More Author Branding Tips – Leverage Shamelessness
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While there are a number of technical, logistical and strategic things that go into developing an author brand, there are some fairly straightforward, though unpleasant, things that go into it as well. This week, we’ll cover a few of the more unpleasant ones.
Be Shameless
Yes, I know, most writers are introverts. I also know that pitching friends and family, people who are more or less obligated to feign interest, can be psychologically taxing. Pitching strangers on your work can be downright traumatic. In the end, though, as Machiavelli notes, fortune favors the bold. In the long run, the worst thing you really face is the prospect that someone won’t be interested. Is that unpleasant? It sure is. Will it kill you? No, despite all that irrational screaming from your subconscious, it will not turn out to be fatal. Creating awareness is a critical step in building any brand and awareness building means you need to engage in some shameless self-promotion.
Places To Be Shameless
Talk to local bookstores and see if they’ll carry your book or, better yet, let you do a reading/signing AND carry your book. Talk to your local library about carrying your book and doing a reading or signing. Offer to give a talk to local writers groups about some element of writing and bring along a couple copies of your books. Is there a coffee shop near you that also sells books? Maybe they would be willing to host an event for you and let you leave a couple copies on the shelf. Got invited to a party? Go and steadfastly talk to everyone. When you get asked what you do, tell them you’re a novelist or an author. 9 times out of 10, they’ll ask about your book.
How To Be Shameless, but Not Obnoxious
When it comes to places like libraries, bookstores and other businesses, you should be straightforward about what you’re after from them. Like everyone else, the owner, manager or staff person who makes the decisions about those things has other duties and their time is valuable. Don’t waste it. If they’re unreceptive, thank them for their time and let it go. Trying to convince someone to let you hold an event or carry your books when don’t want to will be more trouble than it’s worth. When it comes to new people in social settings, wait for the conversation to turn toward work. Don’t worry, conversations with new people almost always turn to work. People spend so much of their lives doing their jobs that it becomes a go-to topic. It’s something they’re comfortable talking about and that they know a lot about. When it’s your turn, it’s a perfect segue to talk about your book. As a rule, it’s bad form and horribly off-putting to just walk up to someone and start pitching your book to them. It’s the interpersonal equivalent of a telemarketing call at dinnertime. Don’t do it.
