So, the other day I had the opportunity to attend a webinar for authors of all stages. It was all about how to establish a brand and how to market your book. I was really excited to attend this, and there were some hurdles, but it was a really good experience. I’m learning so much as I go through this publishing journey and I want to share some of it with you.
Finding My Brand
This was the first thing they covered in the webinar. What do I want my brand to be? Who am I and what do I want to represent? This really got me thinking. For so long I wanted to write fantasy and thought that this was going to be the start of my identity as an author. But, now I’m working on publishing my first children’s book, so that is very different from writing a high fantasy. I’ve been trying to really nail down what my brand will be like. What do I want my brand identity to be? Well, for children’s books, I definitely want a fun and vibrant brand. Something that screams fun and imaginative. What does that look like? I’m not sure…..yet.
Learning About Online Marketing
Of course we had to touch on social media and other online platforms as we talked about marketing a book. I always thought that online marketing meant showing off your book, or talking about it. Really trying to sell it. But then I learned that you can do it in other ways. What does your book highlight? Talk about those things and get people interested in you, following you. Then when they see your book, they know what to expect and if they like what you have to offer, they will be more inclined to buy your book. So, now I’m like okay, I have my personal social media, my blog social media, and I just started a Facebook page for the podcast I’m working on. Do I need another one for my author stuff?
Learning to Manage it All
And it’s not just the social media side of things. They recommend getting an author website as well once you start so it’s easy for people to find you. Because my blog is a different vibe from my children’s books, it now looks like I’ll need to launch another website once the book is ready. For those of you who don’t know, websites cost money. I’m already paying for this one, and I want to keep it. But I’m not sure if I can afford two websites. And finances are so tight. But it was strongly recommended that authors get one and maintain it. How am I going to manage it all?
Take a Deep Breath
This is what I need to remember. Breathe and calm down. That website is not needed until the first book is published and more people are looking for me online if they like the first book. Which, if I want to keep momentum going, I’ll need to be working on the second book while I’m going through the editing process. Plus I’m hoping to launch a podcast soon, I’ve got this blog and I have my full time job. Sometimes it feels like I’m working three or four full time jobs. I need to remember to take some down time too or I am going to burn out. Let’s see how this goes.
Learning I Have a Great Support System
Sometimes this journey feels immense and like I’m on my own. It all falls on me. Only I can keep the ball rolling. But that’s not true. I have an incredible support system. And this webinar proved it. How? Well, I only saw the email for the webinar a few days before it was scheduled. And I was scheduled to work during the webinar. When I told my management team about it, they said that it sounded like something I needed to attend for my book. I told them that I was working and one of them asked what time it was. I told her and she said she would come and cover for me so I could attend. My boss said I could tune in in the office at work so that I could jump right into work when it was done.
a slight oops
Well, I made a slight error when reading the email and seeing the time of the webinar. And of course, I didn’t realise until the next morning – the day of the webinar. I had looked at the wrong timezone. Feeling like an idiot I let the girl, who was going to cover for me, know about my mistake. She was amused and then said she would move some things in her day around so that she could still cover for me. Naturally, I was very grateful and thanked her. Again, so very grateful for my support system that encourages me to believe in myself, even when things get rough.
Learning How to Ask For Help
Well, I thought that everything was going to be on me for getting money for publishing. But others encouraged me to do a fund raiser, which is why I did the bake sale. The bake sale had always been an idea to raise money, but I had a different purpose in mind. But then someone asked why not use the bake sale for raising money for publishing my book. I wasn’t sure how well people would take it, but again I was surprised. So many people I talked to about my book were so encouraging and more excited to buy something. It warms my heart to know that even strangers were in my corner. I even had people asking where I was going to be selling it when it was ready. That was extra encouraging.
Keep Going
I just need to keep going and keep believing that things will work out. If I’m being honest, I truly believe that these are things I’m supposed to do. And I’m chasing dreams. Some are dreams years in the making and others are new. But this year I am very intent on making it a year of chasing dreams. OH! I almost forgot to share the most exciting part of the webinar. At the end we were given a QR code to scan and it led to a link to enter a draw. The prize – a free editing evaluation which is priced at $499! This is what I had been raising money for. It would be awesome if I won, but if I don’t, that’s okay too. I still learned a lot. And we know that anything can happen if we try.
