This summer has been insane. I’ve applied to dozens of jobs, had tens of interviews, and at least 6 job offers. Conq Enterprises, which is the name I give my sprawl of gigs and part-time jobs, includes tutoring, copyediting, grant-writing, and nonprofit work, in addition to comics and fantasy fiction.
As you can imagine, there’s been a lot of me running around like a chicken with my head cut off, which is before you get to my big move. That’s right, at the time you’re reading this, I will hopefully be squirreled away in a brand new apartment with two other guys, far away from Mom and Dad. (Well, it’s a long walk, anyway). Very exciting. But as of now, I still got to plan the actual move and make sure all my finances are in order so I don’t boomerang to my parents’ house. Again. But hey, we’ll burn that bridge when it hatches. Or something like that.
I’ve also got an online shop together over on Indyplanet, so you can hold some of that sweet Secret Operations and Bubblegum-Man goodness on actual, old-fashioned paper.
Before you give me all your money, check this out: I managed to snag an interview with everyone’s favorite horror icon, Briana Morgan. Briana writes spooky stories that examine human relationships through the lens of horror. She’s a professional author and editor and lives on her own here in Atlanta, which automatically makes her kind of an inspiration to the rest of us trying to rub two words together. We talked about how to develop your presence and platform as an author, including finding an audience and how to market your wares. See the full interview below, complete with follow-up questions and answers! (My words are in bold.)
How did you find your audience?
I started my Twitter account back in 2010 and mostly just treated it like a personal account, until I connected with some other writers. We started talking about books and the projects we were working on, and it just grew and evolved from there.
Now, I’d say the majority of my readers come from Twitter or Instagram. Sometimes I don’t like being on social media, but it has had its advantages for me.
What's the most important thing new authors can do to connect with readers?
If you want to connect with readers, you have to seek them out. There’s nothing wrong with connecting with other writers, but I’ve found much more value out of following and engaging with book reviewers and readers.
What subject matter interests you? For me, that’s anything spooky. Go hang out in communities where people are talking about what you love, and you’ll find potential readers for your work.
Ok. Where do you find those communities? Just through Google or Facebook? Sometimes it’s difficult to get attention on forums.
Social media is a great gateway! Check out different hashtags to find your niche, or ask friends with similar interests where they like to hang out.
How do you know what your audience wants?
Pay attention. Read a lot of books in your genre, and study trends. If you want, you can even set up surveys or polls to ask your audience what they want. I’ve done it a few times and I’ve never regretted it.
What is “a lot” of books? 2-3 per month, more?
It can’t be quantified, but you should be reading more than one book per year, to say the least. In the words of Stephen King, “If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time, or the tools, to write.”
How do you know what your audience expectations are?
You have to read widely in your genre. What are other people putting out there? How is that work being received? Learn what they did right and focus on that. Avoid doing whatever they did wrong.
Ah, I think I see. I’ve encountered this advice before but didn’t really make the connection. You’re saying we should seek out what other people (review websites, blogs, journals, forums) are saying about various books and try to learn from those authors successes and failures, correct?
That’s one solid approach and one I use. That doesn’t mean it will work for everyone. I recommend trying out different strategies until you discover what works best for you and what your audience responds to best.
Where do you do your research for marketing?
Polls and surveys can be invaluable, in terms of asking your audience what they want. I’m always checking out online classes, books, and Youtube videos about marketing as well. Before I self-published, I didn’t have much background in business, so it’s taken me a while to learn what I needed. I’d also say that if you’re seeking information online, you have to take it with a grain of salt. What works for someone else might not work for you, and that’s okay.
What are the best sources for marketing information out there? There’s a lot that comes up in a Google or Youtube search, and that can be intimidating. What’s the first thing an author should do when considering their marketing plan?
I get most of my marketing information from Youtube, or directly from the social media sites themselves. Websites such as Writer’s Digest, the Social Media Examiner, and the Buffer blog can also help.
6. How do I leverage my mailing list to build relationships and garner new readers?
I’m not the best person to ask because I don’t rely much on my mailing list, but if you’re really interested in using it to get more readers, make sure you’re providing value, and don’t spam them. If you’re sending out a newsletter once a week or more, it’s too much, and people will unsubscribe. You shouldn’t just be selling your books to them in each newsletter, either. Offer some kind of insights about writing, updates on your personal life, or lists of books you’ve read and loved. Focus on what’s in it for them, not what you can gain from it.
How do you determine which marketing plan is right for you, and how do you begin (this may be rephrased from above)?
Once you’ve done your research, you can start experimenting. It may take some time for you to figure out what strategy works best for you. Keep in mind that you might fail along the way, but that’s okay! It just means you’re one step closer to finding the ideal strategy for you.
How do you walk that fine line between spamming for reviews, reads, buys, etc. and “putting yourself out there?”
You should be posting less about yourself than about other people. Engage with your community, share other people’s posts, and uplift books from other writers. You can sprinkle in self-promo posts here and there, but I’d say anything more than twice per week is spammy. That’s a huge turnoff to customers.
What should the ratio be in terms of time devoted to craft vs. marketing?
Marketing is the smallest slice of the pie. It’s so tempting to procrastinate by researching and setting up marketing strategies, but you need something to market first. Always put the writing first. Everything else is background noise.
Ok! Last question, I swear. You’ve given us a ton of great suggestions and starting off points. It can seem overwhelming to a new reader. What’s the first thing folks should do after reading this post?
Go make sure your branding is consistent across all your platforms! Your name should be professional and make it clear who owns the account, and it should be the same everywhere. Also, your profile photos should all be the same! Pick a nice one that shows your face. Good luck out there!
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So there you have it! Briana says you can just sit in your chair and wait for success to come to you while you play video games!
Just kidding. Wanted to check and see how many folks just skipped to the end.
Anyway, don’t forget to check out Briana’s site here and if you got a minute, check out Black Captain by my friend Menuhin Hart. It’s stirring scifi with a comedic twist.
Watch this space for updates on the Indyplanet shop, and as always, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with all your friends.