If you’re a self-published author, you’ve probably heard that having an author brand is important. But you might be unsure how to build one or why you should focus on it. The answer is simple: an author brand creates continuous and consistent communication with readers, and you have the power to create one.
You already have an author brand, whether you realize it or not. People who read your work form ideas about you and your values right away. Anytime you interact with someone, whether through your books, online, or elsewhere, you’re sending a message about who you are.
That’s what a brand is: the tone, feel, and thoughts people form about you, a perception. A memorable brand is vital. If a reader recognizes your name in the ever-growing sea of books, they’ll be more likely to follow you and become a super fan. Author brands are a way to build lasting relationships with readers. Building an author brand requires a lot of effort, but in the end, it will connect you to more readers. An author brand creates continuous relationships with readers so that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you launch a new book. Great content drives readers but authors with great brands connect even more.
Getting Started
To start you’ll need somewhere for your author brand to call home, perhaps a blog, a website, or your Instafreebie Author Page. But before launching your site, think about the themes and ideas represented in your work: what you want people to think when they see your name. Be consistent. Many authors use a calendar to plan out their content in order to ensure that their posting schedule is reliable and full. New content will grab the attention of readers, but continuous engagement can hold it even when you’re not hosting a big, new project.
Author Pages
Instafreebie offers Author Pages to all of our writers. These pages are a low-cost homebase that will increase your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) presence on Google and other search engines. You can even link it to your website if you have one! Viewers can see your bio, links to your social media, and your active giveaways.
Your bio is valuable to readers because it’s how they learn who you are. A bio appears everywhere that you do – from the back of your book to your website and blog to all your social media. It’s the basis of your author brand. Be professional and match the tone of your writing – you want your target readers to appreciate your style. Make sure to edit your bio every time you put it somewhere new. For example, your Twitter bio should be short and sweet, but the bio on your home site should feature more in-depth information. Don’t be afraid to brag a little about your accomplishments too!
Social Media
It’s tempting to only use media that you’re familiar with, such as facebook and twitter, but being active on a variety of social media platforms – like Tumblr, Pinterest, and Instagram – can attract a larger audience. Being active on Social Media can also increase your SEO. Good SEO allows you to own your name and brand, while creating an easy way for readers to find you. You can find some great blog posts about SEO here.
Between your author pages, social media, and blogs, there are a lot of ways for you to connect with readers and start building a brand. Want to start developing your brand? Then come join Instafreebie!
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