I engage with new writers daily. They all want to know the ways to grow your fan base. Everyone seems to have the writing of a manuscript thing down. However, they get a little stuck on what to do next to make their dream of being an author come to fruition. Now, I am not talking about the publishing aspect. Most want an agent and would like to go the traditional route. These authors write query letters, often get rejected, sometimes get selected, and others times get both. By both I mean, they get chosen, sign a contract and then their book never really gets off the ground. Or the book does get published and distributed, but there is no marketing campaign thus the book never gets discovered by the general public. Others are independents all the way. I am of the latter variety myself. Believe me, if you put in the effort to learn about the business end of authorship, you will have more success than someone who only wants to get the story out. For anyone who believes that writing is a get rich quick scheme, heard me loud and clear. Writing for a living is not a get rich quick scheme. There are 100,000+ published works every single day of the year. Even the best-selling authors have spent years honing their craft devoted to producing one good storyline, let alone a series. I say these things because they are fact, not to discourage.
When I first started on my authorship journey, I had dreams of becoming a best-selling author. I have learned over the years that it may or may not come to past. When writing is passion and a business for you. You have to be good with it. My goal is to grow my readership and tell good stories. We all want to write that one book that is prolific, profound, and will stay with a reader long after the story ends.
Oddly enough, I came across a post on Twitter about how to grow a fan base for an upcoming book, and there were tons of writers advising what they did or do to achieve that end. I listed quite a few things that I have done and continue to do for my own JEH Publishing business. There is a multitude of ideas and activities I use to create awareness and get readership. Here are ways you can grow your fan base:
Giveaways
First thing on the list is giveaways. It is one of the ways to grow your fan base. As writers, we all want
Second, I do scavenger hunts where I strategically place books in known locations for people to find. I would give clues on social media, and I would enlist the help of others across the country to help me. Lastly, I leave books where people will happen upon them. Now, when you do a scavenger hunt or leave books anywhere, always leave a note in the book so that the finder knows it’s for them. I have seen other writers do this and then get a call from the airport or other establishments talking about your book is here, you can claim at the lost and found. Also, neighborhood libraries, not public libraries, the kind of makeshift book boxes that you see in the park where little cute birdhouse design or flower garden situation is located, and it is labeled borrow books here. I have left books in those makeshift libraries as well.
Book Festivals
Attending book festivals one of the ways to grow your fan base. You purchase a table as part of a big event where you display your book or in my case books. Patrons peruse your offerings, usually, they strike up
This method does not work well without inventory or proper signage. Yes, signage, this is not just about selling books. It is about being seen and giving your potential reader a chance to interact with you. Often, patrons walk around and take pictures of your table or booth as it is called to take in everything. They may not buy at that moment. I have found participates will go online and seek you out later. When I attend a book festival, I usually have an increase in book sales online within 24 hours.
Readings at the Library
Let’s move onto Readings in the library. Your local library uses to be a place of study and information. Today’s library is all about community. They support local authors and are happy to work you into their events schedule provided you reach out to them. All you have to do is communicate that you are willing to do readings as well as participate in some of their author-driven programs. Again, this might not be a selling opportunity on the surface. It has the potential of becoming one in the future. Also, at a reading, library patrons can request your book be on the shelves for borrowing. It could prompt the library to purchase your book. I believe if more than half a dozen people request your book at the library, provided it is available in print by one of the big distributors where libraries get their books; it can make the list for purchase. Or you can donate a copy to your local library for distribution to its patrons.
Paid Advertising
Now let’s talk about advertising because there are two types. First, let’s talk about paid advertising. You have to choose your paid advertising carefully. I have spent quite a few dollars advertising my releases. It took me several hundred dollars to learn that you need to put your budget towards ads that garner results. Do not run ads just for the sake of running an advertising campaign. Target your ads for the type of readers you want to attract. Only purchase ads on Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon, etc. that result in some engagement. In the beginning, I was buying advertisements for a target audience, but it didn’t matter if I was getting looked at carefully. I just spent the money thinking, okay, I am being seen, and I attributed any tick up in sales was directly related. I was wrong. Now, I have paid advertising campaigns where if the potential buyer doesn’t click on my ad, then I don’t pay. Pay-per-click is a better use of your advertising dollars. At least you know someone is engaging with your message.
Advertising for Free
Secondly, there is such a thing as free advertising that stems from your social engagement. Your social media presence makes you and your work a walking billboard. You have to use that to your advantage. I know most of us are familiar with the 80/20 rule. You give people 80 percent of what they want or need, and you give them 20 percent of what you want or need. Always provide a call to action, but never say buy my book. It seems so thirsty and turns people off. Your call to action should state that you have a book available. You call to action should say if your book is doing well. You call to action is get in where you fit in type messaging. I understand that any publicity is better than none, but you have to be mindful of others whose messaging might not align with yours and cause controversy that might damage your shine. Be careful where you comment and how you comment on specific issues, be it religious or political. I’m not saying don’t have a voice. I’m saying be mindful that your voice in certain arenas may not be well-received.
Go-To Staples Ways to Grow your fan base
A few more ways to grow your fan base include some basic as go-to’s. Here is the one thing I believe is a good idea but it’s also discouraging. If you ask any established writer/author what they did to grow their audience, many will tell you that they just wrote more books. Building your catalog is essential, however, it can only help you to increase your audience if you establish one from the beginning. The key is to blog, podcast, do interviews being the interviewer or interviewee so that people get a chance to see who you are. I blog about current events or whatever moves me. I am an author of multi-genres because I don’t want to be pigeon-held to one topic of discussion. The way I see it, I am a story-teller, and story-telling in written form is my business. I am excited when new readers of work reach out to me. The acceptance is overwhelming at times. I would not trade this experience for anything else.
It doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and unfortunately, if I took a poll right now, I would find that the majority of writers or authors are introverts. Introverts don’t go out and seek self-promotion. Sure, on a day job, if you have one, we will go out and promote the hell out of whatever the company is pushing because that’s our bread and butter. When it comes to our own thing, we are not doing it with the same tenacity.
I know because I am an introvert. Yes, we do great things, but we hardly call attention to ourselves. These ways to grow your fan base can help to make a sustainable living as a writer. It requires 2500 true fans. I know that sounds like a lot. It can happen if you can acquire a tribe of 2500 people who believe in your work and continual introduce your work to others. You will have arrived regardless of whether or not you become a best-selling author. You will have a solid fan base for as long as you like.