When it comes to marketing, it pays to have a strategy. According to Content Marketing Institute, you should build systems, figure out goals, and streamline your processes.
One way to do this is by building an author website. But before you do that, you’ll want to determine your target audience. Your Writer Platform has a step by step guide on finding your audience, which includes creating a persona of your ideal reader, and being specific.
When you build your website, The Book Designer recommends owning your domain name, making it clear what you write about, and capturing email addresses.
You can also use your website to blog, if you choose. We Grow Media shares tips on how to blog regularly, which include having a clear focus, keeping an editorial calendar, and creating a writing routine. To gain exposure for your blog, you can also write guest blog posts. Content Marketing Institute recommends researching websites, following submission guidelines, and writing for that blog’s audience.
Once you’ve established a blogging routine, or if you’ve decided not to blog on your author website, you may want to focus on attracting media coverage. Book Works has a three-part series about making your author website media-friendly. Part one discusses including information about you and information about your books. Part two discusses making it easy for people to contact you, and to also link to your social media accounts. And part three discusses having media materials, such as media kit images (author photo and book cover photo), and authority content, meaning content that demonstrates your expertise.
Build Your Brand Academy goes more in-depth on media kits, with a 10-part series. Highlights include how to share your media kit, how to create suggested interview questions, how to take your author photo, how to share your endorsements, how to create your one-sheet, and more.
It also helps to build media relations (find reporters and establish rapport). Social Media Just For Writers has some tips, which include pitching a topic that is relevant to the media’s audience.
Last, you’ll also want to think about creating a strong landing page on your website. This page meets a specific need. For example, if you have an ad targeting your ideal reader, and you want them to see your landing page, to make them want to buy your book. Book Works covers this in more detail, and discusses how you need to think like your user, and sell the benefit of buying your book.
Any other tips for author website content? Share in the comments below!
