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I spend a lot of time on author websites, and today want to highlight two pages you should focus on to ensure yours is effective (and awesome!)

I’m sure you may have heard a lot of marketing-speak when it comes to building an effective author website. Phrases such as “marketing funnel,” “call to action,” and “lead magnet.” I spent plenty to time developing those for authors I work with.

But there are more foundational aspects of a website that are critical to get right. You see, I spend a lot of time research authors and reaching out to invite some of them to be a guest on my podcast. As someone who is actively trying to showcase the work of an author, to understand their creative vision better, and to connect with them, I often find that the two most important pages on their website are broken.

Let’s dig in:

Your Contact Page

It is not uncommon for me to be on an author’s Contact page and find myself at a dead end, confused, and even frustrated at times. Too many authors don’t share a clear and simple way to contact them.

So my first piece of advice is to simply have a Contact page. Why? Because the entire point of a website is that you want to have a place to communicate about your writing and life as an author. Consider who you may be communicating with.

What if one of those people wants to represent your work in the marketplace — an agent or editor. What if someone wants to ask you to be a speaker at a literary festival, or invite you to be a guest on a podcast? What if they have a question about your books? What if someone wants to tell you that your work moved them?

There should be a link on your website navigation bar that says “Contact” and a page that offers clear instructions on how you prefer to be contacted.

I would encourage you to provide a direct email address, and not use a contact form. This is probably the most controversial advice I’ll share on this topic. In my experience, contact forms tend to break eventually. Sometimes it is an issue of it being outdated, an old bit of code that stops working years later. But often it is because the contact form was setup years ago by the creator and it directs the messages to an old email address that the author doesn’t use anymore.

The author never even realizes that people are trying to reach out and going into a black hole.

If you are concerned about putting your primary email address out on the web because of spam, then create a secondary email address just for your public author correspondence. In most email programs, you can easily route this right into your main inbox, or to where you can see it very easily.

If you do use a contact form, don’t have it double as your newsletter sign up form. I have seen this and it is confusing because I’m not sure if the author will even see my email, or if I simply joined their newsletter list. Also, it feels a bit odd to require me to sign up for your newsletter if I want to email you.

A lot of Contact pages will have lists of options such as:

“For publicity inquiries, contact my publisher at publicity@publishername.com”
“For rights inquiries contact my agent at agent@agencyname.com”

Now, if you are an author who is unable to field all of the many inquiries you receive, I totally understand if you have to do this. But if you are not drowning in people trying to contact you, don’t pass me on to other people unless you really need to.

Be a central part of the process of how you communicate with others about your career as a writer. Why? Well, as someone who hosts a podcast, I can tell you that pretty much every time I have reached out to the publicity department at a publisher because the author website told me to, the answer to the podcast request has either been “no” or (more often), I never received a reply at all. Why is this the case? I’m not certain. Perhaps it is because my podcast is not a household name, so it wouldn’t be considered a significant “publicity win” worthy of their time. Or maybe it is because they aren’t actively working on publicity for that specific author, their last book came out years ago.

Whereas when I email an author directly — even a successful big-name author — I usually receive a response. Even if they don’t want to be on the podcast, they are often honored that they were asked because it is validation of their work.

As an author, put yourself at the center of your career. Communication is the key aspect of that. Don’t immediately pass inquiries off to others even before you see them, unless you have a specific reason to.

If email is not the best way to reach you, then be clear about what is the best way is. For instance, you may write on your Contact page: “Below is my email address, but a better way to reach me is to Direct Message me on Instagram.”

Set this expectation so that people aren’t left wondering why they aren’t hearing back from you. My plumber and tree trimming service do this — their phone messages clearly state: “If you want a quicker reply, text me.” Authors should be this clear as well.

In addition to the primary way you want to be contacted, tell me where else I can find you. List out your social media links, newsletter link, etc.

Your About Page

The About page is going to be one of the most visited pages on your website, if not the most visited.

Why? Because oftentimes someone lands on your website because they heard about you or your writing elsewhere. They have a reason to come here, and they want to know more about who you are, what you write, and why.

Your About page can of course have a short third-person bio that clearly communicates who you are and what you write. But too many authors stop there. Why not have that quick professional paragraph, but then share more. Tell us why you create. What inspires you. Tell us your backstory of what brought you to writing.

Take us behind he scenes of your creative process.

Share photos from your life. The more “real” they are, the more ways you are giving people to find a connection to you.

Worried about oversharing? Well, this is your About page. The one page on the internet that is all about you. It is the page that someone chose to go to because they want to learn about you. These people can choose to stop reading whenever they want to. Don’t worry that it is too long — every viewer of this page knows that can choose to stop reading at any time.

I mean, have you ever read a memoir or autobiography, gotten to page 2 and said to yourself, “This person just goes on and on about themselves. Ugh.” Of course not. Don’t be afraid to show up on your own About page.

Sure, be mindful of the visitor’s time and put important professional information near the top. But then, go deeper. That is what I try to do in my own About page.

One way to think about all of this — having an effective and awesome Contact page and About page — is to “be a good host.” I heard that phrase from one of my clients this week, writer Elizabeth Heise. She heard that phrase to describe how to write a good memoir, and I think it applies to your author website too. These people have arrived to your website just as they may arrive to your home for a party or gathering. Give them ways to connect that are purposeful and meaningful.

Thanks!
-Dan

I wanted to check in and share what I’ve been learning from writers this year, what I’ve been creating, and what you can expect from me moving forward.

This week I did a private presentation for authors and agents at a literary agency. I shared five case studies on how to get more book sales and reviews, with each focused on a specific marketing strategy:

1. Podcasts Sell Books
2. Social Media Sells Books
3. Social Ads Sell Books
4. Direct Outreach Works Better Than Social Media Likes
5. Know Your Audience Better Than Anyone Else

The authors asked questions about what to expect from their publishers, how to frame the ROI of their own investment in time/energy on marketing, how to approach bookstagrammers and podcasters, and more.

I’ll be sharing these case studies in future issues of this newsletter.

Speaking with writers is central to what I do. I grew up as the creative kid, I married an artist, my friends have always been creators, and my days are spent chatting with writers. This week I interviewed author/illustrator Vesper Stamper for my podcast, and I loved how she framed what she has learned in her career:

“In my career, what I learned is that it is all about relationships. It’s all about relationships.”

Yes, the creative act alone is a worthy endeavor for personal growth. But I have found that oftentimes our work is more powerful when shared. When someone is moved by it.

As a writer, I encourage you to not just focus on what you create, but in connecting your creative work to others. 16 years after she graduated from college, Vesper finally got the book deal she had been dreaming of. She describes the moment that followed:

“Getting the book deal was incredible and bewildering. What followed was one of the loneliest times of my entire life. When you are mid-career and you finally get your big break — the big leagues, great offer, 2-book deal — I announced it on Facebook, I got a bunch of likes, but nobody called me. Nobody texted me. Nobody asked me to go out for a congratulatory drink. It was crickets. I had become so obsessed with my career, that I had neglected those friendships. So when I had my big break and nobody showed up for me, I didn’t have anyone to blame but myself.”

In recognizing this, she decided to fix it. She reached out to five friends, reconnected and said, “I need to reinvest in my relationships — will you walk with me through this season?” They stepped right up to the plate.

This year I have focused on one-to-one conversations and connections in my work and life. Each weekday is spent in long conversations with my clients — writers who are connecting with readers, launching their books, growing their author platforms, and infusing those processes with a sense of creative fulfillment.

Between that work, I am often emailing, direct messaging, and chatting with writers on social media.

I have doubled-down on my podcast, and have felt honored to be able to speak with the writers and artists who have been guests on the show this year. They have featured so prominently in my newsletters this year because I learn so much in hearing about their journeys as writers. I love hearing how they navigated creative risk, bet on themselves, and found ways to fit creativity in an otherwise busy life.

Of course, I have been spending lots of time with my family. Each day, the only time I leave the house is to take a walk with my 9yo son, wander through the garden with my family, or take a drive with them to see the world around us. Otherwise, we spend our time talking, playing, and creating.

I’ve continued sending my weekly newsletter, which I’ve done every week for 15 years. And of course, I’ve continued to write and practice guitar.

In some ways, my world feels really small because I don’t travel any distance to connect with those who inspire me. But in many ways, my world feels expansive. I’m focusing more on how I can grow as a person, as a creator, and how I can have more meaningful connections and experiences with writers and artists.

Of course, that aligns to my mission in my work as well: helping writers feel their work is reaching their ideal audience in a human-centered manner. It is such a joy to be a part of their work, and helping them share their voice and connect with readers.

In terms of this year, what Vesper said sums up how many creators I speak to are focused on — this conclusion that despite a difficult situation: “I can choose my outcome.” This is what she says she learned growing up, and what books taught her.

When I asked her if she has ever experienced her creative vision not matching up to the expectations of those around her, she replied:

“Welcome to my world. I fight this battle on a daily basis. I have never fit. Up until about the last 6 to 7 years, I was always trying to bend myself to fit the will of the industry. I always assumed there is some kind of unwritten script that I’m not following. Now in my 40s, I’m at peace with that. I don’t know how to be anyone other than me.”

That reminded me of my favorite thing I’ve ever seen on the internet, this 2 minute video about fitting in vs finding your own path:

 

So much of what Vesper shared about her journey as a writer, an illustrator, a singer, a performer was about including other people in creative work.

She attended the arts high school that was featured in the movie and TV show Fame, and described the experience this way:

“You were surrounded by people doing stuff all the time. Dancing on the subway, gospel choir in the lunchroom. Pickup songs in the hallways. It was everywhere, in the atmosphere. I wanted to try all of it.”

When she pursued a career as a singer/songwriter, she said:

“My time on stage was when I could look out at an audience, and really care for people. I never saw it as wanting everyone to look at me. In fact, I hate being the center of attention. I love drawing other people out of themselves and helping them find their own journey.”

When she later met with editors and agents at writing conferences, she talked about resisting viewing the moment as a transaction, saying:

“These are human beings, and I can care for them as acquaintances and friends because I will encounter them again. Over the years, I was able to make friends and relationships that, even if I didn’t acquire anything from them, that wasn’t the point. The point was being able to care for people. We are going to treat each other like people and humans, and I have more than reaped the benefits of that professionally and relationally. I wish younger writers understood this, these professional relationships you develop, those are the things that will take you through 40 years.”

Vesper also talked about the importance of collaboration: how her agent and an editor helped shape key aspects of her work, and how this is something that made the creative process even better.

In our chat, she made a point that I want to end with here: there is never the right time to pursue your creative vision. You have to make the time. Your life will adjust to make room for it.

You can hear my entire conversation with Vesper Stamper here.

I want to thank you for allowing me to show up in your life as well. This work means so much to me, I appreciate that you make room for it — and me — in your life.

Thank you.
-Dan

Today I want to talk about the importance of having a clarity of vision in your creative work, and how that can lead to you effectively sharing it with your ideal audience. I want to view this through the lens of three creators I had the pleasure of interviewing recently: an author, filmmaker and a financial expert.

Let’s meet Evan, Angela, and Jacquette:

HAVE CLARITY IN YOUR CREATIVE VISION

 

When I spoke with Evan J. Roberts, he told me he has a goal of writing 100 books: “I have journals dedicated to writing children’s books, where I identify idea after idea after idea of books I want to write.”

He is the author of more than 15 books, but many of them are not available on Amazon. Instead he found his own high quality printer and did his own print run. He sells them online, through direct relationships with booksellers, and regional events.

I asked him why he does so many local events, such as setting up a table with his books at street fairs, and he said:

“Being face to face goes a long way to making a real connection. You can say anything behind a camera, but when you are right there in front of someone, you can feel their energy. You can pick up on authenticity. I’m not afraid of people, and I think those types of interactions help to see you as a person. That has helped us with our series, they see the human side of who I am as a person.”

What he said next shifts the way that many authors approach the marketplace:

“My whole strategy in the beginning was to do as many live events as I possibly could. I think as an author, you can hide behind Amazon all you want, but people want to know who you are as a person. It also challenges you to start talking about the book and the relationship of what it means to the reader. It forces you to stop saying “buy my book because I wrote it,” and it forces you to start thinking, “Here is why you should consider my book, here is what it will do for you. Here is how it can impact you, or your family, or your children. That is a totally different conversation to have. You change the whole dynamic now, because you are leading with value.”

That is the reason why he started with an initial print run of 4,000 books. He explained it as, “I’m always going to bet on myself. I’m so glad I did it. I’m constantly investing in myself. ”

He shared the story of how he became comfortable with the idea of sales. When he was a teenager, he sold kitchen knives door to door.

“I had to create a list of family and friends, and call them with a script. I set up an appointment based on that script, then went to their homes to share the product with them. At the end, I had to ask for the order, which in the case of these knives, was thousands of dollars.”

Why am I telling you about selling knives door to door? Because of what Evan learned on the other side of it:

“That experience broke down the barrier of being afraid of rejection. Broke down the barrier of not wanting to promote myself. Most creatives have a big challenge when it comes to understanding how to promote themselves and not second guessing themselves in terms of how it will appear to people. I can’t tell you how many no’s I’ve gotten, or how many times I went to a home and no one was there. Those experiences made me tougher as a person.”

“Now when I promote, I’m not promoting because this is a book and I want you to buy it. I know that the value is there, I know how it is going to impact a child. I know the value of the energy that I put into my writing, it is not about making a buck.

I love his conclusion on the intersection of creativity and the marketplace:

“Once you get comfortable with your message, and why you started writing in the first place, money is just an exchange of value. It is just that I have created something and someone else sees that it is worth something. It is transmuting that value from one to another.”

“[Selling kitchen knives] taught me, you have to ask. Very few people will just volunteer their money or services to you, you have to AFTO, “Ask For the Order.” That’s in life, you have to ask for what you want. If you don’t ask, chances are very slim that someone will just come up to you and say, “Hey, here is everything you were looking for.”

You can listen to my entire conversation with Evan here.

LOOK AT OBSTACLES AS OPPORTUNITIES

 

The one certainty you will have in your efforts to create and share is that there will be obstacles. Some you are already aware of, some will pop up unexpectedly.

Oftentimes in life, we want a clear path to the road ahead. For things to feel safe. But what if we embrace the idea that this is antithetical to the process of creating. Creativity requires the unexpected. As does the process of sharing your work and connecting it with your ideal audience.

Five years ago, I first interviewed filmmaker Angela Tucker. This summer we sat down again to catch up on her newest film and her career.

The entire process of filmmaking is obstacles. For her documentary work, she is creating a film when she has no idea where it will go. She doesn’t know who may appear as a main character, or what their narrative arc may be. She only discovers that as the film production moves forward.

I mean, the entire process feels like an enormous risk. Films are expensive to make, so filmmakers need to seek out funding, need to partner with collaborators to get it done, and then need to find a window into the marketplace to have their work seen.

Angela summed it up perfectly when we discussed 2020:

“I could not have predicted that people would not watch things in movie theaters.”

She is a producer on her latest film, and of course, their plans for release have radically shifted. Instead of going to festivals and having screenings, many of their plans are virtual and digital.

She framed it all this way:

“I look at obstacles as opportunities. This is a time where people have to ask themselves why they make movies.”

This forced her to have to ask herself of what a screening in a theater actually provides to her and the film. And she connected it all back to the creative vision that started it all — why we create and share:

“If you want the film to be out there, then you have to have a real vision as to what change you want to make. I’m just trying to make as many things that I feel good about as possible, that hopefully can make some kind of change in the world.”

You can listen to my full interview with Angela here.

ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

 

My days are filled with conversations with writers and creators. Of course, most are seeking a path to create the work they dream of, and ensure it connects with someone who will love it.

Many writers feel frustrated or confused by the publishing process. They sometimes feel there is a huge gap between their hopes and their reality.

But something that Jacquette Timmons said to me helps us reframe this. She is a financial behaviorist who helps people rethink their relationship to money. But her advice applies more broadly as well:

“We are talking about money all the time, but we aren’t having the right conversations.”

It’s this idea that we may think we are immersed in a topic, but that our orientation can be completely off. She talked about how often people avoid knowing the truth — understanding their own habits and reality around money.

Again, I felt this directly applied to how writers approach the idea of publishing and sharing their work. We can see this when we struggle to find the time, energy or focus to write. We don’t understand our motivations or habits well enough to get it done. We can see it in our struggle to find a path to publication — frustrated at not finding an agent or publisher — yet unable to describe our writing in a simple conversation. And we can see this in our ability to share our work with readers, hoping that a social media algorithm will magically bring us readers because of a Tweet.

Jacquette is a financial behaviorist, meaning her entire approach to how she helps people with finance is framed around our emotions and how they drive decisions. This is the human side of money. If you have read my work for any length of time, you may know that a huge focus for me is what I refer to as human-centered marketing. I love how Jacquette approaches finance with the human lens.

She described how often she talks to people who have guilt or shame around their financial mistakes, or what they have or don’t have. Her advice on how to approach the path forward is life-changing:

“You always have a choice, so operate from within that power.”

You can listen to my full interview with Jacquette here.

Thanks!

-Dan

Nearly a year before her novel came out, Leigh Stein hired me to help her plan the marketing and book launch strategy for it. In the past few months I have shared two case studies of that work. But both of those were done before the book was released. Today I’m excited to share with you the first update of how Leigh’s novel has done after it has been published.

In the first part of the case study from February, Leigh and I talked about the work we did before Covid-19 upended the world. You can listen to our entire hourlong conversation about the book launch and marketing process here, all the work she did 4-12 months before publication.

In that chat, we discuss the value of developing your marketing plan much earlier than you think, the value of identifying your ideal readers, and why you shouldn’t confuse an author platform with an actual marketing campaign. We also talk about the value of seeking out collaborators.

In May I released part 2 of the case study where Leigh and I talked about how she was adjusting her marketing and launch plans within the new realities of living in quarantine. One of her original marketing strategies was a multi-city series of events, so we discussed how everything is adjusting. You can listen to that 45 minute conversation here.

Which brings us to part 3 of the case study, what Leigh has been experiencing since the book’s release on June 30th. You can listen to our entire 50 minute conversation here.

Leigh’s book is Self Care: A Novel, her fourth book, and after just a few weeks, I’m excited to say it’s also her most successful! (to the right is a photo of the book with one of my matching typewriters.)

The book has been featured in nearly two dozen lists of recommended summer reads in the media, including from Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Vulture and Book Riot. The book received good reviews in New York Magazine, The New Republic, Wired, the LA Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Huffington Post.

Over on Goodreads it has 150 reviews and 761 ratings. On Amazon she has 18 ratings.

She moved her events online, and they’ve gone really well. She made a point to have each event be “in conversation” with someone else who was well-known in their industry. A key aspect of this strategy was choosing not to have them all be with other authors, but rather with someone from any field who she felt was incredibly interesting, and aligned to themes from Self Care. She has also worked to ensure the events are engaging and involving to viewers right from the start, involving them in the conversations.

In the interview, Leigh takes us through the exact process she went through to get one of her guests, an influential yoga instructor with thousands of followers. Was it a cleverly written email right before the book was released? Nope. A year before launch, Leigh spent $700 to attend a weekend yoga retreat with the instructor. For months, she stayed in touch with her and attended her other online classes. Leigh invested in this woman’s community, and forged a real human-centered connection.

This is part of why I talk so much about the power of relationships and considering your book launch well before you think you need to. Trust takes time. It is an investment, but the very best kind.

When Leigh and I created the launch plan, we created two personas that represented her ideal readers for Self Care. We named them Rachel and Lauren. They were pretend people who embodied who we hoped the readers would be. This helped us make loads of marketing decisions. We would ask ourselves “Would Rachel listen to this podcast?” when deciding where to put our efforts.

Since the release of the book, Leigh has met many real-life people who aligned to the Rachel and Lauren personas! This has been such a fulfilling experience for her. She put the readers at the center of how she considered releasing Self Care, and to have actual engagements with these people has been amazing.

Just before launch, Leigh wrote an article for Medium that went viral. It received 150,000 views and an incredible amount of engagement. It was a nonfiction piece, but aligned to the themes of her novel.

I do want to point out the reality behind viral success though. For every article that runs are dozens of other pitches that fall flat Leigh described it this way:

“Between April and June, I pitched 20 stories. Ideas about Coronavirus that seemed timely and relevant in April were completely irrelevant by May. Two of my pitches were accepted—then one of those two was killed.”

In my experience, impostor’s syndrome seems to always be somewhere in the creative process. This is how she described the process of writing the essay that went viral:

“I was anxious that I no longer knew how to write. I wrote this 2600-word piece in four days. When my editor didn’t get back to me for a few days, it seemed to my anxious mind like further proof my fears were true: it really was badly written, it wasn’t what she wanted, she was just trying to find a nice way to tell me. I checked my contract to see what the kill fee was. Then my editor got back to me and said it was exactly what she was looking for and gave me my edits and I stopped crying and worked for the second weekend in a row and we published on Monday.”

Viral success happens in the same way that everything else happens: with great uncertainty, hard work, and a bit of luck.

So much of what Leigh shared in our conversation talks about specific marketing tactics, but also the big picture reality of being a writer. She recently shared:

“I’m 35 years old, my fourth book just came out, and I still don’t make a full-time living as a writer.”

This is something we discuss a lot in the interview: the difference between the perception of the writing life, and the reality. I encourage you listen in to our conversation here. Or, subscribe to “The Creative Shift with Dan Blank” on your podcast player of choice.

Thanks!
-Dan

Today I want to talk about one simple action you can take to better connect you and your writing to readers, as well as those they respect and listen to. What’s more, this one is all about being generous, connecting to someone in a meaningful way, and feeling a deep sense of fulfillment in the process.

Let’s boil this all down to what writing and publishing is all about, which is connection. This idea that you have an idea, a story, an insight that you want to share. This is something that a big part of what you feel called to do. You can’t not do it.

The culmination of that process? It’s not really finishing a manuscript, although that is an amazing milestone. It’s not publication, although that is as well. Art is complete when it connects with someone. When there is that magical blend of your intention as the writer, and what the reader brings when they read it. Their own worldview, life experience, and context in which they read your words.

In that moment something entirely new is created.

As many writers will tell you, smaller versions of that moment happens when they meet someone who shares their love of a certain kind of story, or writing, or themes. This is why we have readings, literary events, conferences, retreats, meetups, and even social media.

Is it the exact same thing as what happens when someone reads your book? Nope.

But is it a wonderful connection around the same underlying things? Yes. And what’s more, it is one that you, the author, gets to experience. Most people read in isolation. It happens privately, in small moments, and the magical connection of art described above happens in their mind.

Okay, let’s get back to the single feel-good action I mentioned. One that creates a tiny version of that magical moment of connection. One where you reach out to someone who “gets” you and your writing. But also one where you allow that person to feel seen. Where you grow your own literary circle in the best way possible: not by counting numbers of followers or subscribers, but connecting with one human being.

Okay, here is the strategy:

1. Email someone. Or, if you can’t find their email, Direct Message them on their social media of choice.
2. Thank them for something.
3. Wish them a good day.

That’s it. These are all tools you have. You don’t have to risk anything by asking them to do you a favor. Instead, it is you creating a special moment for that person. One where they are supported and seen, and where you connect with them in relation to the types of things you love writing about.

Who could you email and what could you thank them for? Here is a list to get you started:

• An author whose work inspired you in some way. Tell them that. Be specific if you can. Don’t be precious here, it doesn’t have to be the one book you would take to a desert island. Thank people for characters, or specific ideas, or scenes that you loved.
• Someone who supports books like those you write (or want to write.) This could be a conference organizer, the leader of a community such as a Facebook group, a bookseller, a librarian, a teacher, a podcaster. Thank them for their work. Again, if you can be specific about one way they helped you, be sure to mention that.
• A reader! So many readers leave reviews online and recommend books on social media. Why not thank them? If they recommended a book months ago and you ended up reading it, then let them know. Thank them for the recommendation and tell them a specific way the book helped you. Why? Because you are telling them how they helped you. That they had a positive impact on your life.

Whenever I encourage people to do this, there is often a sense of resistance. People tell me that they don’t want to bother that person. That this person is likely busy. That they themselves don’t have enough of a platform to justifying emailing this person.

None of that is true.

I’m writing this sentence on Friday at 6:25am. Who on earth wouldn’t want to check their email at 6:35am and not like to see someone thanking them for having a powerful impact on their life through their work?

Everyone wants that.

Why withhold that? Why feel great about a writer or supporter of the arts or reader, and not let them know it?

Maybe you are thinking, “But Dan, I’m an introvert. I have a really difficult time reaching out to people.” Me too. Which is why I think that emailing someone is so perfect for introverts. It doesn’t ask you to take the stage, to beg for attention, to sell yourself.

Instead, it asks you do to what introverts do best. To listen. Have empathy. Care. To connect with someone one-on-one, in a generous and simple manner.

Beyond just feeling good, why is this a powerful powerful marketing tactic?

With these emails, you are building a literacy of your own author platform and marketing strategy. You are learning who else cares about work similar to yours. You are making the effort to establish meaningful connections with people who support this work. You are learning to make talking about this work something you find possible, and dare I say, even enjoyable.

This week, two authors I’m working with told me about how they did exactly this, and the results.

One reached out to the author of a book she loved, and was certain this author wouldn’t reply back. This concern was confirmed when she immediately received an out-of-office reply from the author saying that she was on hiatus writing her next book. She would be back in the Fall.

Yet, the very next day she received an email from this author who thanked her for the kind note, and expressed a kinship with my client since they both write about similar topics. I can tell you, that was a powerful thing to hear from someone you deeply respect.

Another writer I’ve been working with told me of a similar experience she just had:

“I wrote to an author who had had an article published in an online magazine on a theme similar to mine. I emailed just to thank her for the article and its insight and mentioned that the article had caught my eye because I had written a book on the same topic. To my surprise, she wrote a really kind email back and said [my book was] something like she’d check it out. Her checking out my book was less important to me than how grateful she was for my email. It really was a meaningful moment in the middle of an otherwise very busy week.”

I want to encourage you to create this moment for someone, and for yourself. A moment of gratitude and connection, all centered around the themes of what you write and why.

If you do this, please send me an email and let me know how it goes!

Thanks.

-Dan