tweaks can generate significant performance improvements.
Book sales funnel optimization is an ongoing process. Your next step involves continuously refining these automated systems to maximize your book sales potential.
Unlock Your Full Book Marketing Potential Today
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to connect with your ideal readers or struggled to turn casual interest into loyal fans, you are not alone. This article highlights the importance of defining your target audience, building a professional author platform, crafting magnetic email marketing, and harnessing AI tools to automate and amplify your book sales. These challenges often leave writers searching for clear, proven systems that can actually deliver results.
At DigitalMarketingAuthors.com, we understand these exact struggles and the critical goals you want to achieve: growing a dedicated reader community, automating sales, and scaling your author brand without wasting precious time or resources. Founded by 13x #1 Amazon bestselling author C.T. Mitchell, our platform offers step-by-step strategies and AI-powered solutions that turn ambitious marketing plans into consistent book sales and broader visibility.
Ready to stop guessing and start growing
Discover how to build your professional author platform and craft compelling email campaigns that truly resonate. Take control of your marketing journey right now and visit Digital Marketing Authors to access expert guidance and tools tailored for indie authors who want to market smarter, sell faster, and scale worldwide. Your next bestselling chapter begins with the right marketing system.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I define my target audience for effective book marketing?
To define your target audience, create a detailed reader persona that includes not just demographics, but also psychological factors like interests and pain points. Start by asking specific questions about what motivates your ideal reader, what problems they want to solve, and what emotional connection they seek from your book.
What are the essential elements of a professional author platform?
A professional author platform should include a user-friendly website, an active blog, social media profiles, and an email newsletter. Focus on creating a cohesive online presence that reflects your genre and allows you to connect with readers effectively.
How should I structure my email marketing campaigns to engage readers?
Structure your email marketing campaigns around personalized sequences that nurture your readers. Include a warm welcome email, engaging content that offers behind-the-scenes glimpses, and promotional emails that announce new releases; aim for an 80/20 balance, providing value in 80% of your emails and selling in 20%.
What AI tools can I use to enhance my book marketing efforts?
Explore AI tools that can assist with generating social media content, optimizing email marketing, and refining book descriptions. Start using these tools to automate repetitive tasks, which can save you time and increase your promotional reach.
How can I automate my book sales to maximize results?
Automate your book sales by setting up continual advertising campaigns, creating evergreen email sequences, and implementing retargeting ads for website visitors. Review your automation processes monthly to identify areas for improvement and boost sales performance by about 20%.
Recommended
Understanding What is Digital Marketing for Writers
Writers today are tapping into digital marketing for writers to take control of their success. More than 70 percent of self-published authors say online platforms have helped them reach new audiences and boost sales. It might sound like digital marketing is just about more tweets and flashy book covers, but that barely scratches the surface. The real shift is that writers can now bypass the old publishing gatekeepers and build lasting careers by connecting with readers directly—something that was almost impossible just a decade ago.
Table of Contents
- Defining Digital Marketing In The Context Of Writing
- The Importance Of Digital Marketing For Writers
- Key Concepts In Digital Marketing For Authors
- How Writers Utilize Digital Marketing Strategies
- Real-World Examples Of Successful Digital Marketing In Writing
Quick Summary
| Takeaway | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Build an author website or blog. | A central hub helps you connect with readers directly and showcase your work effectively. |
| Utilize social media for engagement. | Engaging on social platforms keeps your audience updated and fosters community-building. |
| Implement targeted email marketing. | Email campaigns nurture reader relationships and personalize communication with your audience. |
| Create diverse content to attract readers. | Offering various content types maintains reader interest and addresses their specific needs and preferences. |
| Control your marketing and distribution. | Digital marketing empowers you to engage directly with audiences, bypassing traditional publishing barriers. |
Defining Digital Marketing in the Context of Writing
Digital marketing for writers represents a strategic approach to promoting, distributing, and monetizing written content through online channels. Unlike traditional publishing methods, digital marketing empowers authors to directly connect with readers, build audiences, and create sustainable writing careers.
Core Components of Digital Marketing for Writers
At its foundation, digital marketing for writers encompasses several interconnected strategies designed to increase visibility and engagement. These strategies leverage digital platforms to transform how authors reach and interact with potential readers. According to Nielsen Norman Group’s content strategy research, effective digital marketing requires understanding audience needs and creating targeted content experiences.
To help clarify the essential elements of digital marketing for writers, the table below outlines the core components featured in the article.
| Core Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Author Website or Blog | Serves as a central hub for connecting with readers and showcasing work. |
| Social Media Engagement | Platforms for sharing updates, building a following, and communicating directly with readers. |
| Email Marketing | Campaigns and newsletters that nurture relationships and provide personalized communication. |
| Content Marketing | Creating and sharing valuable content that highlights writing expertise and attracts target readers. |
| Platform-specific Strategy | Tailoring content to suit the unique characteristics and audiences of each digital platform used. |
Key digital marketing approaches for writers include:
- Building an author website or blog as a central hub for connecting with readers
- Utilizing social media platforms to share writing updates and engage with audiences
- Creating email marketing campaigns to nurture reader relationships
- Developing content marketing strategies that showcase writing expertise
Strategic Online Presence
Successful digital marketing transcends mere self-promotion. It involves creating genuine connections and providing value to potential readers. Writers must think strategically about their online presence, understanding that each digital interaction represents an opportunity to build credibility and trust. Learn more about building your author platform and transforming casual readers into dedicated fans.
By mastering digital marketing techniques, writers can expand their reach beyond traditional publishing constraints, control their narrative, and create sustainable writing careers in an increasingly digital marketplace.
The Importance of Digital Marketing for Writers
Digital marketing has revolutionized how writers connect with audiences, transforming traditional publishing paradigms and creating unprecedented opportunities for independent authors. By understanding and implementing strategic digital marketing techniques, writers can significantly enhance their visibility, reader engagement, and potential income streams.
Breaking Traditional Publishing Barriers
Historically, writers depended on publishing houses to distribute and market their work. Digital marketing dismantles these traditional barriers, allowing authors to become their own publishers and marketers. Research from the American Library Association indicates that digital platforms enable writers to bypass traditional gatekeepers and directly reach their target audiences.
Critical advantages of digital marketing for writers include:
- Complete control over publishing and distribution channels
- Direct relationship building with readers
- Cost-effective marketing strategies
- Global reach without geographical limitations
Economic and Professional Empowerment
Digital marketing is not just about promotion but represents a comprehensive strategy for professional growth. Writers can monetize their skills through multiple digital channels, creating diverse revenue streams beyond traditional book sales. Discover advanced author marketing strategies that transform writing from a passion into a sustainable career.
By embracing digital marketing, writers unlock the potential to build personal brands, cultivate loyal reader communities, and establish themselves as authoritative voices in their respective genres. The digital landscape offers writers unprecedented opportunities to turn their creative talents into successful, self-directed careers.
This table highlights key advantages of digital marketing for writers, making it easy to compare its benefits over traditional publishing methods.
| Advantage | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Direct Control | Writers have full ownership of publishing, marketing, and distribution channels. |
| Relationship Building | Enables direct communication and stronger connections with readers. |
| Cost Efficiency | Digital strategies reduce dependency on expensive traditional marketing and distribution models. |
| Global Reach | Authors can access readers worldwide without geographic barriers. |
| Multiple Revenue Streams | Supports diversification of income through e-books, merchandise, and online courses beyond book sales. |
Key Concepts in Digital Marketing for Authors
Digital marketing for authors involves a sophisticated set of strategies and tools designed to create meaningful connections between writers and their potential readers. Understanding these core concepts transforms digital platforms from mere communication channels into powerful author engagement mechanisms.
Content Strategy and Audience Targeting
Successful digital marketing begins with developing a precise content strategy that resonates with specific reader demographics. According to Content Marketing Institute’s research, targeted content that addresses reader interests dramatically increases engagement and conversion rates.
Essential audience targeting principles include:
- Identifying precise reader persona characteristics
- Understanding reader preferences and consumption habits
- Creating content that solves reader problems or fulfills specific needs
- Analyzing audience engagement metrics continuously
Digital Channel Optimization
Modern authors must strategically leverage multiple digital channels to maximize their visibility and reader interaction. Each platform offers unique opportunities for building author brands and connecting with potential readers. Learn more about optimizing your author marketing channels and expanding your digital presence effectively.
Key digital marketing channels for authors include social media platforms, personal websites, email newsletters, and content marketing blogs.
Successful writers understand how to craft platform-specific content that attracts and retains reader attention, transforming casual browsers into dedicated fans and long-term supporters of their writing journey.
How Writers Utilize Digital Marketing Strategies
Digital marketing strategies provide writers with sophisticated tools to transform their writing careers from isolated creative pursuits into dynamic, interactive reader experiences. By implementing targeted approaches, authors can effectively amplify their reach and build sustainable professional platforms.
Content Distribution and Community Building
Modern writers leverage digital platforms to create comprehensive engagement ecosystems around their work. Research from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln demonstrates that authors who strategically collaborate with influencers and use targeted advertising can significantly enhance their professional visibility.
Strategic content distribution techniques include:
- Creating serialized content across multiple digital platforms
- Developing consistent brand messaging
- Engaging directly with reader communities
- Utilizing cross-platform promotional strategies
Monetization and Professional Expansion
Digital marketing enables writers to diversify their income streams beyond traditional book sales. Explore advanced author marketing techniques to transform writing from a passion into a sustainable professional endeavor.
Successful writers understand that digital marketing is not about constant self-promotion but creating genuine connections. By sharing insights, behind-the-scenes content, and meaningful interactions, authors can convert casual readers into dedicated fans who actively support their creative journey.
Real-World Examples of Successful Digital Marketing in Writing
Digital marketing success for writers goes beyond theoretical strategies. Real authors have transformed their careers by implementing innovative digital approaches that connect directly with readers and create sustainable professional platforms.
Case Studies of Author Digital Engagement
Independent and traditional authors alike have demonstrated remarkable success through strategic digital marketing. According to Harvard Business Review’s publishing research, authors who effectively leverage digital channels can dramatically increase their visibility and reader engagement.
Characteristics of successful author digital marketing include:
- Creating authentic, consistent online personas
- Developing multi-platform content strategies
- Building interactive reader communities
- Utilizing data-driven marketing approaches
Strategic Platform Diversification
Successful writers understand that digital marketing requires more than just promoting books. Learn about advanced author marketing strategies that transform writing careers through strategic online positioning.
Authors like Hugh Howey, who built a massive science fiction readership through self-publishing platforms, and Amanda Hocking, who became a millionaire through digital marketing of young adult novels, demonstrate the transformative power of understanding and implementing sophisticated digital marketing techniques. These writers did not just sell books they created entire reader ecosystems that supported their ongoing creative work.
Ready to Turn Digital Strategy into Real Book Sales?
Are you struggling to break through the noise online, connect with real readers, or grow your author brand on your own terms? The article showed how mastering digital marketing can shatter old publishing barriers, help you build reader communities, and create consistent income without gatekeepers. But reading about effective content strategies and audience targeting is just the first step. What if you could put these proven methods into action right now—and watch your writing career transform?
Stop worrying about how to attract loyal fans or increase sales. At Digital Marketing Authors, we empower writers using step-by-step systems built for indie author success. Learn to automate your book sales, grow your fanbase with AI-powered tools, and stand out faster. Get started today and elevate your writing career by visiting our site or exploring advanced tips in our author platform guide and social media marketing strategy blog. Take action now and claim control over your author journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is digital marketing for writers?
Digital marketing for writers is a set of strategies that helps authors promote, distribute, and monetize their written content online. To get started, create an author website or blog that serves as a central hub for your work and connects you directly with readers.
How can I build an online presence as a writer?
You can build an online presence by using social media platforms to share updates on your writing and engage with your audience. Start by selecting two to three platforms that resonate with your target readers, and post regularly to keep them informed and connected.
What are effective content marketing strategies for authors?
Effective content marketing strategies for authors include showcasing your writing expertise through blog posts, articles, and engaging social media content. Prioritize consistency by creating a content calendar and aim to publish new content at least once a week to keep your audience engaged.
How can I nurture relationships with my readers through email marketing?
To nurture relationships with readers, implement email marketing campaigns that share insights, updates, and exclusive content. Start by building an email list and send personalized newsletters at least once a month to keep readers connected and informed about your writing journey.
What techniques can I use for audience targeting in my digital marketing?
You can target your audience effectively by identifying their specific interests and preferences, and tailoring your content to meet their needs. Conduct surveys or engage with your audience on social media to gather insights and refine your targeting strategies within 30 days.
How does digital marketing empower writers financially?
Digital marketing empowers writers financially by allowing them to diversify their income streams beyond traditional book sales, such as through e-books, merchandise, or online courses. To enhance your financial opportunities, explore at least three different monetization methods within the first six months of your digital marketing efforts.
Crucial first step in digital marketing for writers
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How Authors Can Get Their First 1000 Blog Readers
Getting your first 1000 blog readers to your author blog is very achievable if you know how and what to do. But first let’s ask:
Should Author’s Blog
100% YES. No matter whether your author business is attracting retail customers or other businesses, you need to be providing valuable content via a blog. In fact studies show that converting lookers into customers is 6 times higher for authors who blog than those who don’t. Want to sell more books – then blog.
In fact I covered this more fully on this blog here Why You Should Start A Blog
But for 68% of all author bloggers, getting traffic to their blog is their biggest challenge. Most just sit in silence waiting for somebody, anybody, to turn up. Let’s see if we can help that along. Let’s create an avalanche of eyeballs onto your author blog
9 Red Hot, Not To Be Missed, Must Do, Winning Tips To Get 1000 Blog Readers To Tour Author Website
#1 Don’t Write For An Oxford Professor
Writing has changed since the 1950’s. Words appear in many more places than a stock standard book. Since the growth of online articles, the language used in writing has become more conversational. Writing is less formal, unless you’re writing for an Oxford professor. It’s less stuffy.
Keep the mood relaxed. Write in short paragraphs, much to the horror of that professor, I know. Even be as short as one sentence. Shock, horror. Why has this become the normal?
80% of readers do their reading on a mobile device. 79% only skim your article. So make it easy for them to read. Short paragraphs and bold heads make it easier to skim.
#2 Lure Them In – The Carrot Dangling Method
It’s great to have skimmers, but readers of your article is better. How can you entice them to read every word of your article. I like to use the Problem – Agitate – Solution method
First and foremost your article needs to help your reader. It’s not about you, Mr. Blowhard. So what’s their problem/
Discuss the big issue. What are some of the pain points.
Then turn up the heat by asking what will happen if they don’t solve this problem. In a word it means failure. A total catastrophe. Financial ruin, maybe even death. This is the agitation part.
Now you, their saviour, come to their rescue with a solution. Aren’t you just the nicest person? You are because you are providing a solution to their woes.
#3 Put In The Time – Length Does Matter
About a decade ago I was writing 300 word blog posts and generating reasonable traffic to my property blog then. But as time went on I started to see a decline in my reach. I had peaked at 30,000 readers a month and started to slide.
Readers were telling me in a round about way that they wanted more. They needed me to put more time into my posts. They needed to to give them the wow factor. I could not longer knock out something in 30 minutes and expect tens of thousands of eyeballs.
And with time came more words. Three hundred words didn’t cut it anymore. That was a lazy man’s approach who didn’t really care about his customers. Nope I had to pen 500 – 1000 words.
But now that’s got even more in depth. If I want an article to rank in the top ten for a keyword phrase, I need to write 1500 – 2000 words and MORE!
#4 It’s Not Only Keywords
Keywords are important and you need to do your research. No point writing an article around a keyword that does get any traffic. But what is equally important is what people are searching for on the search engines.
The most popular type of search on Google comes under the ‘How To’ area. How to write a book, how to design a book cover, how to build better characters and so on. If your author blog is looking to attract other authors to your products and courses, how to posts will be popular on your site.
#5 A Picture May Tell A Thousand Words BUT
a STORY drives a readers emotion.
You know that. You are a writer of stories. But don’t just restrict that for your book.
Adopt stories into your blog posts and watch your readership grow.
Jamie Buttigieg, a certified Story Brand Guide, understands this best. He has seen over 1000% growth in blog enquiry not only on his own business but for his clients as well. “Having a clear message gives a site clarity and lets the visitor know exactly what they can expect”
Jamie Buttigieg Story Brand Guide
#6 Go Beyond Words With Pictures
Skimmers read in blocks. Bold headings are good but images also slow down the reader, hopefully capturing more of his/her reading time.
#7 Shmooch An Influencer
Get friendly with an influencer in your industry. If you are a romance writer hook up with other writers in the romance genre who have more appeal on social media or simply make more sales.
Reach out to them every time you give them a shout out. Here’s a simple email script
” Hey Influencer (use their name)
I love reading your blog/books. In fact I’m a big fan.
I just wrote an article about “The 10 Best Ways To Develop Sexier Characters For Your Romance Novel’ and I mentioned you as one of the all time best authors.
Here’s a link to my post if you would like to share it.
It would not only make my day, but it would make my year.
Thanks
Your Name”
Sure not everybody will share but if you get 5 or 10 who do, bingo! More traffic to your blog.
#8 Target Your Audience Not Everybody
You are not writing for the whole world. As an author you are generally in one specific genre, sometimes venturing into its sub genres. Don’t chase everybody.
C T Mitchell has the tag line “I write mystery novels that entertain readers”
There are two specific audiences here. Those who like mystery and those who are not hung up on ‘professor quality’ grammar or stuffy English. His mood is very much about entertaining and it shows in his writing
Grab it fee at TheShortReads
#9 Encourage Engagement
By talking in a conversation tone throughout your article, you give the reader a more relaxed, somewhat intimate experience rather like how two old friends would communicate.
At the end of your article leave a question that invites the reader to leave an answer or comment.
Over time this builds trust with your reader who are then more likely to buy your services or products
Conclusion
Getting your first 1000 readers is a challenge but if your adopt these 9 hot tips you’ll soon achieve this and surpass it with ease.
Of the nine tips, which was your favourite? What ones are you going to adopt? Please leave me a comment below.
Start A Blog: Why Authors Need To Start A Blog
Have you ever wanted to start a blog? Maybe you’ve pondered it but being a writer of books you’ve questioned yourself if it is necessary in order to boost your brand, your profile or business as an author. Besides you are already writing a ton of words everyday, why do you need to write more.
To start a blog takes commitment. I started this blog off to help other authors sell more books. I have had good success as an author with nine #1 Amazon in category in three years, so I figured I had some skills that maybe useful to other writers in helping them become more successful.
While a lot of people start a blog as a hobby writing about their daily activities, travels or even fitness workouts, I had a specific end goal in mind. Help others and they in turn would help me.
I figured out right from the ‘get-go’ that I would never be the next James Patterson. I would always be a ‘working author’ – enough writing skills to entertain readers but I would need a side gig to boost my income.
But that’s my plans as to why I would want to start a blog. Yours maybe different. Perhaps your reasons may include:
-
To Have Fun
I like writing and I like connecting with people. I read a lot of varied blogs and I’m fascinated by the stories bloggers write about. To me it’s fun and the reason why I’ve been blogging since 2007.
-
Blogging For Authors
No matter what type of blog you have, you are helping others. Someone may be motivated by your blog posts, they may learn something new, they may find enjoyment from reading your writing, and so on.
I like to talk about book writing and publishing so that I can help others. For me, I have learned a lot (and I’m still learning) about blogging, extra income, book marketing and everything else – all from other bloggers.
Hopefully, my blog posts help and motivate others to be awesome with their book business as well. For example, I hope that all of my extra marketing posts help motivate others to create multiple streams of income. I hope that others will want to become full time authors and earn a healthy living . I hope that others want to become more in control of their lives and leave their corporate gigs for a life of freedom.
-
Connect To A Community
I’ve made a lot of good friends through my blog. And, I love receiving emails from readers and blog friends that I’ve made. Being able to connect and learn from others is one of the biggest positives of blogging.
-
Developing As An Author
A blog can help you grow in so many ways. You will most likely become even more passionate in the topics that you love, you will constantly learn new things, you will meet many new people, and more. Naturally you are strengthening your ‘writing muscle’ – and that’s got to be a good thing.
-
Building Your Author Business
Of course, I have to include this as a reason to start a blog. Blogging can be a great way to improve the business you already have, or to create a business all on its own.
I know several successful bloggers and they all say the same thing, that blogging is the best thing that has ever happened to them. I agree!
Whatever your reason, as an author you should definitely start a blog.
Author Blog With No Traffic – Fix It Fast
So you’ve started your new author blog (well done!) but there’s deadly silence. No interaction, no post likes and you’re wondering if anybody else is reading your masterpiece except you? Frustrating I know and disheartening.
But sadly this can be just more than a sickening feeling in your gut – it can be real. In today’s noisy online world it’s hard to grab the attention of potential readers. There’s simply a lot of choice and your author blog must be relevant if you are going to attract visitors.
But sadly even relevancy isn’t the only thing you’ll need to cut down the noise and to get the right visitors.
Don’t Give Up On Your Author Blog Just Yet
Blogging is great and content marketers sing it’s praises. And as an author trying to build an audience, create a platform and ultimately sell more books, you should too. But too many blogging authors dismiss the power of social media platforms to get exposure to their brand. Exposure to your brand is the key here. I know authors use social media, usually the wrong way. More on that in another post.
So let’s look at how you the ‘world’s greatest fiction author’ can get more exposure. Here’s 5 strategies that’ll fix an author blog with no traffic
Offer Valuable Content
I know you’ve heard this a million times. But why do authors just post stuff about their latest book release, price drop or upcoming signing. Boring! Do you really think readers are sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for you to tell them that your latest masterpiece is now 99 cents. NO! You can mix some of this content in 10% of the time but readers are looking for information that is relevant to THEM not you!
There are a lot of social platforms where you can offer varying content. Mix it up with a video post about the benefits of print books over digital, write an article on what the ultimate price should be for a short read or just throw in an inspirational quote from a famous author.
Look at similar content (don’t plagiarise), personalise it to your own voice and release it on steroids. Don’t deliver the same old ho hum stuff – give it stick!
Run A Contest
Great way to get eyeballs at anytime but especially when your author blog is new. Your prize needs to be interesting and relevant. A nights stay at a resort is nice but will it sell you more books. An Amazon gift card would be great, signed copies of books would be valuable or even a Kindle Pro would be useful for a reader to check out your books.
You can Google ‘giveaway sites’ to find a ton of places to promote your giveaway. One of my favourites is http://www.giveawaypromote.com
If you want to step it up a notch check out Rafflecopter or KingSumo – these professional giveaway software programmes create a very professional looking promotion for your contest.
Post Shareable Posts or Graphics
Let me start off by shocking you with an awful truth. People aren’t interested in YOU. They are only interested in themselves and how you can help them. They also live in a very negative world bombarded each day with thousands of noisy messages. No wonder depression is on the rise.
So the number one, numero umo, #1 type of post you can put on your social media platforms is an INSPIRATIONAL one. Inspiring posts win hands down and easily thump your boring ‘me me posts’
Where do you find great posts?
They are everywhere. On Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr – everywhere. But collating all of them is time consuming and you should be writing your book, right? Yes that is right. That’s where the money is.
How will you know if your inspirational radar is in tune with your audience? Want to know a simple little trick that will get you tons of engagement, a huge reach and a bucket load of likes and shares? Us posts that have been PROVEN to have got lots of likes and shares. Simple but still time consuming. Here’s what I do.
I use the pro version of Post Planner. For $9/mth I grab the best performing posts and send them to my Facebook and Twitter accounts. In fact on a Sunday morning I sit down, grab 3-4 posts a day and schedule my week; all in about 15-20 minutes. That’s right! The best 21-28 performing posts to my audience in just 15 minites for $9/mth. Post Planner is awesome!
Run Ads
If your budget allows, run some ads. You can use Google Adwords or my preferred choice is Facebook. With 1.8 billion users, their audience is huge. Start off at just $5, promote your blog post AND add a bonus for visitors to get a BONUS report when they get your blog.
What To Write About
Your topic must be relevant and interesting to a reader. The simplest way to do this is to do some keyword research by jumping over to Google’s free keyword planner and putting in some keywords and grabbing the most popular searches. If you are a crime author search for the best crime authors, what makes a good crime plot, ideal book length etc
But if you want a ninja tactic go to Buzzsumo.com and enter a competitor’s details and see what are their best performing posts. Buzzsumo free edition will allow you 1-5 searches a day of such content. You’ll get to see what has performed best by likes, shares and reach on Facebook and other platforms. Simply grab this high performing idea and make it better but DON’T copy.
Use the above tips and your new author blog will soon see a rise in traffic. What methods have you tried? What social media platforms do you prefer? Leave me a comment below
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