Okay When Does the Fun Start?

Please tell me, Iʻm dying to know.

Your dream is to write a book. You have started writing your book and developed your characters. You have schemed your plot to no end and the readers will be surprised with the tangled web you wove. Now you are ready to self-publish, but When Does the Fun Start?

This all depends on your characters, scheme, tangled web, and your marketing skills. It is not enough that you are a good writer, but you must be a Marketing Guru. Be prepared when your audience arrives. As soon as you locate them by searching through the crowds of people looking for a book to read, and in your genre. That’s right, you need to saturate the world with the wonderful you.

Modesty and introverted personalities will not work for you now. If you tend to be an introvert, please climb out of your comfort zone, and flip the switch so you can become a part-time extrovert. Don’t be afraid of rejection… it doesn’t hurt. What do those Rejection Downers know anyway? Believe in yourself, your ability to write, and the message you are trying to get over to your audience. Writing is a gift and you should be proud of yourself for even venturing out of your comfort zone and attempting to write and publish.

You can do this, but you must Plan Ahead:

• Do you already have a website? If not get one and get it up and running.
• Have you been collecting names and email addresses of potential readers and entered them into an email list? (I use Constant Contact)
• Have you done anything about an advance announcement of your release?
• Is your Press Release done? (Information to follow on this project in an article coming up.
• If you have a website, do you have a New Release page? This is the page that acts like a bullhorn, announcing the release of your book. It should have a short synopsis, picture of the book cover, and the About This Author area.
• Have you established an audience/visitor info center? This section allows your followers to leave their contact information to be added to your distribution list.
• Are you planning a Book Launch Live on the Web?
• Is your Press Release Ready?
• Is your Bio up-to-date, and on your website?
• What are your Blog plans? You do not need a blog, but having a blog gives your visitors a good reason to revisit your website.
• Your site could have more detail on your characters? Discuss the personalities of your characters making them more sinister or heroic. Also provide information not contained in your book enticing the readers to comeback and visit your website often.
• You could include information like:
  • Provide a character summary. A visual look at the protagonist or antagonist?
  • Countryside or area description, era?
  • There are many other things you would write about enticing your readers to buy your book. Make a list and create your own intrigue or interest for readers to return to your website.
  • Make your own list of interesting facts to interest the readers.
• These suggestions work with both Fiction and Non-Fiction.
• Download the first 25 pages of our book to allow potential buyers to have a sampling of your writing style.
• Keep your website fresh and clean.
• Donʻt bore your readers with nonsense. Give people what they want, and that is information.

Use your own creativity to draw readers back to your website.