Hello to new and old subscribers! Feeling so privileged to have you reading my Substack newsletter #2. Thank you. Without further ado, let’s get on with the news …
Let me ask you a question (please?). Have you worked out your author brand?
By ‘author brand’, I don’t mean you need to carry around a giant billboard with your name (and face) plastered all over it, or that you’re packaged up in a neat little bottle with a brightly coloured label on the front (unless you actually have done these things, then, go you!).
Yes, you are an actual person, but you are also a product (sorry to break it to you). And that’s why you need clear, consistent and recognisable ‘branding’ that shows your audience who you are.
Why do I need to be a brand?
“Your brand is the single most important investment you can make in your business.”
— Steve Forbes, Editor in Chief of Forbes Magazine
Invest in the time it takes to get to know your readers’ needs and build trust and connection – your brand is your promise to deliver the goods to them!
Think about those celebrity and well-known authors you love. What do you know about them? What makes you want to read and buy their books? How do they ‘present’ themselves that makes them engaging, relatable, trust-worthy and reliable?
Their secret is in their outstanding branding!
These authors have presented their books and themselves as writers in a way that shows their audience who they are, what they stand for, and the care they take in connecting with their target readership.
A small task … (or two):
1. Pick your favourite well-known author and write down three words that describe them / their writing style.
2. Now, which three words would you like people to associate with you? Write these down and place them somewhere as a constant reminder.
So, how do I create a brand for myself?
Identify your identity. Your brand message should be relatable and compelling, and most importantly, represent who you are. By being consistent across your books, socials, website, and so on, people will know what to expect from you and your upcoming titles.
To help with what to convey to your audience, answer these questions:
What genre do you write in?
Who is your intended readership?
(Not just the age range for your books, but the gatekeepers, experts, specialists, etc)
What makes you different to others in your genre?
(Your experiences, knowledge, skillset, etc)
Write yourself into a tagline
Now that you know a bit more about you, create a tagline; a one-sentence, pitchy description, or catchphrase, as you will, that sums up who you are, what you write about (the themes) and perhaps why this is important to you. Your tagline should help readers to understand you as a writer, and also to identify what they can gain from your books.
Here’s an example: ‘Books with Heart on Issues that Matter’ (EK Books)
Where taglines can be used:
- Your biography
- Headers on your website and social media
- Email signature
- Business cards
- When meeting important people at conferences and festivals (and even non-important people like family and friends!).
In summary …
If you haven’t already, begin to craft an idea of yourself as a writer, as a brand, and determine who (and where) the best demographic is to read your books.
Got questions?
Want to share your own fabulous brand secrets or tagline with the writer community? Feel free to comment on this post to start a conversation!
Coming up soon …
- We continue our dive into author branding with a look at the visuals
- Fun and exclusive chats with industry experts
- More tips and tasks to ensure you are ticking all the boxes
- Plus more!
And don’t forget…
Tomorrow is February 14 … that is, Library Lovers’ Day and International Book Giving Day, oh, and Valentine’s Day (only for expressions of love for your stack of books, of course!). What have you got planned?
Thanks for reading! Hope you found some value in this edition of the Books On Tour Subtack!
#ThanksForTouringWithUs!
Romi x